From my personal playlists and dancefloor responses
Aaron Smith featuring Luvli - Dancin'
"Dancing is fun to do.. dancing is what makes me whole." This intensely catchy vocal will get caught in your head the first time you hear it. After a week in Miami, I feel sorry for the poor sap sitting next to me on the plane who kept telling me to shut up as I sang along to the track the whole flight back.
A-Studio featuring Polina - SOS
As cutting edge as I try to be, there are records that I miss. One of them being this Russian pop gem that was originally released in 2004. The Tocadisco mix hit my eMail inbox in February and the track was in my DJ sets throughout the year due to its catchy lyrics and insane production. Any chance of a US release?
Bananarama - Look on the Floor
The girls are back. Now a duo with original members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward, their album Drama spawned the club/dance radio hits "Move in My Direction" and "Look on the Floor." Based on the chorus of the italo disco song "Hypnotic Tango" by MyMine, LOTF introduced the 'rams to a new generation of fans.
Benny Benassi - Who's Your Daddy
Dirty, filthy, nasty. If FLG is the musical equivalent of crystal meth (see below), "Who's Your Daddy" is the musical equivalent of 70s porn. Over the top with its vocals and stuttters, the video takes the track to a new level. All hail the perverted genius of Benny Benassi!
Bob Sinclar - Rock This Party
This is a mashup down right. Take the sample from the classic C&C Music Factory's "Everybody Dance Now" and combine it with the coolie riddim. Add in some toasting and you got a real party records. It's also nice to see Bob do a fun record after being so serious with "Love Generation" and "World Hold On." Watch out for his next single "Everybody Movin" and his 2007 desk calendar.
Bodyrox featuring Luciana - Yeah Yeah
Another great tech jam primed for commercial success with sexualized vocals from a sassy female. Half of Bodyrox is Jon Pearn who you might know as half of Full Intention and Hustlers Convention.
Cascada - Everytime We Touch
Last year, I called this "the unofficial Myspace theme, it's the euro record that seems to have exploded on its own. Just call it the high school dating song.." This year, the europop confection crossed over to top 40 radio and became a top 10 hit. Their artist album is a guilty pleasure with covers of my two favorite pop groups - Roxette "How Do You Do" and Savage Garden "Truly Madly Deeply." And the two-tone hair is cool also!
Chocolate Puma - Always and Forever
Another WMC hit (sense a pattern?) How nice it is to hear male vocals over such a catchy house track! The crew is proving that Dutch dance music isn't just trance.
Da Buzz - Alive (Sugar Dip Remix)
Proof that you can't judge a book by its cover. I see Da Buzz and I think 140 BPM europop. I see Sugar Dip and I think American club. "Alive" is a completely different sound for Da Buzz, a more mellow tempo with a plaintive tone. The Sugardip is a progressive journey that takes the song in a new direction, while managing to keep it accessible. Without a doubt, one of the best US remixes of the year.
Dawn Tallman - Save a Place on the Dancefloor for Me
One of the highlights of WMC and ADE for me is hanging out with Dawn. There are few people in the industry who have such a love for the music, the feeling, and the soul of dance music. Contributing her vocals to this Larry Levan tribute that was released on West End records, she toned things down a bit and let the emotion of the song come out.
Fedde Le Grand - Put Your Hands Up for Detroit
Dirty, gritty, full of energy and highly addictive - this track is the musical equivalent of crystal meth. Crossing over around the world, the tech jam has launched another Dutch producer into the stratosphere. Be sure to avoid the rap version, it totally ruins the record.
Ferry Corsten - Watch Out
Was this the 8th or 9th brilliant single off his most recent artist album? Yes, artist album - not mixed CD. You got to love a DJ/producer who can actually produce great music. Intensely aggressive lyrics about an obsessive relationship gone wrong fit the moody and dark feel of the electro production. The dutch genius also continues in his tradition of great videos (be sure to check out the video for "Rock Your Body Rock" - in case you missed it).
Freemasons - Watchin (Walken Remix)
Starting off its life as a white label using samples of Deborah Cox's "It's Over Now," the original mixes were good and made some major club noise. A follow up white label called "Walken" went darker with some German guy talking nonsense. Whoever's brilliant idea it was to combine the two into one record is a bloody genius, though its not a surprise considering the brilliant pedigree of the Freemasons - Phats & Small and Jimmy Gomez.
Gabriel & Dresden featuring Molly - Tracking Treasure Down
Masters of subtlety, Gabriel and Dresden are one of the few credible, underground producers who are able to make records that build from the clubs and crossover. Anyone remember Motorcycle "As the Rush Comes?" The first taste from their solo album to be released on their own Organzied Nature label, TTD grew on everyone this year to become another sleeper hit.
Goldfrapp - Number One
Goldfrapp's recent album spawned many hits "Fly Me Away," "Ooh La La," and of course "Number One." Though the Superchumbo and the Alan Braze/Fred Falke remixes were quite charming, it was the Steve Angello remix that took this one over the top in a club land. Its very much a shame that the remix was unofficial and never released.
