Mash Ups

When I first read about mash-ups online a few years ago I loved the concept: taking two unrelated songs and mixing them together to create a brand new song. Mash ups (or 'bastard pop') have actually been around in different forms for many years, but with the advent of digital technology it's become easier for skilled remixers to create new works of art. If you would like to read more, please click here.

Two songs I really loved in 2005 were Amerie's '1 Thing' and Modest Mouse's 'Float On' (the latter song actually came out in 2004, but since I was living in Thailand I wasn't aware of it until 2005). DJ Payroll combined the two to create this masterpiece mash up '1 Thing To Float On' [MP3] (4.71 MB). This tune satisfies my need to hear both songs in half the time!

The Killers made quite an impression in 2004-05 and with their danceable 80's style music they were remixers' favorites throughout the year. Party Ben, one of the very best known artists due to his involvement in Dean Grey's American Edit, mixed The Killer's first single 'Somebody Told Me' with The Clash's 'Rock The Casbah' and resulted in creating Clashkiller's 'Somebody Rock Me' [MP3] (6.65 MB).

Part of the charm of bastard pop is how perfect the most unlikely combinations can turn out. I don't believe anyone would think that a mash up of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John could ever sound good, but here's the proof: Disfunctional DJ's 'You're The One I Want In Tha Next Episode' [MP3] (5.28 MB). It's impossible to not smile while tapping your feet to this inventive mix.


One of my favorite mash ups is a combination of alternative pioneers Joy Division's most popular song 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' with Missy Elliott's 'Get Ur Freak On' (which is one of the most frequently used songs in bastard pop). No matter how many times I hear 'Love Will Freak Us' [MP3] (5.48 MB) I never tire of it, because this mash up rocks more than its two parts do individually, in my humble opinion.

One song I really didn't ever want to hear again is 50 Cent's 'In The Club'. I heard that track so many times in the clubs (ha ha) since 2002 that I thought there was no way I could ever enjoy it (not that I enjoyed it that much to begin with). Of course, that was before some unknown genius mixed it with Queen's rock anthem 'We Will Rock You' to create Q-Unit's 'We Will Rock You In Da Club' [MP3] (7.61 MB).


This next one is here for Chris, who enjoyed it when I played it at my last DJ gig. It's another tune that doesn't seem like it should work. Its 2 songs were recorded 45 years apart! But that doesn't stop DJ Prince's 'Everybody, Let's Drop It Like It's Hot' [MP3] (7.64 MB) from being as exceptional as both of the original singles by Eddie Cockran (1959's C'mon Everybody) and Snoop Dogg (2004's Drop It Like It's Hot).

The last mash up for you to enjoy is Fettdog's mix of Beastie Boys vocals and the Spice Girl's most popular song. The resulting tune could only be named 'Wannabeastieboys' [MP3] (5.69 MB). I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to the continually evolving world of mash ups. There are many talented DJs, producers and remixers so be sure to support their efforts.

The Pursuit of Happiness

When I turned 19 reality hit: I had to get a real job and started working at this crummy sign making shop. I saw these how miserable the guys were daily and was determined to not end up like them, but I needed money. Late one night, I turned the radio to "The Riff" (the lousy Detroit rock station) because that's when they would sometimes play new music. This half spoken word song came on with the chorus 'I'm An Adult Now' [MP3] (7.35 MB). I laughed a little, identified with it a lot, and most importantly it rocked but had these sweet poppy girl-group harmonies. When The Pursuit of Happiness' debut album Love Junk hit stores in 1988, I snatched it up and fell in love immediately. I believe to this day that this Todd Rundgren-produced record is one of the all-time great unappreciated debuts. With his songs, singer/songwriter Moe Berg perfectly captured the feeling of struggling into adulthood while being extremely horny. The record's full of catchy and obsessive love songs like 'Ten Fingers' [MP3] (2.48 MB). Berg expresses just what it feels like to be completely infatuated with a girl, wondering if she's feeling at all like you do and begging her for an answer.

On their next album, 1990's excellent One Sided Story, released another album of great songs with a bit of a harder edge such as 'Two Girls In One' [MP3] (3.99 MB). In another song, Moe confronts the uncomfortable feeling when you discover your girlfriend's younger sister is equally as attractive with 'Runs In the Family' [MP3] (3.04 MB). In 1993, Moe and company played a live radio show featuring an acoustic version of 'I'm An Adult Now' [MP3] (3.37 MB) where Moe slyly references the popular Seattle scene of the time. They later came out with their third record The Downward Road which was a solid album and showed some real growth. My favorite obsessive Moe song on that record is 'Nobody But Me' [MP3] (5.00 MB). Alternative music had happened in a big way in the three years since their last record so it seemed this Canadian band might be finally cued up for the big time. Their first single 'Cigarette Dangles' had some success on modern rock radio, but when Beavis and Butthead dissed the video for having 'too many words', it was unfortuately a sign of bad things to come.

They were dropped from their American record label when the record didn't sell and released a few successful records in Canada until Moe disbanded TPOH to begin a solo career. The band regrouped in 2005 and recorded a few new tracks for a Canadian Greatest Hits record and even played a few live dates. Let's hope they tour the States or at least make it down to Michigan for a few shows.

For more about the mighty TPOH and some complete MP3 live shows go to the excellent website Incompletely Conspicuous.