The takes the 3 minute and 14 second radio edit and pushes it further, emphasizing the track's unique "Euro-country" blend:
It might seem strange that a group of Swedish techno producers—, Örjan Öberg , and Pat Reiniz —were the ones to revive a pre-Civil War American folk song. The inspiration allegedly came after Reiniz heard a 1992 recording of the song by the Irish group The Chieftains and American country singer Ricky Skaggs . Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe (Extended Original Version)
: Real banjos and fiddles are layered over aggressive, thumping techno beats to create a "raw, energetic, simple, party" vibe. Who Was Cotton Eye Joe? The takes the 3 minute and 14 second
To sell the track, the producers crafted an elaborate, fictional backstory. They claimed the band members were "hillbillies" from a remote, uncivilized village called , who had been brought to Sweden to discover music. Musical Breakdown of the Extended Original Who Was Cotton Eye Joe
