Tag: armand pena

SONG OF THE DAY: Armand Pena and Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love

The word anthem gets thrown around so much that it has almost lost its meaning, similar to diva. To restore the meaning, think about anthems that have truly stood the test of time – “Show Me Love,” “Finally,” and of course “100% Pure Love.” These are songs that always hype a dancefloor and get everyone singing along. Celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the original “100% Pure Love” release, Crystal Waters teamed up with Armand Pena to resing and recreate one of her signature records. This isn’t one of those hatchet jobs where rushed vocals are thrown over the sound of the moment for a quick buck. The production incorporates the melody and sounds of the original while reworking them with a modern tribal house vibe and a hint of electro. The update shows that a track can have big room energy without being a banger. Crystal resang the lyrics and her distinct voice sounds even better than your might remember. There is a slight deepening of her tone which adds to the fresh vibe. There will no doubt be a slew of remixes coming, but I have a feeling this original production will be the one that everyone will be dancing to for years to come.

Image courtesy of Juicy Music.

SONG OF THE DAY: Harry Romero, Armand Pena, Alex Alicea and Crystal Waters – “Blow”

Sometimes too many cooks can make the broth better. The new club track “Blow,” on Subliminal, is one of those tracks where different influences come together to elevate it to a higher level. Seemingly coming from three different backgrounds, the three producers- Harry Romero (big room tribal/electro), Armand Pena (commercial tribal), and Alex Alicea (indie/progressive) construct an electro/tribal hybrid track with pounding energy, big build-ups, and catchy hooks that act as a bed for Crystal Waters’ party-hyping lyrics. While I am not sure if the reference to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” is intentional, the eternal life of clubland is like that fire that always burns. The song is all about having a good time and being ready when its the party is about to “Blow” up. You can just imagine this track being played in a big room with the countdown leading to a massive explosion or pyrotechnics. Commercial DJs should reach for the Keylow remix, which has a rhythm line that is quite similar to David Guetta’s “Sexy Bitch.” The video captures the nightlife of Lincoln Road on South Beach with several scenes filmed in the Mova Lounge. As someone who’s had the honor of spinning at Mova with Crystal Waters performing, I can attest that its a hot spot that definitely explodes with a party vibe.

Image Courtesy of Subliminal.