This month, I’m looking at notable remixes. By notable, I mean that they were either:
- Had a stand-alone release sometime after the original version
- Received significant airplay/streaming in their own right
As usual, it’s ten songs with a bit of commentary. You can listen along on Spotify if you wish.
- ‘A Little Less Conversation’ by Elvis Presley & JXL. This was originally the B side to Elvis’ single ‘Almost in Love’ in 1968 and was a mere two and a bit minutes long. Junkie XL (credited as ‘JXL’ on this release) remixed in 2022, and the remix is now more well-known.
- ‘Sun is Shining’ by Bob Marley vs Funkstar De Luxe. Again, during Marley’s lifetime, this wasn’t such a well-known song, having been first recorded in 1971 and then again 1978. Funkstar De Luxe released a new version in 1999 which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart – higher than any other Bob Marley song.
- ‘Power of Love (Rob Searle Remix)’ by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. The original version of ‘Power of Love’ is occasionally considered to be a Christmas song, especially since a cover by Gabrielle Aplin was featured on the John Lewis Christmas advert in 2012. Rob Searle’s remix turns it into a banging trance tune and it was given its own single release and music video in 2001. Searle went on to also remix ‘Two Tribes’, another Frankie Goes To Hollywood song, and N-Trance’s ‘Set You Free’, both of which were released as singles in their own right. I’ve included the full club mix on the playlist, so that you can hear how the song is layered.
- ‘Heartbreaker (Remix)’ by Mariah Carey, Missy Elliot and Da Brat. This remix was included in the original single release, rather than years later, but it was given its own music video.
- ‘Barber’s Adagio for Strings (Ferry Corsten Remix)’ by William Orbit. William Orbit produced Madonna’s ‘Ray of Light’ album, and shortly after released his own album of reworked classical music entitled ‘Pieces in a Modern Style’. This included his version of Samuel Barber’s 1938 ‘Adagio for Strings’, which in turn was given a trance remix by Ferry Corsten. Corsten also remixed the follow-up single from Orbit, ‘Ravel’s Pavane pour une Infante Défunte’. A few years later, Tiësto also released his remix of ‘Adagio for Strings’.
- ’19-2000 (Soulchild Remix) by Gorillaz. This was included on the single release, and is superior to the original in my opinion. Daman Albarn’s singing is speeded up and it’s a much more upbeat song.
- ‘Protect Your Mind (For The Love Of A Princess) (Lange Remix)’ by DJ Sakin and Friends. Good grief, what a mouthful. You may know this better as the theme from the Mel Gibson film ‘Braveheart’. I believe this was Lange’s first remix, and it’s a corker with both classical and synthesised elements. Again, I’ve included the full nine minute version here.
- ‘Silence (DJ Tiësto’s In Search of Sunrise Remix)’ by Delerium featuring Sarah McLachlan. I think Delerium are more well-known for the remixes of their songs than the originals. This is an early Tiësto remix from when he still used the ‘DJ’ prefix, and it’s another long one at over eleven minutes. You need to listen to the whole thing though. For the UK release, an alternative remix by Airscape was chosen for the radio edit, which is also very good but not as groundbreaking as this.
- ‘Tequila (Mint Royal Chaser)’ by Terrorvision. Terrorvision’s most popular single to date was a remix by Mint Royale. They’re probably best known for their remix of ‘Singing in the Rain’ which was used in a Volkswagen advert and in a winning Britain’s Got Talent entry. Again, I’ve included the extended version as you can hear how the elements of the song were put together.
- ‘Brimful of Asha (Norman Cook Remix) by Cornershop. There’s a story of someone who went to a Cornershop gig on the basis of this remix, which was used for the single release, and being disappointed to find that the original was a slower indie song – as were all of their other songs. Norman Cook is, of course, better known as Fatboy Slim and this is typical of his style. He also did a good remix of ‘Renegade Master’ by Wildchild.
