Monday, 10 September 2012

EDM – We repackaged it and sold it back to the nation of America Pt IV



Well I started this series of blogs with two tracks from the Prodigy so if any act alongside them was deserving of at least a double placing to boot it has to be this eccentric pairing. If I allude to the fact that they are both French even Inspector Clouseau the bungling fictional French Chief Inspector wouldn’t have too hard a job in guessing who I’m talking about. When your work is sampled by as huge a Hip Hop name as Mr Kanye West then you know just how big an impact your music has had in the history of EDM. The first choice remains the duo’s biggest commercial success to date but didn’t quite make the UK top spot peaking at number two back in 2000 and is their only record to have secured the top spot in their native France. The second choice reached number 5 in 1997 and is an example of how one hook can make an entire record.

31. Daft Punk – One More Time

32. Daft Punk – Around The World

Running down the home straight it seems fitting to be able to pass the baton over to some of our European neighbours to be able to fly the flag proudly for their part in EDM history. I previously mentioned the current Dutch assault on our ears by a host of talented DJs across a wide sub range of genre’s but the stranglehold isn’t exclusively there’s by any means. The nation of Sweden boasts its own array of big hitters storming through the dance charts; Axwell, Ingrosso and Angello who collectively make up the Swedish House Mafia; Avicii, AN21, Alesso, Eric Prydz, Marcus Shossow, Adrian Lux and Jonas Stenberg are amongst a host of DJs that are making a mark on EDM for many years to come. Over to Germany; Paul Van Dyk has long sat at the upper echelons of the Trance world and his name is joined by the likes of; ATB, Cosmic Gate, Sven Vath, Loca Dice, Boys Noize, Kyau and Albert, Eddie Thoneick and Tomcraft. Special mention goes to Kraftwerk who’s work during the 1970s and early 1980s was revolutionary to say the least and not only broke the mould for EDM but shattered it into a thousand and one pieces. Their music has had a lasting effect across many, many genres of modern EDM.

For now I will stay with France for my next two selections. Every summer without fail there is now an EDM banger that captures the heart of the nations clubbers and crosses over into mainstream society and the next two tracks are no different and can still be heard taking over the summer airwaves even now many years later. The first track is by a French duo who can only be described as conservative alongside the Daft Punk boys and comes courtesy of a sample from the somewhat depressing Disco track ‘Soup For One’ by Chic and went to number one in the UK charts in 2000. The second track samples another Disco track ‘Fate’ by the legendary Queen of Disco Chaka Khan and reached number two in the UK charts in 1998. Like Marrs many years before the release of this track it was the only single they ever released but what a way to make your mark in history.

33. Modjo (Lady Hear Me Tonight)

34. Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You

So from France to Germany for the next two choices. The first track wasn’t an instant hit upon its release and it took a remix from fellow German DJ Timo Mass for it to enter mainstream attention upon its re-release a year later on. The second track translates into English as Nuclear Energy 400 – There they go again, those wacky Germans with their great sense of humour. The track reached number 2 in the UK charts back in 2000 but will be best known in America by its use by sport teams to rally the home crowd. I have to admit harking back several years to early clubbing days it was hard not to love this track.

35. Azzido Da Bass – Dooms Night (Timo Mass Remix)

36. Zombie Nation - Kerncraft 400

It’s hard to believe that it’s taken me until nearly the end of my selection’s to mention the white isles of Ibiza and the impact the island has had on EDM over the years. Home to some of the world’s most well known clubs; Manumission, Pacha and DC10 for example, every summer they play host to the crème de la crème of the world’s greatest DJs. Back in 1993 a Belgian producer paid homage to the islands most famous bar with this track. If you thought that the Candy Staton track had been re-released a few times then even she has to bow down to the number of times this track has subsequently been remixed and re-released; 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011 - This track just won’t go away and in fairness who’d want it to? Some famous names have got their hands on the track over the years; Deadmau5, Michael Woods, Tall Paul, K-Klass, Sven Vath, Marco V and Nalin and Kane to mention a few. In 2011 the track was voted Number One in the ‘Top 20 dance tracks of the last 20 years’ by Radio One listeners. For a track that’s so well loved it’s received little commercial success however and it highest chart position came with the Nalin and Kane remix in 1998 when it reached number 12 in the UK charts. The track features on the soundtrack of the 1999 cult movie Human Traffic and is based on the melody of the 1982 Wim Mertens piano composition ‘Struggles For Pleasure.’

