Mash-ups allow DJs and editors to combine several song snippets to create a wholly new piece of art. Sometimes just the beat will be taken from a song and applied over the lyrics of another track. The only limit is the mash-up artist’s creativity.
Below are several favourite mash-ups songs I enjoyed in 2012, and all were created this year. Check out my recommendations and let me know your top picks in the comment thread.
I Did It My Way by Mashup Germany
Nothing like Frank Sinatra’s My Way blending with Aerosmith, Mumford & Sons, REM and even The Cranberries. Mashup Germany‘s offers a new take on a classic, spiced with some clap-heavy background tunes and Marcy Playground’s catchy Sex And Candy chorus.
Songs sampled include:
Simple Plan feat. Sean Paul – Summer Paradise
Frank Sinatra – My way
Elvis Presley – Can’t help falling in love
Aerosmith – Livin’ On The Edge
Marcy Playground – Sex and candy
Mumford & Sons – Awake my soul
REM – Everybody hurts
The Cranberries – Linger
Jimmy Eat World – The middle
Rudi Carrell – Wann wird’s mal wieder richtig Sommer
Pop Danthology 2012 by Daniel Kim
YouTube star Daniel Kim tackles a truly complex task: blending 50 pop songs from 2012 into an eight-minute clip. PLUS he did the same for all the music videos of each track, creating a vid already attracting 3 million views since Dec. 2.
He excellently segues from a Bieber track to Nicki Minaj to Gangnam Style, without it feeling jarring at all. Kim practically makes a new epic pop song out of these samples.
Faster Stronger by DJ Earworm
One of the most well-known mash-up DJs returned in November with a lengthy series of funky tracks, often splicing two disparate artists (One Director, Bruce Springsteen) into a new track bursting with a refreshing sound.
The three tracks on this YouTube vid have a bevy of songs, so below is the breakdown:
What Makes You Born To Run
One Direction – That’s What Makes You Beautiful
Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso – Calling (Original Instrumental Mix)
Speed
Calvin Harris Feat. Ne-Yo – Let’s go
Darude – Sandstorm
Funkerman – Speed up
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now
Foster the People – Don’t Stop
Brian Adams – Run to You
Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop
Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started
Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride
Power
DJ Fresh feat. Dizzee Rascal – The Power
Kanye West – Power
Snap! – The Power
Kanye West – Stronger
Britney Spears – Stronger
Kelly Clarkson – Stronger
Daft Punk – Harder Better Faster Stronger
Stayin Alive in the Wall by Wax Audio
Marrying the Bee Gees and Pink Floyd? Why not?! This toe-tapping mix of Another Brick in the Wall and Stayin’ Alive simply fits, like Dark Side of Oz styles. Very smart mix of the beats, without one overpowering the other. Will we see this new revitalized track on dancefloors soon?
Let It Drop by Rage Cannon
Even if you don’t like dance music, there’s something inventive about Rage Cannon‘s buffet of dance tracks and classics, where he mixes the likes of Daft Punk with Gladys Knight and the Jackson 5. Once the beat starts to kick in, the song really begins to rev up, strengthening to some chunky piano riffs and heavy drops.
Not for everyone, but if you’re in the dancing mood, put this on and let your feet do the talkin!
