A "WICKED" Good Remix!

Hey everybody,

I remember back in high school, RENT was one of the first plays/musicals I ever saw on Broadway... it was so different from what I normally associated with musicals: the songs were pop and rock, the cast was young and diverse, and the subject matter was modern, political, and interesting to a teenager. It was definitely a show aimed for my generation.

Anyway, at the time, I had a huuuge crush on Idina Menzel, who played Maureen in the show. I even remember finally getting to see RENT on her very last night in the cast... and waiting afterwards to get her autograph! (what a geek, I know).

Ms. Menzel has gone on to be quite a successful Broadway actress, inventing the role of Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) in the theatrical version of the novel Wicked. Well, my love of Idina and of dance music have FINALLY found common ground! Idina's just released an EP of remixes to her song "Defying Gravity," one of the musical's signature songs!

It's not often you find Broadway songs getting remixed to a club beat, but leave it to my girl Idina to do a great job with it ;) Check out the ITunes sample:



Okay, now you're probably confused by all the colorful options - haha!

BLUE cover is the regular single version.
YELLOW cover is the radio edit club mix version.
RED cover is the extended DJ club mix version.
The Tracy Young remix has received the most hype so far (naturally, she's the biggest name on the EP)... but the Funky Junction & Antony Reale Radio Edit is my personal fave.

Remixing this song was kind of an odd choice... though probably not as odd as when "One Night in Bangkok" (from Chess) became a pop hit in the 80s. Now that was just weird, and I'm barely old enough to remember! Ha!

Later,
JOHNNY

Dance Divas Go JAZZ

Hey guys!

Hope you're all doing well!

I think we mentioned a few posts back that me and Johnny just returned from New Orleans, home of Jazz music. Well, that reminded me of a trend I noticed with a few of our fave dance divas... club artists exploring jazz music territory!

For starters, have you all heard about the new album coming out from Deborah Cox? It's called Destination Moon (coming out June 19) and it's her tribute to the music of Dinah Washington, the "Queen of Blues." Check out Deborah's newly updated website. Gotta love the old-skool jazz look... so classy!! Now here's a question for ya: do you think we'll get remixes of these jazz covers? THAT would be a modern update, huh?? ;)

While Ms. Cox has been busy getting back to her jazz roots, so has Kristine W! With her new dance album set to drop in a matter of months, there's a second release on the way... a jazz album, of course! If you've seen Kristine live, you know that she's actually a talented saxophonist, pianist, guitarist and jazz singer (in addition to a fabulous club diva). Well, she's soon releasing a jazz album (titled Straight Up With a Twist) of original songs she's written, covers of classic jazz music, AND (gotta love this) jazz reinventions of her classic club hits! Check out the audio clip below to hear a bossa nova version of "Save My Soul"!:

Save My Soul - Bossa Nova style

Hmm... I wonder if we'll be hearing any other soulful offerings from our fave divas soon! I wonder how much of this was inspired by Christina Aguilera's recent success with Back to Basics? Maybe those songs helped get the jazz sound in vogue again! (Oh, and if you're looking for the opposite idea, a retro song remixed with a modern beat, head to iTunes and check out my fave remix of Christina's "Candyman," the OFFER NISSUM remix:)


Anyone have any other dance artists they'd like to see revist a classic jazz sound? Any favorite tracks you think would sound good stripped down and soulful??

I can't wait to hear what these ladies come up with next!

Lotsa love,
JADE

New album from DJ/Divo D:FUSE!

Hey everybody,

First, a quick update on Jade's last blog: The new Madonna song "Hey You" is available for FREE download right now! Check it out here. MSN is going to donate 25 cents to Live Earth (the concert for climate change) for each of the first million downloads it receives... so spread the word! Good track, and good cause! Definitely NOT what most people would think of when they hear about a Madonna/Pharrell collaboration... but as someone commented on a previous post, this may placate some big "M" fans who were pissed at the idea of her "selling out and going hip hop." If this song is any indication, Pharrell's production skills are being used in many ways... not just hip hop styles!

