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Remix

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A remix, also called a reorchestration or a rework, is a piece of media that has been altered from its original state. This process involves adding, removing, or changing specific pieces of an existing item. While most people associate the term with music, a remix can apply to many forms of art. One can remix a song, a piece of artwork, a book, a poem, or even a photograph. The core characteristic of any remix is appropriation. This means taking existing materials and changing them to create something entirely new.

In the world of music, remixing is often a subset of audio mixing. Artists remix songs for many practical and artistic reasons. They may adapt a track for radio play or for use in a nightclub. Sometimes, a remix creates a stereo or surround sound version where none existed before. It can also improve the fidelity of an old song if the original master is lost. Remixing allows a song to fit a specific genre or reach a new audience. It can even provide bonus tracks for a CD single.

Madonna - The Celebration Tour live London14 10 2023 (53270974497)
Madonna - The Celebration Tour live London14 10 2023 (53270974497)

It is important to distinguish a remix from other similar practices. An edit usually involves simply shortening a final stereo master for broadcasting. A cover is a completely new recording of someone else's song. A remix, however, recombines audio pieces from a specific recording to change the sound. In the 1980s, musicians often released "extended mixes" on 12-inch vinyl singles. These tracks typically lasted six to seven minutes. They might include extra bars of instruments or simply stitch two copies of a song together.

MariahGMA
MariahGMA

Modern remixing has deep roots in the dance-hall culture of Jamaica during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Producers like King Tubby and Lee "Scratch" Perry popularized "versions." These were stripped-down instrumental mixes of reggae tunes. They would drop vocal tracks or use effects like echo, reverberation, and delay. They also learned to drop instrumental tracks in and out of the mix. In the mid-1970s, Tom Moulton invented the dance remix as we know it today. He also invented the 12-inch single vinyl format.

JessicaSimpsonMay10
JessicaSimpsonMay10

As disco and dub cultures met in the Bronx, they helped create hip-hop music. Key figures like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash used new techniques. They used "cutting," which is alternating between duplicate copies of a record. They also used "scratching," which is manually moving the vinyl under the needle. This created a style of "real-time, live-action collage." A famous early success of this style was the 1983 track "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock. This track was remixed by Grand Mixer D.ST.

Melanie Chisholm byte
Melanie Chisholm byte

Technology has continuously changed how remixes are made. In the late 1980s, a new style emerged where producers kept the vocals but replaced all the instruments. Jesse Saunders, known as "The Originator of House Music," pioneered this. In May 1988, he used this technique on the song "It's a Cold, Cold World." Later, in the 1990s, powerful home computers led to the rise of the "mashup." A mashup is an unofficial remix that joins two or more different recordings. Artists like Girl Talk create entire albums using sounds cut from other music.

Today, remixing is a massive part of the global music industry. According to Guinness World Records, Madonna is the most remixed act. Her album "You Can Dance" helped make remix albums a popular trend. However, using samples can lead to legal disputes over rights. In 2015, Jay-Z went to trial regarding a sample used in "Big Pimpin'." Some artists, like Björk and Nine Inch Nails, actually encourage their fans to remix their work. Remixing remains a vital way to connect different eras of art and technology.

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