40 Songs, 40 Days (2011 Edition), Day Eighteen: Soul Love (ATOM's Pink Innards Mix) by David Bowie

This is a version of the classic Ziggy Stardust track from the project that saw modern mash-up DJs remix the classic album. And it's....odd. ATOM has done a lot to submerge Bowie's vocals except at very key times--in many spots, it seems like he's playing with the gain too much to give Bowie the sound of someone trying to keep his head above water--and has done something that makes the drum line sound distorted by blown speakers. I have to say that I don't think it does Bowie's song about the way the meaning of love can change from person to person (a mother's love for her son, who lost his life for love of country; new lovers discovering each other; the love of God being used by a priest for comfort) any service. It's too busy, drawing attention to the mix more than the song itself.

A good remix, like a good cover song or a good mash-up, should illuminate the original in some way. I fear that the art of the remix is lost when it comes to genres outside of hip-hop. There was a time not that long ago when even the most inconsequential single got a 12 inch remix--Hell, I have very vivid memories of listening, with some incredulity, to a remix of Warren Zevon's "Leave My Monkey Alone" on that aberration of a radio station we call Z100. Don't get me wrong, there are mash-up DJ's who do some great straight remixes--I've talked briefly about DJ Earworm before, for example--But ATOM's efforts here do not give me much hope that art will return.

If you're curious about the whole project, which also includes remixes by other famous mash-up stars like A Plus D, ToTOM and the project's compiler, DJBC, go to The Ziggy Remixed Page.

No video for this one, but here's one for the more effective, pure mash-up that A Plus D put together for the very same project, "Stardust Kids."