Hits 30: Style Hybrids

Today I'm featuring a handful of hits new and old that are at the intersection between different genres. Most prominently, Dizzee Rascal has teamed up with Calvin Harris and Chrome for the electro-grime-R&B fusion "Dance Wiv Me," resulting in a surprisingly funky single that has already hit the top spot in the UK. Also recently in British pole position were the Ting Tings, with recent single "That's Not My Name." It's a fun pop-punk hybrid that fits onto the dancefloor strangely well. Saint Etienne never get too much notice as a sophisticated niche pop act, but their great "Shower Scene," which sees them fully embracing modern electronica perhaps a few years after the fact, was at the very least given a release in Spain a few years ago. I'm not too familiar with Mystery Jets, but I've taken notice of their recent cover of Leona Lewis's epic ballad "Bleeding Love." They strip the song back to an acoustic, country and blues-tinged take and reveal its strengths as a truly solid pop song, meeting the essential goal of a proper cover version by doing justice to the original while infusing it with a unique spin. In a way, the last featured song can be considered a cover version in its own way. When first recorded by Róisín Murphy around a year ago, the Calvin Harris-produced "Off And On" wasn't deemed the right fit for her second album Overpowered and didn't get released. It was, however, leaked, so by the time Calvin Harris remade the song with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, many web-savvy pop fans (myself included) had already grown accustomed to hearing Róisín's distinctive snarl over Harris's huge synth-laden beats. While Sophie's version is still catchy in its own right, it will Róisín's to my ears. Anyway, here is a remixed version of Sophie's recording, supposedly done for its imminent release as her fourth album's lead-off single (though I'd prefer she went with the superior Freemasons-produced "Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer"). For comparison, I've also reposted Róisín Murphy's recording of "Off & On," first featured in one of my earlier posts on Calvin Harris (see here).

Dizzee Rascal Feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome, "Dance Wiv Me" (Extended Mix) [YSI]
The Ting Tings, "That's Not My Name" [YSI] (from We Started Nothing)
Saint Etienne, "Shower Scene" (Radio Edit) [YSI] (from Finisterre)
Mystery Jets, "Bleeding Love" (Leona Lewis Cover) [YSI]
Sophie Ellis-Bextor, "Off And On" (Calvin Harris Remix) [YSI]
Róisín Murphy, "Off & On" [YSI]

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