37. Energy 52 – Café del Mar

For my final three choices I’m going to hand the baton back to the UK. The first choice comes from a London duo who reached number 12 in the UK charts with this track back in 2001. Formed in the mid 1990s their music encapsulates a diverse range of genre’s from a chilled laid back feel to big beats and electronic. The second duo also hail from London and my choice of track follows the path of the number 35 choice in that it wasn’t until a year later upon it’s re-release with a remix that it found chart success. In 2003 the track was re-released not as an instrumental but encompassing  the vocals from the Kings of Tomorrow ‘Finally’ and reached number 8 in the UK charts. My choice goes to the version without the vocals that gained no commercial success in 2002 on the basis that having seen Pete Tong drop it as his opening track to his Creamfield’s set many a year ago, sometimes you don’t need vocals to make 5,000 plus people go wild.

38. Groove Armada – Superstylin’

39. Layo and Bushwacka! – Love Story

My last choice in the 40 goes to a track that lyrically makes little or no sense at all and it’s claimed that it was written to resemble the internal dialogue of an alcoholic. I’m going to stick my balls on the line and say that none of the other tracks I’ve chosen can lay claim to its inspiration having the same sort of musical edifice. I’ve checked the Ivor Novello awards for song writing and composing and no surprise that this track or it’s writers are nowhere to be found on the list of winners but as originality goes this is right up there deservedly; That the track appears on the soundtrack of the iconic Irvine Welsh film ‘Trainspotting’ should come as little or no surprise. The group are another indication of the impact that EDM producers have in modern society having performed the role of musical directors at the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony. The final choice reached number 2 in the UK charts back in 1996.

40. Underworld – Born Slippy .NUXX

Whilst Holland, Sweden and Germany can proudly boast some of the biggest names in EDM right now the UK still sits top of the Christmas tree with an embarrassment of riches at its disposal; Above and Beyond, Gareth Emery, Nero, Carl Cox, Flux Pavillion, Chase and Status, John Digweed, Skream, Benga, James Zabiela, Caspa, Mat Zo, Modestep, Eddie Hadiwell, Matt Darey, Maya Jane Cole, Chicane and Judge Jules to mention but a few names. Do I even need to go through the past four blogs and repeat all the other names that I’ve already mentioned?

The UK has shaped, defined and pioneered the face of EDM for decades now and will continue to do so and keep creating legacy’s in every single genre without fail. From the DJ to Super Clubs the impact of the UK is felt worldwide in every corner of the globe. EDM is one of the nation’s finest exports after all it’s one of the last things that is still actually produced from these fair shores anymore.

So what about America, after all EDM was originally their invention.  The European mainland put their twist on things whilst the UK stamped it hard. Like their European counterparts America can boast its share of stalwarts; Steve Aoki, Erick Morillo, Diplo, Roger Sanchez, Wolfgang Gartner, Danny Tenaglia, Felix Da Housecat and Filo & Peri to name a few. Then there’s the upstarts making a name for themselves with the likes of; Dennis Ferrer, Morgan Page and Porter Robinson all beginning to make waves. Seth Troxler is another name worthy of mention though he now resides in Germany though America has adopted two European greats in return; Max Vangeli and Markus Schulz. Not a bad trade off at the end of the day.

Right now however two names unquestionably dominate the American EDM scene. The first is a French man who was voted number one in the annual DJ Mag Top 100. His production credits include the Black Eyes Pea’s worldwide monster hit ‘I Gotta Feeling’ and Kelis’ ‘Acapella.’ His collaborations include artists such as; Kelly Rowland, Akon, Niki Minaj, Flo Rida, Usher, Ludacris, Taio Cruz, Jennifer Hudson and a certain Hip Hop star that goes by the name of Snoop Dogg. As commercial influences go on EDM in America and creating new wave hybrids involving sub genres of music as a whole then David Guetta sits at the top of the pile as the undisputed Commercial King right now.

But no country in the history of time likes to see a foreign member of royalty sit upon it’s throne so step forward Sonny Moore aka Skrillex who sits as the American King of EDM. The three times 2011 Grammy award winner cites his main influences growing up to have included UK artists; Aphex Twin and The Prodigy. Possibly most important was his name check during his Grammy acceptance speech to the “Croydon dub guys that started all this in 2003.” Those Croydon dub guys he mentioned were Skream, Benga and Artwork.

Whilst America created EDM - We repackaged it and sold it back to the nation. Must be true, Sonny Moore said so in as many words at the Grammy’s.

In the interest of fairness and balance on the subject I tried to find a counter argument on the subject that the UK and similarly Europe doesn’t hold all the major cards when it comes to shaping EDM and that America actually rules the roost. Written by someone called Erica Washington the piece is called ‘Who says American DJ’s don’t know their Shit?’ and opens with the following gambit; Now, we may be a little confused, but can someone explain to us when electronic music became a “European” thing?

Well Erica I’m going to say the early 1980s and if you require further clarification then the past four blogs worth should just about do it. If you’d like to read the article and her argument and reasoning you can find it here and unlike my blogs it won’t take you too long to digest I promise. You make up your own mind who puts across the greater argument.


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