Wednesday, April 23, 2008

My First Ever Mash-Up

It's 2008 now, the brave new world of mash-ups has ceased to be a novelty, a few corkers did come out of it - as well as a new type of pop single. 

The Sugababes made the most of it, getting to number one with Freak Like Me - and even their most recent smash hit (About You Now) was a rip off of the Strokes/Aguilara mash-up that was amongst the first to appear. 

Go Home Productions made a few corkers, the best being Radiohead vs Marvin Gaye (I've lost my copy of this, but I know DsD is a big fan), and the track I've posted below. Which, in its own way, is a lot like the snippets quizzes we've done of late (I think there's about 5 or 6 songs in there)

I'm also posting my first attempt at a mash-up, which I did a few years ago. I've tried others since, but either they work or they don't. My Bloc Party vs Ben E King should have been a thing of beauty, but I fell foul of simple things like key and tempo. I guess you guys may have seen the awful Run JAMC thing I did (tipsy, for RR). 

Right then, points go to identifying all the elements in the tracks, first up my mash up - then a pro shows you how it's meant to be done!



Blimpy's attempt

Go Home Production's proper jobby

******edit******

Darcey'sDad came through with the goods! Top hole, sir! Have another vodka as a reward!
Here's THE best mash-up ever; Marvin Gaye vs. Radiohead with "Sexual High" - a tune that is more than the sum of its parts!

"Sexual High mp3 Radiohead vs Marvin Gaye via Go Home Productions

10 comments:

steenbeck said...

Blimpy, I thought yours was really good!! It fit perfectly. Was that, um, aerosmith? I think I would be even more impressed if I was familiar with all the elements. The other one wasn't bad either. I love Sweet Jane. Ejaydee pointed the way to some mash-ups involving Jay-Z's latest album, including one with some Fela tracks, and they were just incredible to me. They sound like they were made to go together. I don't know how you fellows do it.

Blimpy said...

If you fancy a shot, the easiest way to go about it is to identify an instrumental section of a track you really like, then go searching for an acapella to lay over the top, et voila!

Rap works well, cos the rapping isn't in a key as such, so it can fit nearly anything.

ejaydee said...

There's a picture, well sort of , of Maddy on the RR blog now that they're all shiny. I don't think it counts though because I suspect it's a silhouette of Matt Scott, a sports writer for the Guardian.

glasshalfempty said...

Am May Zing - your track. If You hadn't said it was a Blimpy mash up, I'd never have guessed, nor wondered so much about the bits that sound a bit familiar. I liked it. On the other hand, not being a great rap fan, I was left a bit cold by GHP...

steenbeck said...

Blimpy, I'm tempted, but I should be focussing my energies on finding gainful employment. I haven't earned significant money since 11/15/05, and the specter of waitressing is making me want to cry. Why can't I sit around all day making dopey songs on garage band and drawing monsters?

Do you think you could do a tutorial on yahoo players, I'm more than usually flummoxed.

Blimpy said...

hi steen,

listen, don't worry! i was out of work for almost a year til i got my current video production job 14 months ago - and believe me, the local pub was calling me back to bar work during that time. however, i knew if i did take the shitty job then i'd become lacadasical in searching for the "proper" one. something will come along, it's a hard thing to do, but sometimes you have to go kicking at doors.

it's very rare that anyones interests and work converge, but when it does happen, it's great. i wish we could all get paid for our hobbies - that said, there's nothing stopping us turning this blog commercial (apart from 2 things: 1. there'd be a revolt if we took the decision to sell advertising. 2: how could we split the money 44 ways?!)

Blimpy said...

....and i'll do the tutorial as soon as I'm not half-cut. promise.

DarceysDad said...

Oh yes! The first guitar (and backing vocal) is indeed Aerosmith, Sweet Emotion to be precise. Don't know the vocal, still tryng to identify the drum fill (familiar) and the other guitars (second one not familiar, last one with the slide should be but the vodka's fogging things).

Oh, and Senor MecFlarra, check your email . . .

Blimpy said...

Nice one Darce, I have edited the post accordingly, thanks for the track!

Aerosmith all the way! The vocal is Amerie's "1 Thing" (amazing pop tune, that) - there's also a Raconteurs tune bringing up the rear - the name escapes me just now...

nilpferd said...

BTW, Blimpy- Run JAMC was top drawer. Old skool. Number one. Egg yolk, as we say here. More desirable than warm bread rolls.
In fact, Run JAMC IS the 'Spill.
'nuff said.