Dream K-Pop Remix Projects
Remix projects are very popular artistic undertakings that not many artists get to enjoy. Many international recording artists, including Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears have all released remixes of their catalog. They put a new spin on their classic hits, and breathe new life into some old favorites.
I ask myself: Which K-Pop artists should release remix projects? I think the following just might have some really interesting results:
Big Bang. Big Bang's unique brand of K-Pop meets hiphop meets electronica makes this five-member Hallyu sensation a clear and easy pick for remixing. As a matter of fact, they already have! "Big Bang The Nonstop Mix" has sold almost 4,000 copies in Japan. Big Bang's catalog is probably the ripest for remixing of all active K-Pop artists today, and their emphasis on both hiphop and dance makes virtually every track remix-able and delicious! Obviously, "Fantastic Baby," the group's most club-ready track from their latest album, "Alive," would be the easy choice, but any track, from the saxophone-drenched "How Gee" to the hiphop gems that are "Lollipop" or "Bad Boy," from the joyous rock of "Tonight" to the melancholy tone of "Blue," Big Bang's creativity and musical depth are unparallelled in the world of K-Pop.
Super Junior. Super Junior is one of the most popular Hallyu artists in the world, and with its intensive catalog, the multi-talented idol group could certainly put together an impressive roster of dance remixes. Obviously, "Sorry Sorry," "Bonamana," and "Mr. Simple," the carrier singles of the group's past three full-length releases, are absolutely essential to SuJu's remix collection, but it would be very interesting to hear a remix of "A-Cha," or perhaps "Don't Don" or "Twins," from the group's first two releases. I, for one, would love to hear a remix of either of sub-unit Super Junior Happy's "Pajama Party" or "Cooking Cooking," alongside Super Junior M's "Super Girl" or "U."
2NE1. I can hear the club beats already! The fierce ladies of 2NE1 have hits that just beg to be remixed, and YouTube is full of remixes of their hits. Clearly, "I Am The Best" is the most ideal track for remixing. Check out this remix. I'm sure Blackjacks, as 2NE1 fans are known, would go crazy for club remixes of "Fire," "Can't Nobody," or "Go Away." Throw in some R&B remixes of "Lonely," "I Don't Care," Hate U," or "Ugly," and you've got yourself a club project that would send any K-Pop fan to rave heaven. Can you imagine CL, Dara, Bom, and Minzy in the clubs dancing to these remixes? I can!
Girls' Generation. K-Pop's reigning queens of Hallyu clearly have everything it takes to put out a full-length album of remixes. Their first US single, "The Boys," was actually remixed several times over, and cracked the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Meanwhile, there are so many great tracks ripe for remixing including "Run Devil Run" and "Mr Taxi" being the most remix-worthy of the lot. Then again, remixes of the classic SNSD songs, like "Oh," "Gee," and "Genie," would sound really amazing, don't you think? And how about a dirty club remix of the squeaky clean "Twinkle" by the ladies' first sub-unit, Taetiseo?!
Wonder Girls. The Hallyu wave owes a debt of gratitude to the Wonder Girls, who put K-Pop on the map for a lot of new K-Pop fans when "Nobody" became an international hit in 2008. What some people don't know is that prior to "Nobody," the Wonder Girls were making some pretty awesome R&B tracks, which would still sound fantastic if played today. Aside from "Nobody," "So Hot" is the nearest no-brainer for a remix, alongside "Irony" and "Tell Me." Their latter catalog is practically begging for remixes, including the club-ready "The DJ is Mine" and the old-school throwback, "Be My Baby."
There are so many other deserving artists out there with songs that would sound great remixed for the club or for hiphop-inspired drives down the freeway! How cool would it be to hear a remix of TVXQ's "Keep Your Head Down", 2PM's "Hands Up," Secret's "Madonna," or KARA's "Mister?" What would EXO's "Mama," or T-ARA's "Lovey Dovey" sound like remixed?
Catherine Deen blogs for Yahoo! Philippines OMG! She lives, eats and breathes Korean music, cuisine, telenovelas and pop culture. Follow her on Twitter @cathsdeen.
