“New is always better…” -Barney Stinson
But is it really? Today’s lectorial focused on the topic of remix and remixes, the reworking of the old to formulate something new… or as written by Eduardo Navas, author of ‘Regressive and reflexive mash-ups in sampling culture….
“[the] rearrangement of something already recognisable”,
Ironically, last night I went to see Pitch Perfect 2, a film studded with mash-ups and remixes and everything in between. Remixes and mash-ups are now, more than ever, a part of our every day life and a growing trend in the music world- even if we don’t realise it. And it even goes a little deeper than that… because, as Dan mentioned, ‘there is no such thing as an ordinary idea’.
Remixes can come in all shapes and forms- filmic, literary, musical and visual.
The most obvious examples of remixes are those songs that end with a little mention of Skrillex, Flume, . But remixing isn’t just as obvious as that, it can be subtle or in the form of a re-arrangement/sampling of previous material.
Take Kanye West for instance. He is well known for the sampling, rearranging and reworking of old songs- accompanying them with a killer rap, creating award winning songs left, right and centre
From Otis Redding to James Brown and even the legendary Will Ferrell (portraying Chazz Michael Michaels in Blades of Glory).
He also samples the great and late Michael Jackson’s Pretty Young Thing in ‘Good Life’ (thank you Emily for your insightful information <3 )
Tarantino may be considered as a filmic remixer, as he is known for his recognisable masherupering of conventions, references and ideologies likened to famous directors and films that he loves. He writes films that incorporates the elements of these films and as a result, he creates his own wonderful award-winning filmic rearrangements.
Filmic remixing can also encompass those kick-arse bad lip-reading youtube videos, because after all, they do 'rearrange something already recognisable'.
But there is also a a lot of controversy over the copyright associated with such remixing, rearranging etc, which particularly relates to dans quote- 'there is no such thing as an ordinary idea'. A few months ago, Tame Impala were the centre of a plagorism dispute, accused of copying a song by an Argentinian pop star... Have a listen for your self…
The technologies available now make it easy as 1,2,3 to rearrange, mash up, remix and sample- leaving endless possibilities for creativity and allowing amazing material to be modernised and presented in a new light.
I thought to finish off this blog I would pick 3 of my favourite musical rearrangements, mash ups and remixes for you to listen to on this fine autumn day 🙂
1. Good Vibrations/Sesame Street Theme– Kasabian
A mash up of two iconic tunes
2. Like a Surgeon– Weird Al Yankovic
A lyrical remix masterpiece
3. Why Wont You Make Up Your Mind? (Erol Alkan rework)– Tame Impala
A superb rework of one of my favourite Tame Impala songs
