Sam Smith - Stay With Me (Mark Picchiotti remixes)

The haunting ballad by the English singer-songwriter has topped the charts in nearly all parts of the world. The song has struck an emotional chord with many due to the relatable lyrics and the genuine vocal performance by Sam. There have been dozens of bootleg remixes which just did not mesh that well with the sentimental vibe of the song, however, the legendary Mark Picchiotti stepped up to the plate and produced some unorthodox Chic-inspired remixes which work perfectly. The Disco/R&B-styled remixes are at a lower tempo. The song is less melancholy in this arrangement.

Listen to the remix here: (it is also available as a free download if you 'Like' Mark's Facebook page)


Grade: A+

Daft Punk - Get Lucky (Daft Punk Remix)

After a whole slough of bootleg mixes flooded the market, the first and probably only official remix of the song has surfaced. Staying with the Disco aesthetic of the song, they opted for a mix which doesn't stray much from the original. The song has been re-arranged considerably with some new sounds and changes to the way the vocals are sequenced, particularly during the chorus. The song has an overall fuller, warmer sound to it. The single edit had some of that though it seemed like the album version was missing that.

Listen to the full mix:
 

Grade: A

Daft Punk - Get Lucky (feat Pharrell Williams)

The French duo's first studio album in almost 8 years, entitled Random Access Memories will be released in a few weeks. The first single is a collaboration with the legendary Nile Rogers (formerly of Chic) and singer/producer Pharrell Williams (of N.E.R.D. and The Neptunes). "Get Lucky" is a funky Disco-flavored number with Pharrell singing in falsetto for much of it. He is a perfect match for the smooth, soulful production. The song sounds like it could have been made during the Disco heyday of the 70s, but it sounds fresh. With Dance music being ubiquitous on Pop radio right now, it would be an excellent opportunity to send this song to that format. Only the Radio Edit is available right now. The full album version that is 2 minutes longer will be released later on, probably when the album is.

-Purchase the song here (iTunes)
-Purchase the song here (Amazon)

Grade: A