Category: Song Of The Day

SONGS OF THE DAY:?? Don Diablo & Matt Nash – “Starlight (Could You Be Mine)” and Don Diablo ft Alex Clare & Kelis -? “Give It All”

The original dirty dutchman Don Diablo is forever experimenting with his sound (check out the brilliant “M1 Stinger” for his last leftfield track). Teaming with rising UK producer Matt Nash, the result is “Starlight,” a refreshing take on the stadium meme, where the energetic part is more like bouncy electrohouse rather than the overdone three-chord brohouse cliche.? The vibe is reminiscent of the tragically overlooked Kat Krazy “See the Sun” from earlier in the year.? Watch for this one to be big amongst the superstar DJs, with Axwell championing it on his Axtone label.??? Featuring vocalist Alex Clare and Kelis, “Give It All” sounds like it might be the major pop hit that crosses Don over to the mainstream.? With the downbeat dubstep production, it feels slightly similar to Alex’s pop hit “Too Close,” but the lyrics and tone are much darker – questioning what you would do if your life was about to end and even the meaning of life while toasting a drink, celebrating for reason we don’t know.? It’s much more thought-provoking than a typical party record (maybe a testament to the vast unemployment of British/European twentysomethings) and sounds like a political statement that Faithless would be making in these uncertain times.? If you aren’t familiar with Don Diablo’s music, after you check out these two songs – go back and listen to “Hooligans,” “Amimale,” and “Make You Pop.”

Images courtesy of Axtone and Columbia.

SONG OF THE DAY (SUNDAY FUNDAY): Vengaboys – “Hot Hot Hot”

Not sure which trend to put this record in because it fits so many. EDM people take themselves so seriously that a good bit of satire (see Ylvis and Scandinavian Techno Dance Society) is often called for. The producers Danski and Delmundo, who also created Alice Deejay, spawned The Vengaboys in the late ’90s- initially as an underground act which quickly became a commercial pop success on the level of 2 Unlimited. Critics scoffed as records like “We Like to Party,” “Boom Boom Boom,” and “Up and Down” became chart and club hits around the world. After a five-year run, the group disbanded, and aside from “Rocket to Uranus,” a novelty record with Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) and Perez Hilton in 2010, they’ve been been quiet with releases as various incarnations of the live acts toured. Digging up the party classic “Hot Hot Hot” by Arrow (and most famously covered by Buster Poindexter) is a genius move. Thrown over the dirty dutch production (similar to RLP and Barbara Tucker’s take on “Respect”) with their trademark bouncy energy, it is pretty much a no-brainer. Adding in the cliches like the Spanish-flavored rap (like a discount Pitbull) and “if you didn’t come to party” refrain makes it even more fun. This is basically the exact opposite of Funkerman’s recent remix of Laidback “White Horse” – the Venga Boys have no aspiration of being cool and they know their place as cartoon characters and are in on the joke. This clearly comes through in the video, where the bus is back with original members (Kim, Denise and Robin) and later addition Donny frolicking on a tropical island paradise. There’s something for everyone – Brazilian girls booty bouncing and getting low, sexy Power Rangers, spoofs of retro-Madonna and Lady Gaga, as well as expertly-deployed metallic codpieces on both genders. Setting themselves up as Europe’s #1 Party Crew might be a bit of a stretch, but like everything else in their repertoire, it’s all meant as humorous fun for everyone.

Image courtesy of Vengaboys website.

SONG OF THE DAY: HIIO ft Max C – “I’ll Be There”

South American duo HIIO has been making the rounds enlisting some of clubland’s finest vocalists (Abigail Bailey, Terri B, Giuseppe Viola, Lauren Rose) to sing on the tracks they’ve released this year.? For their fifth single “I’ll Be There,” they’ve brought in gospel house singer Max C (recently heard on the phenomenal “Ordinary People” with Sultan + Ned Shepard). Actually, “Ordinary People” and “I’ll Be There” share similar DNA – uplifting gospel with soulful house vocals over electro/stadium production.? There’s a classic vibe to Max C’s voice and it feels like it could have been taken from one of Strictly Rhythm’s hallmark ’90s vocal records.? The remixes are strong across the board with Muzzaik and Hoxton Whores both contributing swing-influenced house-vibed takes and John Jacobsen going in a slightly harder tribal direction.??

Image Courtesy of Strictly Rhythm.