People often talk about “remix culture”, referring to the interactions between users and content on the internet, and the fact that easily accessible software and file-sharing has made it possible for the masses, who used to be primarily the consumers of culture, to become producers and re-interpreters of culture. It sounds great, and paints a picture of a utopian “culture 2.0” type of world in which we’re all musical creators.
But let’s get real for a second. A lot of the user/content interaction that happens on the internet isn’t worth a whole lot. And just because I can take a video of Charlie biting someone’s finger at mix it with a techno beat, it doesn’t make me a musical genius or cultural creator. Remixes are sometimes frivolous, and now more than ever, they often represent nothing more than a fledgling DJ’s attempt to grab a share of someone else’s popularity.
However! There are some good remixes out there, and maybe I shouldn’t be so cynical; maybe sifting through so many bad ones makes the good ones seem even better. This is one of my favourite remixes, mostly because it takes a good song and makes it better by giving it a new key and a new feel.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. Never-ending vocal echoes. (echoes.) (echoes.)
2. Just a hint of Latin percussion. It starts to fade in gradually about 45 seconds in. Could be the soundtrack for the world’s most lethargic salsa dancing competition.
3. The horn solo. I have trouble deciding whether it’s a muted trumpet, flugelhorn, or what. But it’s not in the original version, and I like it. (Actually, the vocal track is just about the only thing that comes directly from the original song by Groove Armada.)
Recommended listening activity:
Re-arranging the furniture in your bedroom.
p.s. if you know of any beautiful remixes, let me know: beautifulsongoftheweek@gmail.com