Groove To This
The divas just keep pumpin' out the hits on the dance floor, continuing the trend of remixing original versions of songs into house jams. Witness recent soon-to-be classics from Toni Braxton ("Un-break My Heart"), Bette Midler ("To Deserve You") and Madonna ("Don't Cry For Me Argentina").
The latest batch of club hopefuls are a motley crew (no pun intended), including a Broadway babe, an old-school soul diva and a crossover country mega-star. The one thing they have in common, though, is an ability to work up a fierce groove on the dance floor.
Broadway star Linda Eder, who scared up some impressive credits (and a cult following) on Broadway in Jekyll and Hyde, recently released an album of contemporary tunes, It's Time. The first single, "Something to Believe In," is an uplifting, moody ballad showcasing Eder's lovely voice.
Reborn as a house mix, the song soars even higher, thanks to amped-up production from the Fitch Brothers and the inherent, gospel-like chorus. A couple of other overhauls from Prince Quick Mix give the song a darker, more tribal feel, showcasing beats more than Eder's vocal. For a true dance groove, though, stick to the infectious Fitch Brothers mix.
Remember Jody "I'm looking for a new love, yeah, yeah, yeah" Watley? Well, the girl is back and better than ever. With a new album entitled Flower due out March 3 on a new label (Atlantic), Watley is poised to re-enter the fold with a sleek new look and a sound that's even more soulful. The album's first single, "Off the Hook," finds Watley in a groove as smooth as honey, thanks to tight instrumentation and sexy lyrics.
It's the remix, though, that's sure to burn up the clubs. In fact, the song has already rocketed into the top ten of Billboard's Club Play chart. Credit that fact up to Soul Solution, who have previously worked with Cyndi Lauper and Whitney Houston. The mix is in the same vein of Deborah Cox's "Things Just Ain't the Same," one of last year's best. It builds and falls in synch with the vocal, centering around a seductive beat that doesn't sacrifice the original version's soulfulness.
For a pretty radical reworking of a monster hit, check out the just-released dance mixes of Leann Rimes' "How Do I Live." The genre-crossing song, which is still hovering near the top of the pop charts, should find a whole new audience thanks to this package, which features the requisite sprightly mixes (Mr. Mig's Dance Radio and Club Radio versions) and a bit of a darker house pulse (RH Factor Radio Edit).
The marketing brains behind Rimes continue to impress, and they see the obviously endless appeal of a teenage dynamo with this kind of voice. Overexposure? Perhaps. Groovable? Definitely. And besides, this can only help Rimes come Grammy time.
Feb. 25 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on CBS, Kelsey Grammer hosts the sometimes amusing, usually sleep-inducing Grammy Awards live from Radio City Music Hall. The big news this year is the inclusion of a couple of dance categories. Take a look:
Best Dance Recording
"Da Funk:" Daft Punk
"Ooh Aah ... Just a Little Bit:" Gina G.
"To Step Aside:" Pet Shop Boys
"Space Jam:" Quad City DJ's
"Carry On:" Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder
Remixer of the Year (included are artists they have remixed)
Frankie Knuckles (Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige)
David Morales (U2, Mariah Carey)
Mousse T. (Simply Red, Nuyorican Soul)
Todd Terry (Jamiroquai, The Cardigans)
Armand Van Helden (Janet, Sneaker Pimps)
My bets go on Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder's High-NRG "Carry On" for dance recording, and Armand Van Helden for remixer of the year. Disagree? E-mail me your votes for both categories at jgg95173@bayou.uh.edu. I'll tally 'em up and print the winners in next week's column.