The Borowski Spin

Apr. 11 Entertainment, Music, Music Review, News, The Borowski Spin no comments

Welcome back kids! Here are this week’s new and notables in the universe of Dance Music…

“Back In Time” – Pitbull feat. Chris Brown (vs. Mickey & Sylvia)

Even the most casual reader of this column knows I don’t have any patience for Pitbull’s phoning in his list of catchphrases on every song he lends his name to. Well, stand back, because you can count me in as a fan of his latest, which just so happens to be the theme song for the upcoming “Men In Black 3.” Cheesy? For sure. Sophomoric? Oh, yeah. But “Back In Time” scores with its sensational sampling of Mickey & Sylvia’s “Love Is Strange,” the 50’s duet better known for its inclusion in “Dirty Dancing.” Set to a rhythmic beat, excerpts are incorporated beautifully, even dramatically when the percussion drops out right before Mickey’s single-string guitar solo. The tune is also a hoot; we giggle like an 8 year-old at the proclamation, “I don’t give a number two!”

http://soundcloud.com/pitbull/pitbull-back-in-time

“Let’s Go” – Calvin Harris feat. Ne-Yo

Been wondering what that catchy song in the Pepsi Max commercial is? Score another one for Calvin Harris, who’s winning streak over the past 12 months includes Kelis’ “Bounce,” the current “Feel So Close” and especially the Rihanna smash “We Found Love.” Throw in his composition work for the likes of Kylie (“In My Arms,” “Heartbeat Rock”) and stellar mixing for everyone from the Ting-Tings to Katy Perry, and he’s on a similar trajectory as fellow producer/artist, the omni-present David Guetta. Featuring the always-smooth vocals of Ne-Yo, “Let’s Go” will have you going-going-gone. Extra points for the space age car alarm effect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYic-dOxHHU

“The Night Out” – Martin Solveig

A hit song can be a blessing and a curse. Take Martin Solveig’s “Hello.” An undeniable worldwide smash, the French DJ/producer has been trying to make lightning strike twice ever since. None of the other singles off his most recent album (actually CALLED “Smash,” thank you) have seen the same success, with “Big in Japan” simply sounding too similar. His terrific work on Madonna’s new album “MDNA” has been far more varied – even when he poaches from his own oeuvre, as with the repurposing of “Turn Up The Radio.” Now “Smash” makes a go with a 5^th single, “The Night Out,” which actually got some minor club play with a remix last summer. The song is seeing an official release with “The Night Out” EP featuring 6 mixes of this song as well as mixes of 4 other “Smash” tunes. (We love the Why Are We Whispering Remix of “Hello.”) “The Night Out” is a successfully softer take on Solveig’s signature style, complete with a jangling guitar. Check out the fab 10-minute concept video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw2h10_OsA0

DJ REIDICULOUS with Fun., Jennifer Lopez & Carly Rae Jepsen

This week, in the ongoing search for new music, I stumbled across the website of one DJ Reidiculous. LOVE the name, which you may recognize from Elvis Duran and The Morning Show on Z100. Hailing from New Jersey, it turns out Reid has engineered some terrific, unofficial mixes of his own. They’re fun and clever, and perfectly walk the line between Big and Small Room vibes. He first had my attention with his version of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” and we also instantly dug his takes on J-Lo’s “Dance Again” (love the fab “quacking” effect!) and especially “We Are Young” by Fun. Reid’s version of the latter makes the best case yet for bridging the tempos between the song’s upbeat verses and lolling piano-bar refrains. He’s constructed a first-rate, even-keeled Dance version. You can check out and download these and Reid’s other mixes at his website: www.djreidiculous.com. This young kid’s a real talent and I suspect we’ll be hearing a lot more from him.

BPM BITS: This week’s award for “Most Unusual Song Concept” goes to singer NiRe All’Dai for her whacked-out fairy tale “Inside Out,” in which she hilariously portrays herself as a “tiny queen” on her musical throne brainwashing her drone/subjects into happy dancing revelers…The transcendent instrumental “Magical Sunrise” (Original Mix) by Several Spirits perfectly conjures daybreak on the beach after an all-nighter. Think Giorgio Moroder meets Limahl! The 2012 Fire Island season can’t start soon enough…The mixes keep coming for Beyonce’s “Love on Top.” The most recent is the low-key Redsoul Funkademia Remix, which appropriates a “Thriller”-like bassline…We first got a taste of remixes for Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” last November via Martin n Souza. Now comes a whole new slate. While many suffer from indulging the song’s loud, messy bridge, we’re partial to the one by Hector Fosenca, which avoids that pitfall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zLd9gqwH5g

http://soundcloud.com/several-spirits/several (This is a more aggressive version than the heavenly Original Mix, which isn’t currently available online)

http://soundcloud.com/redsoul/1-beyonce-love-on-top-redsouls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhaLKRIOwAE

NEWS: This Saturday, April 14 is the April edition of GET YOUR MESS ON!, the monthly Dance/Pop party at the newly-renovated Pieces Bar, music by Yours Truly. It all starts at 1oPM, so come on down to 8 Christopher in the West Village for Boys, Booze, Beats…and colorful Beads! If you stop in for a drink or three, pop by the DJ booth and say hello. We love our GaySocialites readers!

http://www.facebook.com/DJBigMikeNYC?__adt=2&__att=iframe#!/events/115612758572607/

On this week’s TOP 20 DANCE CHART, Madonna logs a 3rd consecutive week at #1, becoming the longest run at the top since Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)” back in the Summer of 2010. Meanwhile Nicki Minaj bides her time at #2 as two of last week’s debuts, J-Lo’s “Dance Again” and Eva Simmons’ “I Don’t Lie You,” make impressive leaps upwards.

1) Girl Gone Wild (Justin Cognito, Dave Aude & Offer Nissim Mixes) – Madonna (1) *

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBMiYJ7kzbI

2) Starships (Original & Funk 3^rd Party Anthem Mixes) – Nicki Minaj (2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-8MagxjOrE

3) Raise Your Hands – C-Rod feat. Jason Walker (4)

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_details/12240914

4) Turn Up The Music (Remix) – Chris Brown feat. Rihanna (3) *

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCioM9hJksw

5) Keeping The Planets (Frank Minoia Disco Mix) – Joy Salinas (5)

http://soundcloud.com/kyosakurecords/sets/joysalinas-keepingtheplanets/

6) Dance Again (Extended Remix) – Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull (12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KxII6AJYZY