Pop Music Remixes: What We Love and What We Hate
Contents
Pop music has always been a genre that’s easy to love and easy to hate. In recent years, the lines between the two have become increasingly blurred. With that in mind, we wanted to take a closer look at what we love and what we hate about pop music remixes.
Introduction
Remixes are a big part of pop music. In fact, it’s hard to find a pop song that hasn’t been remixed in some way.
Some remixes are great and become hits in their own right. Others are not so great and can even ruin the original song.
So what makes a good remix? And why do some people love them while others hate them?
There is no easy answer, but there are some factors that can make or break a remix. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones.
The Good
There’s something about a good remix that can get us up on our feet and dancing in no time. A good remix takes the original song and makes it even better, adding new elements and bringing out the best in the original track. We can’t help but love a good remix.
The Nostalgia Factor
There’s no better feeling than hearing a song from your childhood remixed by your current favorite artist. It’s the best of both worlds! The nostalgia factor is definitely one of the things we love about pop music remixes. It’s like taking a trip down memory lane, but with a modern twist.
The Surprise Factor
A good remix is a surprise. It takes the original song and turns it into something unexpected but still recognizable. A bad remix is either a complete departure from the original that sounds nothing like the song you know and love or a boring, paint-by-numbers copy that fails to add anything new to the mix.
There are plenty of examples of both good and bad remixes in the pop music world. Some artists, like The 1975, take an interesting approach to their remixes, inviting other artists to put their own spin on the tracks. Others, like Ed Sheeran, have been known to release multiple versions of the same song, each with a different sound and feel.
good: The 1975 – Somebody Else (Flume Remix)
bad: Ed Sheeran – Shape of You (Major Lazer Remix)
The Danceability Factor
The term “danceability” is often used to describe how suitable a piece of music is for dancing. The term was first coined by electronic music producer and DJ Borai in a 2007 paper, and has since been adopted by musicologists, DJs, and producers alike.
There are many factors that contribute to a track’s danceability, but one of the most important is its tempo. A track with a fast tempo is more likely to get people moving than a track with a slow tempo. This is why most dance music is between 120 and 140 beats per minute (bpm).
Another important factor is the song’s rhythm. A track with a simple, repetitive rhythm is easier to dance to than a track with a complex, syncopated rhythm. This is why many pop songs are in 4/4 time, which is simpler than other time signatures such as 3/4 or 6/8.
The melody of a song can also affect its danceability. A catchy melody will stick in your head and make you want to move, even if the tempo isn’t particularly fast. This is why many pop songs have simple melodies that are easy to sing along to.
Finally, the overall energy level of a track will also influence its danceability. A track with lots of energy will be more likely to get people moving than a track that feels mellow or relaxed. This is why many dance tracks have heavy basslines and big drums – they provide an extra boost of energy that helps get people moving.
The Bad
There’s no doubt that pop music remixes can be catchy and get stuck in your head for days on end. But there’s also no doubt that some of them are really, really bad. Here are some of the worst offender
The Sacrilege Factor
Some people believe that pop music remixes are a sacrilege, that they ruin the original song and are an insult to the artist. Others believe that they are a creative way to take a familiar song and make it new again.Regardless of your opinion, there is no denying that some pop music remixes are better than others. Let’s take a look at some of the best and worst pop music remixes out there.
The Bad:
1. “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow – This remix by Mike D of the Beastie Boys is an atrocity. It takes the mellow, laid-back vibe of the original and transforms it into an loud, obnoxious mess. It’s like someone took a great song and just ran it through a blender.
2. “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” by Will Smith – This remix by Puff Daddy is one of the most overplayed songs of the 90s. It’s annoying, repetitive, and just plain bad.
3. “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette – This remix by DJ Premier is just bizarre. It takes the angsty, guitar-driven original and add in a bunch of random noises and samples that don’t really fit together. The end result is a hot mess that’s not worth your time.
The Good:
1. “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley – This remix by Diplo is simply outstanding. He takes the already catchy original and gives it a whole new feel with his signature style of production. The result is a fun, upbeat track that will make you want to dance.
2.” Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails – This remix by Johnny Cash is nothing short of heartbreaking. Cash’s deep, gravelly voice adds a whole new level of emotion to the original song, making it even more powerful than before. This is one remix that actually improves on the original in every way possible.
3.” Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen – This remix by The Muppets is pure genius. It takes one of classic rock’s most iconic songs and gives it a fun, family-friendly twist that everyone can enjoy. The end result is an hilarious track that will have you singing along at the top of your lungs
The Annoyance Factor
We all know the feeling. You’re jamming out to your favorite pop song, singing at the top of your lungs, when suddenly… the remix comes on. And it’s terrible. The drop is UNBEARABLE, the lyrics are mangled beyond recognition, and worst of all… it’s catchy. Suddenly, you find yourself singing along to this terrible new version of a song you used to love.
What is it about Remixes that can make them both so incredibly irritating and so addictively listenable? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most hated (and loved) pop music remixes to see what makes them tick.
The Unoriginality Factor
These days, it seems like every popular song gets the remix treatment. While some of these remixes are excellent, many are simply lazy rehashes of the original that add nothing new or interesting to the mix. Worse still, some remixes actually manage to ruin the original song, butchering it beyond recognition in the process.
The unoriginality factor is often the biggest problem with pop music remixes. With so many songs being remixed on a regular basis, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for artists to come up with new and innovative ways to reimagine a track. As a result, we often end up getting the same tired old sounds and ideas regurgitated over and over again.
The other major problem with pop music remixes is that they often strip away what made the original song great in the first place. In their efforts to create something “new and exciting”, many artists end up losing sight of what made the original track special. As a result, we end up with remixes that sound completely different from the original – and not in a good way.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pop music remixes can be both loved and hated. It really depends on the person’s taste in music. Some people may enjoy the added creativity and energy that a remix can bring, while others may find it to be too chaotic and jarring. Ultimately, it is up to the listener to decide what they do and do not like.