Anyway, I also wanted to tell you about a new project from one of my favorite DJ's: D:Fuse

You probably already know D:Fuse as a DJ... in fact, he's a member of the group DJs are Alive! (alongside Kristine W), a group that I like to think of as the "Super Friends" of the dance scene :) Haha. Anyway, he's teamed up with Mike Hiratzka (who, to be honest, I'd never heard of before) to create his first "song based" album... Skyline Lounge. It's not a DJ mix compilation... it's all original productions in the format of traditional songs. I got to hear an advance copy of the album... it's awesome!

The album also features vocals from ANOTHER of my favorite DJ's... DJ Rap (on the track "The Power of Love"). MC Flint, Govinda, and Angel-A all lend their pipes, too.

The album isn't available until July 24... but that's why we like to give you the inside scoop early! ;) Keep an eye out... it's definitely one of this Divo's best efforts yet!


"After a few songs, we realized everything had a cohesive feel. To us it felt like a city rooftop at night. The energy of the city combined with the beauty of a skyline. That's where Skyline Lounge and the subsequent cover concept came front. We literally spent an entire day hauling vintage gear and living room furniture up a flight of stairs to a rooftop in Midtown LA to get the shot." - D:Fuse

Later all,
JOHNNY

New MADONNA song!!

Hey guys!

As many of you probably know, I consider Madonna to be the biggest, baddest DIVA of them all ;) So it's my pleasure to announce that she's got a new song on the way... as in, it comes out WITHIN THE WEEK!

The track is called "Hey You," and it's a song she recorded specifically for her work with Live Earth (www.liveearth.org) and the organization's Concerts for a Climate in Crisis. "Hey You" is rumored to be a very socially conscious track... and it's also one of Madonna's collaborations with Pharrell, the Neptunes producer who she has been working with on her new album.

But here's the deal: "Hey You" will only be available as an online download... so as soon as it's out, we'll get you all the link to find out how to get it :)

Hope that gets you excited... I know I am!!

Lots of love,
JADE

Video for ULTRA NATE "Automatic"!

Hey everybody,

Sorry it's been a while... Jade and I just got back from New Orleans, Louisiana... we were down there building a house with Habitat for Humanity! All I can say is: WOW. As bad as all the images and videos have been since Hurricane Katrina, nothing compares to seeing the real place and meeting the real people who have had their lives forever changed. You guys, please support those - like Habitat - who are doing their best to give these people hope again! (After all, the government sure isn't doing anything... but that's another story, isn't it?)

Anyway, on a more lighthearted note... anyone checked out the video for our Diva ULTRA NATE's song "Automatic." Yikes! Pretty risque! It's a tribute to... umm... well, "self-love" is the phrase that comes to mind. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out below!

Almost time to reveal our next DIVA and DIVO... look for that within the week!

In the meanwhile, enjoy the video... I'm sure you will!



Later,
JOHNNY

Hear Walk Away

Sorry for the lack of updates... but this should tide you over. Head to Tony Moran's Myspace to HEAR Kristine W's new track! You can get it May 16th at Beatport.com!

Lotsa Love,
JADE

New Colette Track

One of my Favorite DJs has to be Colette. Whenever she comes thru Boston I make a point to see her shows. She is one of the few DJs who really plays for the crowd. She keeps one ear to the room, as if she is saying that she wants to hear what we hear - not just what's in her headphones. Too often, DJs play only what they want to hear and the room can go dead.

I remember a few years back, when PURE opened in Boston. They toted it as an awesome House club. Totally pumped, I went the first night and was wicked disappointed. The DJ totally wouldn't listen to requests. My friend actually requested a song and he said, "I don't play that sh*t." Now this DJ had an empty dance floor and people (including me) left way before last call. I never do that! An to top off the night, the music at the all night Korean BBQ in Chinatown was playing better music!

Colette is the total opposite. She mixed great beats, sometimes has a live percussionist and intersperses her great live vocals throughout her set. She follows the mood of the crowd and people have a blast!

Her new song, "About Us" is great! Its got that trademark Colette beat and sounds like its gonna be a groovy house song for years to come. Click her pic to see her myspace where you can hear the new track. Then come back and let me know what ya think!

Later,
JOHNNY