SONG OF THE DAY: Example – “All The Wrong Places”

On my first listen to “Hooligans,” his sickeningly aggressive raver track with Don Diablo, Example’s personality and flow instantly made me a fan. Through a succession of both energetic and somber singles, as well as collaborations with producers as varied as Skream, Laidback Luke, Calvin Harris, and Flux Pavillion, and his recent appearance as a featured rapper on a Pet Shop Boys album, he has morphed from a party boy MC to an intelligent and emotionally succinct singer with the ability to play both roles and everything in between.? With his new single “All the Wrong Places,” he uses the contrast of old school rave and hardstyle to showcase his rather strong vocal performance.? It’s an interesting way to stage a political statement, especially since a large portion of the listeners might not get the message.? Forthcoming remixes by Starkillers, Quinitino, and Jack Beats are sure to be massive, as will be his new album which is said to be inspired The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, and Faithless.? Now, that’s a ’90s-inspired project I cannot wait to hear.

Image courtesy of Ministry of Sound.

SONG OF THE DAY: Burns – “Lies”

A great lyric doesn’t go away, it often comes back again and again.? The main vocal part of Burns “Lies” comes from Deborah Cox’s 1999 club anthem “It’s Over Now.”? Resung by Amanda Wilson, the Freemasons nicked the chorus and it was a club hit again in the UK (and also a top 20 pop hit). ?On the downtempo dancehall/electro/rock hybrid “Lies,” Burns uses the “It’s Over Now” chorus a few times, then adds another verse which is quite spooky with an alienating feel (maybe that’s where the faceless stripper video ties in). ?There was a lot of buzz on the energetic Otto Knows mix, the guy behind the A Million Voices, and that keyboard hook is quite reminiscent of Abba’s “Voulez-Vous.”? Remixes by Skream, Tiga, and Acrobat transform the track to fit across various subgenres quite nicely.?

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