2011 not only ushered in some unforgettable tracks, but also some fantastic mashups that I couldn’t get enough of. Most were featured on Popservations previously, while a few missed the spotlight for reasons now unfathomable, but these are my ten favorite mashups of the past year:
1. Kelis vs. Filthy Dukes – “Filthshake” (Bright Light Bright Light Mashup)
Inspired by the sheer joy of sharing a bill with Kelis at Bristol Pride, Bright Light Bright Light brilliantly mashed her 2003 smash with Filthy Dukes’ “This Rhythm.” Damn right, this mashup is better than yours, bringing this boy to the yard over and over again. [Link]
2. Adele vs. Britney Spears – “Rolling Till The World Ends” (Jarod Ripley Mashup)
Pairing Adele’s bluesy revenge hit, “Rolling In The Deep,” with one of Britney Spears’ best singles in years, the explosive “Till The World Ends,” might seem an odd coupling. But in a year of countless “Rolling In The Deep” remixes, Jarod Ripley‘s unexpected match bests most. Adele, the femme fatale — who would’ve thought? [Link]
3. Purple Crush vs. Madonna – “Sweat + Vogue Mashup”
L.A.-based electropop duo Purple Crush adds some ’90s sheen to their ode to sweating it out by bringing in Madonna’s 1990 strike-a-pose masterpiece, “Vogue.” The addition gets me even more hot and bothered than the original, and the last minute is pure pop perfection. [Link]
4. Beyoncé vs. Beastie Boys – “Girls On Girls” (Captain Cuts Remix)
This cheeky mashup from L.A. production trio Captain Cuts is a spectacular marriage of Beyoncé’s 21st century female-empowerment anthem, “Run The World (Girls),” with Beastie Boys’ tongue-in-cheek tune about the opposite sex from 1986’s Licensed To Ill. Besides a dose of humor, the addition of Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock’s “Girls” brings something sorely missing from Beyoncé’s original track — an actual melody. [Link]
5. Rye Rye feat. Robyn vs. Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera vs. LMFAO vs. Lady Gaga vs. Nicola Roberts – “Never Move A Rock Like Jagger” (Marc Johnce Mashup)
One of the best mashup makers in the bastard-pop biz, Marc Johnce delivered in spades this year, but “Never Move A Rock Like Jagger” is the one that I had on repeat. [Link]
6. Beyoncé vs. Pat Benatar – “Invincible Girls Run The World” (DJ Schmolli Mashup)
I could only bear to hear Beyoncé’s “Run The World (Girls)” a handful of times, so thank goodness for mashups, eh? When DJ Schmolli swapped the Major Lazer sample for Pat Benatar’s 1985 movie theme, “Invincible,” I instantly had a renewed appreciation for girl power, past and present. [Link]
7. Darren Hayes – “Out Of Talk” (Hall & Oates Mix)
Another ’80s-meets-modern-day pop mashup, but this one was totally an inside job. Darren Hayes laid the vocal track from his then-new single, “Talk Talk Talk,” atop the instrumental to Hall and Oates’ 1984 #1 hit, “Out Of Touch.” Thanks to the legendary duo’s blessing, relationship woes never sounded so good. [Link]
8. Glee Cast – “Rumor Has It/Someone Like You” (Adele Mashup)
Though not a traditional mashup, per se, since it’s a total re-recording, this interweaving of Adele’s “Rumor Has It” and “Someone Like You” was a definite highlight of what has been another uneven season of Glee. Vocalists Amber Riley and Naya Rivera go for broke and come out total winners, rewarded with a #11 placement on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest ranking for any Glee cast mashup so far. [Link]
9. Icona Pop vs. Madonna – “Nights Like Bonita”
Icona Pop switch off the videogame electropop of “Nights Like This” and press rewind on Madonna’s 1987 #4 hit, “La Isla Bonita.” Whether full tilt or island lilt, the Swedish duo delivered one of my top tracks of 2011. [Link]
10. Kreayshawn vs. Toni Basil, Le Tigre, The Ting Tings, The Trashwomen, The Go-Go’s – “Gucci Gucci Girl Power”
“Controversial” female rapper Kreayshawn never sounded better, with her “Gucci Gucci” rhymes rendered irresistible by A Plus D, who bring in musical support from various females past and present. [Link]
Honorable Mention: Madeon – “Pop Culture” (Live Mashup)
There’s not a single track from 2011 in Madeon‘s 39-song mashup, but watching him trigger all the samples live is just as mesmerizing today as it was when the 17-year-old French producer posted this video in July. [Link]
