New York, NY (Top40 Charts) A classic is a classic, no matter what it is. Whether it's a classic car, a classic novel or a classic tune, classics stand the test of time and can go through generations who equally enjoy it. Today we are going to look at some of the
classics we love that will have everyone on their feet, dancing around, at a social distance, of course.
So Much Love - Owen Westlake featuring Lloyd Wade
Owen Westlake is well on his way to being a well-known hit creator; the London-based producer and DJ has suddenly been catapulted into the spotlight by one of British football's most prominent players, Steven Gerrard, in a stunning and, some could argue, haphazard manner. After his 2016 song ‘So Much Love’ was used in a viral video posted by Steven Gerrard, manager of Rangers FC, he received a lot of attention. Owen's track has been picked up to be re-released, in addition to earning him a position in Rangers' footballing legacy.
After being reintroduced into the public consciousness, ‘So Much Love' spent four weeks at the top of the UK Spotify Viral Chart, jumping from 50 daily listens to 30K, and is likely to be the summer's soundtrack. Owen Westlake shares his secret gem with the world now that the record has reached its full potential. From early influences like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers to modern music influences like Massive Attack and The Chemical Brothers, Owen Westlake has been involved in music his entire life.
Music Sounds Better With You - Stardust
Stardust, Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter, producer Alan Braxe, and singer Benjamin Diamond's French house partnership only issued one single: ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ in 1998. The single will be reissued on 12" vinyl and will be available for the first time on streaming platforms, as promised. The reissue of ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ will be released on June 28.
When Alan Braxe requested Thomas Bangalter and Benjamin Diamond to join him for a show at Paris' Rex Club, they came up with the idea for ‘Music Sounds Better With You’. The track is the consequence of the trio's decision to create a new track for the occasion. The single was released in July 1998 on Bangalter's Roulé label, and a Michel Gondry-directed music video accompanied it.
Everybody’s Free - Piero Pirupa
Piero Pirupa, an Italian DJ/producer, has added another milestone to his ever-growing list of dancefloor weapons. Reworking Rozalla's jubilant early 1990s house classic ‘Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)’, the song has been given a warm, 21st century sound, transforming it into an evocative message of optimism in these weird, uncertain times.
This record was an exhilarating rush of energy back in 1991. Rozalla wonderfully encapsulated the sense of liberation that the early rave culture felt. The record was a hit at Ibiza parties that summer, conquering house music clubs, and charted in several countries, including the US, where it reached #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. ‘Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)’ is a song that has been with me for a long time. It's been sampled, remixed, and covered several times, including a version by Kylie Minogue in 2016. It's considered one of the biggest dance anthems of the 1990s.
When a seasoned musician like Piero Pirupa brings a 90s dance hit back to life, the stakes are enormous. ‘Everybody's Free (To Feel Good’ has evolved into a loving homage to the original, with interesting broken beats and electronic effects added to the powerful piano chords and Rozalla's euphoric vocal delivery. The vocals and the synth elements have been given a second layer, giving the song a richer tone.
Show Me Love - Robin S
A cymbal crash, a rough house beat, and a loud, punchy snare kick off the track. A harsh, deep synth stab plays a simple three-note riff, followed by a dreamy, wordless vocal maintained for a few seconds while one of dance music's most recognisable melodies plays out. That skeleton, bouncing arrangement — a keyboard preset on the Korg M1 synthesiser — made it from underground clubs to the soundtrack of a million nights out, as well as numerous wedding receptions, cab rides, dodgem rides, and weekend shopping trips.
‘Show Me Love’ defied expectations by breaking through to the mainstream and being ingrained in our daily lives. ‘Show Me Love’ eventually showed how financially successful vocal house music could be, demonstrating how a good song with modern dancefloor production can transcend into something much bigger than its creators and singer ever imagined.
These are but a few of the club classics that many of us will be streaming this summer, whether laying by a pool or getting us through the working day. Songs come and go, but classics last forever.
