I have some fabulous remixes of tracks you all will probably know – some recent and some older – some from the usual suspects (i.e. DJ Kue) and some from names not normally heard around these parts of dsquared. Whatever the case may be, all six of these songs make me very happy :-)

How many of you remember Wamdue Project’s “King Of My Castle”? I can’t believe it was released TEN YEARS AGO. Of course, now when I hear the phrase ‘king of my castle’ I can’t help but think of this. But enough sidetracking – this 2009 version of the classic tune by Phonetix nicely updates the original without making it sound like a remix, thanks to staying true to the original melodic elements but also interjecting new bits vocal-wise. Listen and you’ll understand exactly what I mean…

Wamdue Project: King Of My Castle (Phonetix Feat. Mr Faizer & Harsh Remix)
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How nice to get a Gaga remix that ISN’T “Poker Face,” “Just Dance,” etc… Ok, it’s not really a Gaga remix, it’s the Wale feat. Lady Gaga track “Chillin” but technicalities I guess since it’s just the songstress that is sampled here. The two mysterious people behind the mix call themselves Pwnguin & Pwnda and I bet you know who they are but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. The remix is effectively pretty good but the length is less than 3 minutes. This wouldn’t be an issue except that the duo built the track as if it was a 6 minute banger. That means 1 minute intro and a 30 second outro which leaves…90 seconds of actual track? No wonder they couldn’t fit a breakdown in.

Gaga Thrillin: Pwnguin & Pwnda
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Admit it – you love David Guetta and Kelly Rowland’s “When Love Takes Over.” If not the original, then the Laidback Luke mix? In a little sidestep – I’ll be interviewing David Guetta in the next week or so for TimeOut Chicago so watch for news on that! Anywho…this remix of DG is done by dsquared favorite Barletta who adds a slightly nastier edge to the tune while still maintaining that epic vibe lent by the piano keys and clapping to death.

David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland: When Love Takes Over (Barletta Remix)
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I LOVE JET. Seriously – I went to go see them the other week here in Chicago at the Doubledoor and they were amazing. They have a new album coming out on 8/25 out which doesn’t seem to be getting as much buzz as of yet as their previous material which is a damn shame because the current single, “She’s A Genius,” might be one of my favorite Jet songs to date (minus, of course, “Look What You’ve Done”). Enough with the Jet worship, on to the remix. This one is courtesy of Jaimie Fanatic and he manages to take the awesome gritty tones of singer Nic Cester and pair them against some evil sounding synth work. Live sounding drums stay consistent almost throughout, keeping it a bit grounded.

Jet: She’s A Genius (Jaimie Fanatic Blow Remix)
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Oh DJ Kue, how I love your sense of humor. Kue and FnDannyBoy always slip in remixes of songs no one else would want to (or think to) remix. Zebra’s “Tell Me What You Want” anyone? Before you listen to the remix, I suggest you watch the vid which is like a checklist of everything you should see in an 80s music video. Tiger leotard? Lots of smoke? Big hair? David Bowie-esque makeup? Yes, all check. Kue does a magnificent job of keeping chords present in the entire remix with breakdowns that ease in instead of some of his previous work where it feels more disparate. With secondary, complimentary synths on top, this is one remix going in my playlist.

Zebra: Tell Me What You Want (DJ Kue Master Blaster Remix)
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For those of you who want some remixes that aren’t intensely hard (like the Fantic remix above) but not pansy like a Dave Aude mix, Chew Fu comes to the rescue. His mix of Keri Hilson’s “Knock You Down” is perfect for the early part of a set or a venue that wouldn’t appreciate uber-intense reworks. Minimal percussive elements (notably loud claps and a shaker) are against a fairly crisp synth without much else, putting the vocals front and center. Sometimes, simple is best.

Keri Hilson: Knock You Down (Chew Fu Ghetto Club Fix)
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