Michaela Wright - "Never Gonna Give In" - Courtesy of Cubit Recordings
I remember the first time I heard "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls. It was the Motiv8 remix which was on a EuroTracks remix service. From the first listen, I fell in love with it and knew it was going to be massive. Then, I heard the original version and realized why the Spice Girls had become such a phenomenon in the UK. That's my best reference for my first exposure to "Never Gonna Give In," the forthcoming single from Scottish singer/songwriter Michaela Wright. The energetic remixes by Riffs & Rays and Almighty are hands-in-the-air girl twirls (as Dean Ferguson would say) with big singalong choruses and the kind of hooks that would normally be quarantined to rainbow-friendly venues. Imagine my surprise when first playing the record for a dancefloor that a straight bartender and two straight girls came running up to ask what the song was. Subsequent plays have quickly made it a primetime dancefloor favorite. Searching online for more information about Michaela, I found the video to the original version and I am gobsmacked. This is the same reaction when I first heard the original version of "Wannabe," an out of the box hit (like a JoJo or Jamelia record) that will sound as good on radio as it does in the clubs. It doesn't hurt that Michaela is model beautiful with the pipes to match. Note to video director, the use of the mirror effect for the dual lead vocals is brilliant.
Video - YouTube
Almighty and Riffs & Rays Remixes - Myspace
DHT Featuring Edmée - "Bonkers" - Courtesy of DHT Music
"Bonkers" by Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden
was one of the biggest UK club records of 2009. Even here in Nashville, Tennessee, whenever I drop the track, the dancefloor goes nuts for the massively energetic electro track. In this current age of TV shows serving up glorified karaoke for the masses, it is rare that an artist can take a song and really reimagine it with their own interpretation. Belgian duo DHT and Edmee are best known for their europop cover versions of "Listen to Your Heart," "Alone" and "I Go Crazy" so when I first heard that they had covered "Bonkers," I had something completely different in mind. This is not a dance cover but an emotional, acoustic "candle light" version of the electro track. This proves that the lyrics of a dance record can be strong enough to translate to other genres. If this gets released, which I hope it will, I wonder how the publishing will be split. Though the lyrics were written by Armand & Dizzee, DHT & Edmee have written a new melody that was not in the original version. I can imagine this track becoming an underground internet sensation leading to massive commercial crossover success. Something along the lines of Cascada's "Everytime We Touch," maybe?
Video - YouTube
Taio Cruz feat. Ke$ha - "Dirty Picture" - Courtesy of Island
Deep and sexy, this throbbing electro-pop track by Taio Cruz is already a perfect "get down n' dirty" club song despite the radio length. The impending February 15th release promises future remixes which will hopefully include an extended mix. The track is spot-on, Cruz still managing to throw some decent vocals into a song about texting naughty pictures. Ke$ha does what she does best which is mainly talking melodically, but it sounds great over this type of production. Cruz has had a string of r&b-flavored dance tracks and has worked with some great people including electro-maven Luciana, Tinchy Stryder, and Estelle. "Dirty Picture" will mark the fourth single release off of Cruz's 2009 album, Rokstarr.
Audio - YouTube
Crookers - "Put Your Hands On Me" - Courtesy of Southern Fried Records
For the Italian DJ duo Crookers, 2009 was a good year. Not only did their remix of Kid Cudi's highly successful debut single "Day N' Nite" get recognition and heavy play in 2009, but they also got their hands on tracks by Britney Spears ("If U Seek Amy") and U2 ("Get On Your Boots"). They've also had the pleasure of working with Kelis on "No Security", Miike Snow on "Remedy" and Izza Kizza with "What Up Y'all". "Put Your Hands On Me" features Kardinal Official and Carla Marie. The track gets down and dirty with a grimy production and a sweaty club vibe. The video is a bit unsettling and seems to have absolutely nothing to do with the track minus a vinyl spinning in the latter half. An elderly woman sits about her daily chores before being joined by, what one assumes is, a social worker of some sort. After tea and small talk, the two women begin to kiss. The imagery is bright and sunny, as every love scene should be, but the characters involved seem out of place for a dance track of this style. Solo's remix takes the track into clubbier, darker territory - a style that utterly suits the material.
Video - YouTube
Audio - YouTube
Sia - "You've Changed" - Courtesy of Ultra
For those "in the know", Sia's latest release will be nothing new. "You've Changed" saw an early 2009 release as Lauren Flax feat. Sia. While Flax's version was fun, it has nothing on Sia's original version, which is funky fun from start to finish. The arrangement can be easily compared to the party sound of The Ting Tings' music, but if you found Katie White's vocals too annoying, definitely check this track out. Sia's smooth voice went a long way with Zero 7 and only gets better with each solo release. "You've Changed" is no different in that respect, but the pure amount of fun she seems to be having with the track is a departure from the level of serious music she's put out in the recent past. The video is nothing short of brilliant, showcasing a vibrant Sia singing her song like Karaoke Revolution (complete with cardboard-style game menus and scroll bars and lyric misses, which sadden the singer) interspersed with clothing "arrangements" made to various kids. For an enjoyable variation of "You've Changed", check out Dean Coleman's Village Vocal Mix.
Video - YouTube
Dean Coleman Village Vocal Mix - YouTube
