Perfection?

The mash-up. A form of music usually left to the attentions of music aficionados. Those who are anally retentive enough to pander and tweak the mixing of musical formulas.

On the whole, mash-ups are a wasteland of failed ideas and terrible decisions. Many a classic has been butchered at the hands of mad-men, who felt two songs weren't quite good enough listened to separately.

Despite this, on the odd occasion, a mash-up can burst forward and remind us that not every 'fun idea' must result in crimes against music.

Michael Jackson Vs Munk - Remember The Time In L.A. (Shazam Remix) (Mash-Up By Marc Johnce)



Could this song be the perfection of the mash-up idea. The ethos behind blending two records seemlessly is simple in idea but difficult in execution.

Marc Johnce takes the vocals from MJ's 'Remember The Time' and lays them over the nu-disco groove of Shazam's remixed 'Down In L.A'. The result is five minutes and four seconds of musical nirvana. The production is floorless, the chosen tracks are sublime. Everything about this effort oozes sublime yet understated perfection.

Xzibit vs Sonic The Hedgehog - Mystic Muggin' (Mash Up By Mixer Productions)


Don't play by the rules! Just because it's 1992 video game music; doesn't mean it isn't viable for the mash-up treatment.

Mixer Productions has been posting mash-ups on youtube for over a year now. Whilst not always succeeding, his decent batting average means his efforts are always worth a minute of your time. With 'Mystic Muggin'' however, he has smashed the ball not just out of the park, but into the next town.

A combination of 'Mystic Cave Zone' from Sonic 2 and 2004's 'Mean Muggin'' by Xzibit, this mash-up shows that video games often have pop-worthy melodies. The primitve beeps and blips can't hide what is a catchy rhythm, something Mixer has exploited to the fullest.

Drop in some gruff verses from Xzibit and you have edgy yet geeky mash-up magic. 'Mystic Muggin'' is a winner straight from the first synth sound.

Eric Prydz vs Take That - Greatest Pjanoo

If you were to state that 'Pjanoo' was capable of holding a roaring boyband ballad, most people would either laugh at you, or perhaps, smile politely whilst phoning the authorities to fit you with a strapping white jacket.

Somehow though, this clear lunacy has come up trumps. Created by persons unknown (rumours include Scott Mills and Zane Lowe), the pairing of pop and pjanoo has created an awe-inspiring hook over some heavenly melodic music. The mash-up works so well that after a while, the song seems natural. Hearing 'Pjanoo' without Gary Barlow's belting chorus is like Take-That without Robbie Williams, yeah it's stil good but, for some reason, it just feels like something's missing.

Bravo mystery mixer, for 'Greatest Pjanoo', we salute you.