Updated 2/28/24
Kirby Ferguson did a remarkable series of videos about ten years ago under the title “Everything is a Remix.” He’s now in the process of remaking (remixing!) the series for a new decade. Below is the first segment, covering music, from his remix-remix, along with several other videos I use to to discuss the concept of remixing and music. (Note: Click on the image to view on YouTube.)
Remastered Original Version
2021 Revised Version
One of the examples of remixing in this film is from artist Gregg Gillis who records under than name Girl Talk. And his album “All Day” was the basis for a great little dance film called Girl Walk // All Day.
(NOTE: Lots of NSFW lyrics in the following material. Be advised.)
You can download Girl Talk’s entire album “All Day” here.
Visual presentation of playlist in All Day:
(NOTE: Lots of NSFW lyrics in the following material. Be advised.)
And remixing/mash-ups are not limited to hip hop – country music has long recycled… well… just about everything. Here’s a blend of six country songs by Sir Mashalot:
Sometimes cover songs can radically transform the original into something entirely new. Consider Robyn’s dance hit Call Your Girlfriend.
And then take a look at how folk singer Lucy Wainwright Roche reimagined it:
And finally… About 15 years ago, singer/songwriter Jonathan Coulton recorded a brilliant acoustic version of Sir Mix A Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” turning the rap into a sweet ballad. Take a listen:
Lots of fun, and a very distinctive cover. No way you would hear this and not know that this it the Jonathan Coulton cover. (Kinda like the Gary Jules cover of the Tears for Fears song “Mad Love.”)
So now the folks on the Fox show Glee have performed the Coulton version of “Baby Got Back,” but they have made no reference to it being based on Coulton’s cover, nor did they contact Coulton about it.
Now it’s great that Glee is picking up on something so cool. But it would be much cooler if they would have made mention of the independent musician who created this version of the song. Of course, companies like News Corp. (that owns Fox Broadcasting that airs Glee) always wants proper credit and compensation for their creative content….
For the record – here’s Sir Mix-A-Lot’s hip hop original: