Year-End Report Card - Remixes

Ah, remixes. Can’t live without ‘em. Sometimes a decent remix is able to save a horrible track, as the vocals of the original would be kept and the instruments/arrangement would be replaced, often with matching backing of house music, which we all know now as modern day dance remixes that appears on the dance chart.

My hardworking ‘mammy’/boss, Dirrtysean, has his own picks for the year of 2009 and you guys & gals voted for ur fave remixes too. Now’s my turn!!! It wouldn’t be filled entirely with ‘mainstream’ songs, as it takes a good song and an excellent producer to conceive a fantastic remix. Just a side note, remixes are meant for us to get up and rule the dancefloor, I don’t understand why some peeps loiters around and acting like a wallflower. Weird eh. Anyway, what are my picks??? Read on to find out!!! =) I might not restrict the picks to 10 only (u’ll get what I meant if u read), and it doesn’t rank in sequence, all in random order.

1. Katy Perry – Waking Up In Vegas
Remixed by Jason Nevins, Calvin Harris and Mahattan Clique, I adore Jason Nevins’ Electrotec Club Mix the most. Heavy bass and fun lyrics, this is definitely a party song. =)
Katy Perry – Waking Up In Vegas (Jason Nevins Electrotec Club Mix)

2. Keri Hilson – Knock You Down
Both Moto Blanco and Bimbo Jones get to remix this track. While Moto’s signature disco vibe is obvious, it kinda falls flat at times. So, my pick would definitely be Bimbo’s (I’m not a fan though, as Bimbo’s mixes are sometimes unpredictable in terms of quality).
Keri Hilson – Knock You Down (Bimbo Jones Club Mix)

3. Lady Gaga – Poker Face
Technically, this song is eligible as it’s still on the dance chart in 2009. While everyone is raving on the overplayed Jody remix, the Glam as You remix is so much better. It’s more electrified, has a break down part too. Hands down, the best remix of all Gaga’s songs.
Lady Gaga – Poker Face (Glam As You Club Mix)

4. La Roux – Bulletproof
Ah, the UK number 1 hit. Remixed with the likes of Dave Aude, Mahattan Clique, Tepr and Zinc. But the best remix of all is by Tiborg. Justifies the original magic of the track too.
La Roux – Bulletproof (Tiborg Remix)

5. Kristinia DeBarge – Goodbye
Cleverly samples Steam’s “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye“, this song, while a minor hit on the mainstream chart, scored a number 3 on the dance chart. The DJ Paulo Mix of this track is definitely a banger!!!
Kristinia DeBarge – Goodbye (DJ Paulo Club Mix)

6. Girls Can’t Catch – Echo
Having a huge hook on the chorus is always a good thing, and Nu Addiction made good use of it on the club mix.
Girls Can’t Catch – Echo (Nu Addiction Club Mix)

 
 
7. The Saturdays – Forever is Over & Ego
Both single are great, so is their remixes too. This is what I meant. =) Both songs deserves credit. The Manhattan Clique remix for FIO is a little mild for my taste but the Buzz Junkies remix is electro-pop GOODNESS!!! =)

As for ‘Ego‘, both Almighty and Jason Nevins did a decent job on remixing it, albiet the messy tempo. This song is still definitely a stomper. And you’ll think I’ll stop the double bill picks here. Think again….
The Saturdays – Forever is Over (Buzz Junkies Remix)
The Saturdays – Ego (Almighty Club Mix)
The Saturdays – Ego (Jason Nevins Club Mix)

8. Mini Viva – Left My Heart In Tokyo & I Wish
I was wanting to feature them on the ‘upcoming freshies’ column but didn’t has the chance to do so. Soon though, they deserves a proper introduction. ‘Tokyo’ is a great disco track on it’s original edit, of course as it’s written by Fred Falke. Out of all the remixes, the Treasure Fingers mix is probably the best.

