Dance cover versions of pop songs don’t always do it for me. I prefer that the original be remixed, rather than be subjected to a second-rate sound-alike from an unknown artist. Once in a while, however, an exception does come along, and I’m happily surprised.

I’ve already gone on record that Brandy & Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” is one of my favorite tunes from pop music’s dueling-divas mini genre. Though the original spent 13 weeks at #1 in 1998, there were never any official club remixes (I’ve got one bootleg mix somewhere), and thus I’ve always thought it a shame that their “fella-drama” never played out on the dancefloor.

Over a decade later, some UK gals are angling to change that, covering “The Boy Is Mine.” But what’s more than a little strange is that LoveShy apparently disbanded last summer. That’s definitely LoveShy’s Aimee Kearsley and Emma Beard in the photo at right, so perhaps “The Boy Is Mine” is nothing more than a previously unreleased leftover. The duo did release a cover of Jomanda’s “Got A Love For You,” and that the girls would cover another seems fair.

As for the “Elesha” featured on the track, I’m fairly confident that’s Elesha Paul Moses, who scored a dance hit with the Buzz Junkies last year, a re-work of Brownstone’s 1993 signature hit, “If You Love Me.”*

There are just two mixes to LoveShy’s new take on “The Boy Is Mine,” and I’m currently grooving to the Albert Castillo Club Remix. The fact that LoveShy does their best Bananarama on the chorus isn’t a bad thing, either. Hear here:

*Bonus points to those who knew that Brownstone was signed to Michael Jackson’s shortlived label, MJJ Music. Brownstone got back together in 1997 for several performances, and are said to be working on an album for release this year.

No word as to whether the release of “The Boy Is Mine” means LoveShy is giving it another go.

Purchase LoveShy featuring Elesha – “The Boy Is Mine (Albert Castillo Club Mix)” via iTunes.