In the Cookie Jar.
The end of summer is upon us, which also means that we can consider the Labor Day play of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” the official end of the Song of the Summer of 2012. That does not, however, mean that Ms. Jepsen is going to fall into the 99 cent bin as a one-hit wonder. Her new track with Owl City “Good Time” is perfect to play at the last tea dance of the summer, or for your last trip down the shore with the top down.
The high energy vibe is perfect to squeeze those last few drops of summer out, and the remixes only enhance that. The “Wideboys Club Mix” gives it a bit of electronica, with a heavy synthesizer, jacking up the BPM a bit, with what sounds like a very Daft Punk-esque vibe. The “Fred Falke Club Mix” stays as close to the original as possible, while injecting a heavy dose of dance-ability. Falke keeps the choruses very simple, saving the heavy lifting for the chorus, dropping a harder drum into it, and keeping Jepsen’s pure vocals exactly that. Lead singer of Owl City Adam Young’s vocals only make the track more seamless.
I’ll be the first to say that when Mariah Carey released her latest track “Triumphant” (Get ‘Em), I was less than thrilled. Our favorite “Lamb” possesses an instrument that does not need the assistance of rappers, which this track is very heavy on. (If you ask two of my favorite readers/Mariah experts, Kostis and Anthony, they will tell you that this is the best track of the year, rappers notwithstanding.) My faith was restored when I received the remix package, which drops the rap almost altogether and showcases exactly what the fans want—Mariah! On the “Laidback Luke” mixes, the track gets a complete electronic makeover. There are very minimal effects on the verses, which drops into a very breathy chorus, perfect for this track. The best part of these mixes is the very Rihanna/”We Found Love”-esque break between verses giving the track a true dance floor edge. The “Danny Verde” mixes give the track a totally different vibe, slipping the BPM up slightly, while keeping Mariah’s vocals front and center. It’s a perfect early track to get the crowd thumping, or a late night one to bring ’em back to the floor for one more.
Every couple of years, the legendary Cyndi Lauper returns with another track to hit the dance floors to that receives a huge response. This year is proving to be no exception. With “Into The Nightlife” several years ago, the boys loved the track (whose video was filmed at NYC institution Splash). Her new track “The Sex Is In The Heel” is proving to have the same kind of staying power. The track is part of the soundtrack to the new musical “Kinky Boots” about a floundering British shoemaker who has his business saved thanks to some flamboyant clientele. With music by Lauper and a book by Tony Winner Harvey Fierstein, it’s no surprise that this track is already climbing the dance charts. The remixes thus far are pretty varied, with the “Danny Verde Club Mix” putting a hypnotic spin on the track, giving it almost a dubby feel. The “RLP Remix” is a standout on the official remix package, giving the track a much higher-energy feel during the chorus, while extending the verses to show off Lauper’s proven vocal prowess. This track will be big into the fall.
Frenchie Davis has had a tremendous fanbase since she knocked over America all those years ago on “American Idol,” then coming back to our television on Christina Aguilera’s team on “The Voice.” Frenchie finally gets her time in the spotlight with the single “Love’s Got A Hold On Me.” Written by dance legend Janice Robinson (of Livin’ Joy “Dreamer” fame) the talents of a dance floor veteran like Robinson and Frenchie’s spectacular vocals will take her to the top of the charts. The video is a “Mad Max meets the Roxy” epic, with Frenchie front and center. Thus far, I’ve heard the DJ Lazlo Remix, which tossed a slightly different electronic vibe on the track, but the remixers I’ve heard that are doing the track are heavy hitters in the industry and will be keeping Frenchie’s vocals as the center of the track. Plan on big room anthems coming for this one.
In the Cookie Jar.
The end of summer is upon us, which also means that we can consider the Labor Day play of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” the official end of the Song of the Summer of 2012. That does not, however, mean that Ms. Jepsen is going to fall into the 99 cent bin as a one-hit wonder. Her new track with Owl City “Good Time” is perfect to play at the last tea dance of the summer, or for your last trip down the shore with the top down.