As for I Wish, I’m shocked that it charted so low!!! Underrated again!!! Oh wells. And Cahill manage to bring a disco vibe to this already fantastic track. =)
Mini Viva – Left My Heart in Tokyo (Treasure Finger Remix)
Mini Viva – I Wish (Cahill Club Mix)

9. Solange – Would’ve Been the One
The remixes of this track is probably the only one in 2009 that I’m pretty satisfied with all of them. A club essential track. This is the case where the remixes triumph over the original track. Let’s just say the original has the Motown vibe.
Solange – Would’ve been the One (Groove Police Club Mix)

10. Annie – Anthonio
I’m saving the wildcard choice for last. Some might know her, but I know many don’t. Would feature her soon too. The album appears on the independent and electronic chart. She’s a hidden gem. Yeap. Released only as a digital single, this track appears exclusively on the “All Night” EP album accompanied with the “Don’t Stop” main album. I particularly love the Designer Drugs remix but the Fred Falke remix is good too. =)
Annie – Anthonio (Designer Drugs Remix)
Annie – Anthonio (Fred Falke Remix)

What are you favourite remixes for 2009?? =) Feel free to share. The next post would be the final installment of this series, the forecast of 2010. Stay tuned!!!

Singles of 2009!!!

Here’s the second part to the Year-End series, SINGLES!!! As we all know, singles are usually the songs that is send to the radio to promote the artist’s album and generate hype. Below are my picks for the singles released in the entire year of 2009. (The list is in no particular ranking order, alphabetical though)

1. Bad Romance – Lady Gaga [19th October 2009]
Can Gaga actually produce a song that is on par with “Pokerface” to ensure that she ain’t just a one note??? “Bad Romance” is the answer to all those having doubts about her. The “Rah-rah-rah-ah-ah/Roma-roma-mah/Gaga-oh-là-là” hook immediately sucks you in and there’s no escape. Judging form the quality of every track of the Fame Monster, she’s here to stay in the music industry for a long time to come.
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance

2. Bulletproof – La Roux [22nd June 2009]
Brillant Verses and Chorus. A UK Number #1 song. Need me say more??? I would. Haha. The melody of this song is insane too. Excellent use of syth and electro without overdoing it. Plus I *hearts* the vid!!!
La Roux – Bulletproof

3. Earthquake – Little Boots [16th Nov 2009]
This song is slightly moodier as compared to “Remedy”, which is catchy on immediate listen. The fact that it’s a dancefloor material allows me to give it two thumbs up. =)
Little Boots – Earthquake

4. Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z Featuring Alicia Keys [20th Oct 2009]
A heavy-weight collab. And with a chorus as epic as this, Alicia doesn’t disappoint with belting out those vocals. The radio edit is much more listenable than the album version.
Jay-Z Featuring Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind

5. Goodbye – Kristinia DeBarge [April 7th 2009]
A likely anthem that scored a modest hit on the chart (but scored a number 3 on the dance chart). This is how teen-pop should sound like, not like Miley and the Jonas’.
Kristinia DeBarge – Goodbye

6. Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) – Freemasons Feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor [June 14th 2009]
Puzzled that this song is here and not on the Remixes Report Card??? Wonder why??? Let me explain. The orginal edit is already produced by The Freemasons themselves, hence even the extended dance edit is considered part of the  family and not being remixed by any remixers yet. The remixes are rubbish btw, the original is epic enough.
Freemasons Feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)

7. I Like – Keri Hilson [December 11th 2009]
I do like when Keri does abit of electro. There’s something about this song that makes it stands out from some of the bland stuff from her debut album. Given that this song does not have any feature vocalist, it’s nice to hear that she can present it all by herself too. =) And she’s deserves to win the upcoming
Keri Hilson – I Like

8. Why R U – Amerie [June 15th 2009]
“Loving you is like a battle that I can’t afford to lose”. Just this phrase warrants it a spot in this chart. Accompanied by the throwback R&B sound and the heavy vocal delivery by Amerie, it sure is single-worthy. Pity that it under performed.
Amerie – Why R U

9. Yesterday – Toni Braxton [September 29th 2009]
This song is considered as the best R&B ballad in 2009 (by my standards). Everything from the verses to the bridge to the chorus, the entire song can do no wrong. Toni hasn’t had any good material since “Spanish Guitar”, would this song save her then?? Critically, YES. Commercially, it’s not really out there due to promotion. A great song that’s gonna be unheard by the masses. Oh wells.
Toni Braxton – Yesterday

10. You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift [April 20th 2009]
Many wouldn’t be a stranger to this song, easily accessible to all. What makes this song so successful and not get sick of it, is the genuine feelings being put across on this song. I’m sure loads can relate to this song, and the video is a plus for this song too. Very dreamy. =)
Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me

Any comments on ur fave 2009 singles?? Feel free to comment and voice out. The next post would be on remixes!!! Please bear with me for my low article output. I’m going through a rather rough patch now. =( Would finish the rest of the series by end of this month. =)

“Exposed” is the debut studio album by Kristinia DeBarge and is to be release in the US on July 28th 2009. The album features production and writing from the likes of Babyface and OneRepublic frontman, Ryan Tedder. Don’t worry, there won’t be another Halo/Already Gone sound alike track. (I would address this issue in another post, most people are fussing that they sound the same. Indeed they are, but so what.)

