Category: Song Of The Day

SONG OF THE DAY: Roger Sanchez – “My Roots”

This is the record I have been waiting for.? While everyone is riding the ’90s flashback train and releasing tracks that sound exactly what was being released in the ’90s, dance music master statesman Roger Sanchez takes those classic elements and modernizes them.? Aptly titled “My Roots,” the track is built over a bouncy house beat with piano flourishes and incorporates the trademark diva vocals, the “voice of God,” and the vocal repeat effects that are instantly memorable.? This isn’t a track made for radio airplay – it’s a full-on club track that is so hooky and catchy that it could end up on the radio.? What’s kind of ironic is that while I liked the the remixes by Technasia, Alexei & Carlos Kinn, and Sonny Fodera when I first heard them, it is when I went back and heard the original version that I really fell in love with the track. The video is just as en pointe with the animated scenes that relive the roots of house – record stores that build community, underground gay clubs, spinning on vinyl, and the evolution of dance moves.

Image Courtesy of Stealth Records.

SONG OF THE DAY: Sidney Samson & Killfake – “Revenge of the Acid”

Dirty dutchman Sidney Samson seems to be on a roll (no pun intended). Following up last month’s monstrous “YLB,” he teams up with rising duo Killfake for the multi-genrebanging “Revenge of the Acid.”? Listening to the track the first time, the flow is kind of unpredictable.? The build from each drop is a bit unexpected. At one point, I was expecting it to go all Azzido Da Bass “Doom’s Night” or Joy Kitikonti “Joy Energizer,”? and the vocal bit or harsh noise effect surprises me (as it would the crowd going mental on the dancefloor).? While the track is in the ’90s revival milieu, the deployment of acid keys channels both acid house and retro techno with a unique flavor that makes it stand out from the plethora of tracks currently out there.? I realize this, because after putting it in Notable Dance Podcast 028 last week, the amount of reaction eMails have hit a near record level.?? DJs should jump on this track now, and y’all can expect to hear this in club sets throughout the fall.

Image Courtesy of Spinnin/Doorn Records.

SONG OF THE DAY:? Paris Hilton ft Lil Wayne and Kryoman “Good Time”

At least Afrojack has range…? Last week, I wrote up what might become this year’s inspirational dance pop anthem- “The Spark” by Afrojack and Spree Wilson, so when I heard there was a new Paris Hilton record?coming out, I kind of tensed up. Her first album yielded the pop crossover “Stars Are Blind” as well as a few club hits, but questions were raised on how much she was actually involved (did she actually sing or was it Kara Diagurdi ghosting the vocals?) and whether it was just her in businesswoman/mogul mode expanding her brand/image to a new market.? With the help of great producers, her voice could be processed and used as an instrument to convey the message of a song. That isn’t a read, as there are several pop artists out there who are little more than puppets of their producers who sing tracks written by others and perform at big shows.

While Paris is huge internationally, her recent flirting with EDM hasn’t gone well – a well publicized DJ Fail at a South American festival and the stormy relationship with Afrojack kind of makes you wonder why she would do another album.? Simple answer, dance pop music is an easy vehicle to promote products (and her brand). “Good Time” is saccharine dance pop produced with the feel and quality of a Barbie cartoon soundtrack.? The song has a simple and fun message, but it feels quite dated – Did she really throw in Party Rock to be cool? Has anyone heard from LMFAO lately?? It feels forced, like she is trying too hard.? The swear words just sound wrong in this context – again, a Barbie-sounding dance pop record.? Then there’s the featured guest rap by Lil Wayne.? In no way do I consider myself an expert on rapping but even I can hear that it’s off – in flow, tone, and context.? The aspirational lines he alludes to are all well and good but just feel completely fake with his execution.?

Watching the video brings the point home about how dated and out of touch this all feels.? Paris looks like… a gorgeous Barbie Doll- but dated with the same make-up and hair that she was wearing 5-10 years ago.? Compare pictures side-by-side over the timeframe and there is no difference. (Now try that with, say, Nicole Richie and notice a progression). As bad as I am cutting on this record (and video), there IS something endearing and fun about it.? As calculated and manipulative as it is, there is that Paris Hilton naive sense that it is all about having fun (cue the baby voice she speaks in). With all the crap going on in the world right now, a simple escape to clubland to party sounds like a good idea.? With the dancing robot Kryoman bringing the party and light show (like he is on the current Steve Aoki tour), there is that enjoyable hypnosis of sensory overload to expand whatever substance you choose to imbibe.?? It’s up to you the fan to decide what you think about it.? Every critic will probably relate this to Mariah Carey’s “Glitter” or Britney’s album after her meltdown, but it is worth watching and listening to.? If they took out the rap and Afrojack did a 2013-sounding mix, it could be a good club record.??

Image Courtesy of Cash Money.