Eight iconic remixes
Nothing lights up a dancefloor quite like a killer remix. Here are some of the most popular – and most recognisable – reworks of all time
CORNERSHOP, BRIMFUL OF ASHA (FATBOY SLIM REMIX)
Yet another smash hit from big beat legend Norman Cook – this time, he took Cornershop’s indie stylings and sped them up into a brilliant, breakbeat-driven remix. By speeding the original song up, Cook also pitched up the music by around two semitones, giving the remix a happy, smiley vibe.
R KELLY, IGNITION (REMIX)
After his album Loveland was leaked in 2002, R Kelly decided to record it again from scratch, alongside some remixes of the leaked material to make the album Chocolate Factory. Ignition was one of those that got a relick, with the song becoming one of R’s biggest bangers to date.
LA ROUX, IN FOR THE KILL (SKREAM REMIX)
By combining La Roux’s haunting vocal style with the deep, bass driven sound of late 00’s dubstep, Skream created a massive remix that was the soundtrack of that summer. The sparse simplicity of the arrangement gives it a unique atmosphere, with the full speed 140bpm Amen break as the cherry on top.
TORI AMOS, PROFESSIONAL WIDOW (ARMAND VAN HELDEN REMIX)
Armand showed a touch of genius by taking Tori Amos’ harpsichord-driven, lyrically challenging original track and effortlessly flipping it into one of the biggest dance anthems of the 90s. Haunting chords and snips of Tori’s vocal combine seamlessly with a funky bassline and groovy 4/4 drums.
MOLOKO, SING IT BACK (BORIS DLUGOSCH REMIX)
While the original failed to trouble the Top 40 in 1998, Boris Dlugosch’s legendary remix, released the following year, was a polished, funk-laden house earworm that reached No 4 in the UK singles charts. A shot in the arm for Moloko’s career!
ROBIN S, SHOW ME LOVE
The most recognisable version of Show Me Love, released in 1993, was actually a remix by Swedish producer StoneBridge. He took Robin Stone’s 1990 original and rejigged it into a bona fide club classic that also popularised that Korg M1 organ sound – beloved of house hitmakers even today.
BOB MARLEY VS FUNKSTAR DELUXE, SUN IS SHINING
The first ever official remix of Bob’s material was from Danish house producer Funkstar Deluxe, who took the infectious bassline and iconic vocal from Sun Is
Shining and used them to make a fusion of house and reggae that became a summer anthem across clubland back in 1999.
GRANDMASTER FLASH, RAPPER’S DELIGHT
Not strictly a remix in modern terms, but Flash and his mob created one of hip hop’s genredefining tracks by rapping over their band playing a cover of Chic’s disco anthem Good Times. Although rapping over someone else’s song is commonplace today, this was revolutionary step forward for remix culture.