The album also includes two songs which Kristinia co-wrote with Babyface, “Cried Me a River” and “It’s Gotta Be Love“.

First Impressions
As an album expressed by a 19 year old, it doesn’t come across with any pretense, unlike some similiar singers around her age . The album is definitely relatable to teens around her age group. The songs performed in this album is mostly Pop-R&B, though listenable, it’s rather forgettable with exception of her singles.

Standout Tracks

• Future Love
  Was to be a double A-Side 2nd single with “Sabotage“, but only the latter is going to be release and have a music video. This song definitely has hooks in it’s chorus. It reminds me of Jordin’s “One Step At A Time” at the chorus too. Ryan Tedder co-wrote and produced this track and this song is previously recorded and unsuccesfully released in 2008 by American boyband Varsity Fanclub.
• Speak Up
  Also co-written and produced by Ryan too, definitely has the structural beats that Ryan is famous for. Though it’s unlike Halo and Already Gone. =)
• Goodbye
  First single. A respectable Top 20 hit. (It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100) Singing Na Na Na hasn’t been this addictive since Kylie’s “Can’t Get You Outta My Head“. A girl power anthem.
• Sabotage
  Second single. A song which Rihanna would sing, given a few tweaks. I did a single review for this song awhile back. Sounds current enough to be in the Top 40 charts. It’s all good. =)
• Powerless
  Hmm, this song is quite ciara-like. Which is strangely interesting. Minus Ciara’s raspy voice of course.
• Disconnect
  The album’s closer, which is a ballad. A decent one in fact. I hope this song would be the third single. Has the potential to be a hit. Grows on you if you listen it in repeat mode.

Final Verdict
This album is enjoyable throughout, but it lacks personality, making it forgettable. Cause nothing in this album makes me think “This song is to die for”. But it’s slightly better than Esmee Denters’ album as it’s rather consistent.

By opening for Britney on her tour this fall, this would definitely get her in the spotlight and be noticed. Overall, a decent effort but with room for improvement.

This album scores 3 out of 5.

With first single “Goodbye” peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, it’s quite a respectable debut. Releasing her album on July 28th 2009, it’s time for a second single.

“Sabotage“/”Future Love“, will be released as her second single and will be a double a-side release on July 21, 2009 in the US. These two songs will be released to US radio with “Future Love” being sent to pop radio and “Sabotage” being sent to US Rhythmic/Urban crossover stations.

A decent song, has the potential though. This song is more like pop-rhythemic than to Urban. I like the Angel on the left/Devil on the right lyrical reference. =) This song could use a remix or two though.

Track
Kristinia DeBarge – Sabotage

Alrighty, I’m gonna intro abit on Kristinia’s background. She’s an American R&B singer, with a little dose of Pop too. Her father, James DeBarge, was a founding member of DeBarge, an R&B group in the 80s. Kristinia appeared on an American Idol spinoff, American Juniors, but did not progress into the Top 10.

Kristina broke into the US mainstream music market with her debut single “Goodbye“. This song is also featured in a Nivea television ad campaign, which helps in promoting the song too.

Kristinia’s debut album will be released by Sodapop Music, a new division of Island Def Jam Music. Many of the tracks were written and produced by Babyface. Her debut album is scheduled to be released on June 30th, 2009.

“Goodbye” is the debut single and was released to US iTunes on April 7, 2009 and to US pop radio on April 28th, 2009. It samples the song “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” by Steam. The song has already sold 75,000 downloads.

The song debuted at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 30th 2009. It is currently at position 42 and position 26 on the Pop 100 chart. Pretty impressive for a newbie.

The chorus is catchy, but kinda mild. I still prefer Esmee’s stuff. That’s my opinion. What do you guys think?? =)