10 Remixes in 2008 you missed

This post is a part of 2008: The Year That Was, a feature of Opinion Matrix and Review Matrix, to round off the year in style.

We faced an avalanche of songs in 2008: mellow originals, hardcore rock numbers, and of course, remixes. Lots of them. However, it was only a few of them that made the most noise, and not all of them were necessarily good. A few very good mixes simply slipped into obscurity because of many reasons: The film wasn't promoted well enough, or it bombed, or the mix was simply too unconventional, but one thing is clear: The remixes were grossly underrated. I therefore post:

10 Underrated Remixes of 2008

10. Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai (Remix)
Remixed by: Unavailable
Album: Everybody On Dance Floor Groove 6
The premier reason for the apparent overshadowing of this track (besides the obvious fact that it doesn't appear in an OST) is the aversion people generally have to listening to such songs being remixed. However, this track largely succeeds in its endeavor of keeping the soul of the original intact along with providing pretty decent beats and echoing vocals that enables the song to cater to both audiences: those liking originals, and those liking remixes. But under-promotion has turned out to be the main culprit...

9. Bandeya (Remix by DJ Suketu) and Allah Ho (Remix by DJ Aqeel)
Album: Khuda Kay Liye
I'm not surprised I have to put both these songs in this list. In fact I feel hardly any of you readers may have heard of even the movie. KKL is a brilliant Pakistani movie, and both these songs, even more so. For Bandeya, DJ Suketu goes about in his own style and brings to the table (turntable, as it were) an awesome remix that can light up any party. Allah Ho, on the other hand, is an extremely dark and haunting mix by DJ Aqeel, albeit with a fairly high tempo. However, both these songs are not Hindi, which may pose some problem for listeners that like lyrics.

8. Meow (Remix)
Remixed by: Nikhil Chinappa and Naved
Album: Golmaal Returns
You may have got a load of remixes of Vacancy and Tha Kar Ke (both of which are very good, no doubt), but in the noise surrounding these mixes, the voice of Meow got drowned out. This remix features outlandish arrangements by Nikhil Chinappa (yeah, it's the very same MTV VJ) and Naved along with very good escalating beats. It may not be as full-on as Vacancy, but that is no reason to not give this track a good hear!

7. Kahin To Hogi (Remix)
Remixed by: Unavailable
Album: Everybody On Dance Floor Groove 6
Similar mix to Jaane Tu... (see #10), similar merits, same problems. Only difference being the merits and problems have double the intensity... Jaane Tu... was a sad song, while Kahin To is an out-and-out romance number, all the more appalling for most to see it in the mix. Give it a chance at least, and you won't be disappointed. (An idea: If you liked Kuchh Khaas - Remix from Fashion, then you will surely like this one).

6. Fashion Ka Jalwa (Remix)
Remixed by: DJ A-Myth
Album: Fashion
The title track and flagship number of Fashion finds itself mixed in a zany way by A-Myth. Be it the atypical arrangements or a BPM (Beats per minute) of only 110 (even the 'slowest' remixes usually have a BPM of 120, but this isn't even close to slow.) It's probably the thing that led to its undoing, since DJs found it difficult to beatmix the 'conventional' 125 BPM tracks with this one. Otherwise, it rocked.

5. Karle Gunaah (Remix)
Remixed by: DJ A-Myth
Album: Ugly aur Pagli
This has been described by many people in different ways: "Too fast", "Barely Passable", and so on. I describe it as thus: "Potentially Game-changing". This was a remix in which A-Myth combined a host of elements which made his mixes (Billo Rani - Goal, Aa Khushi Se Khud Khushi Kar Le - Darling, etc) successful, and presented them all in a single mix. This could have been one of the most overused mixes of the year, but again, the same problem reared its head: This song killed the original rather brutally. As a result, this remix stayed underground. Irrespective of this little hitch, though, this mixing style has made waves in the days to come, courtesy largely of the soundtrack of Fashion.

4. Theme of Fashion (Remix)
Remixed by: Harsh Kale and Midieval Punditz
Album: Fashion
The only non-A-Myth remix in Fashion was of Theme of Fashion. Both original and remix received heaps of critical acclaim, but that's all they managed. Who listens to instrumentals anyway? Besides, the over 6 minuite length and the slightly repetitive nature of the track worked against this otherwise pacy remix.

3. Masha Allah (Remix)
Remixed by: Akbar Sami
Album: Karzzzz
If I tell you that the makers of Karzzzz have been guilty of underpromoting a deserving song, you won't believe it. But that's exactly the case with Masha Allah's remix. I had to do a double-take to confirm that the man behind this was really Akbar Sami, this was so unlike him. Full-on electronic arrangements along with an innovative 4-beat rhythm for half a stanza really meant this was a first-rate remix. But, as I said, it was underpromoted, and you see the result.

2. Mann Tu Talbat (Remix)
Remixed by: Nikhil Chinappa
Album: Superstar
However, if you do want high-voltage mixing, look no further than this one. This is my third-best mix of the year, behind only the Number 1 on these charts and Judai (Kilogram Mix) - Jannat. It's so vibrant that I bet you'll be catching your breath after giving a hear to this crazy remix. The major card played by Nikhil Chinappa comes right in the beginning itself with so much of vocal scattering that you'll be riveted, on your toes trying to expect what will follow next. The response it got was slightly okay, but it ended up being a bit too much for most ears...

And Number One...

1. Khuda Jaane (Revisited)
Remixed by: Abhijeet Nalani
Album: Bachna Ae Haseeno
And if you want a truly ethereal feel, go for this. I repeat: GO FOR THIS. I couldn't stress this enough. Abhijeet Nalani (yeah, new guy) approaches this song without any presumptions and it takes up its full pace within the first 10 seconds itself. Keeping the feel of the original largely intact, he procceds to fill it with a mix of racy music arrangements, digital echoes, and the works, set to a BPM of 140, all of which truly make the feel of this track alluringly haunting. Once you have had a hear, you'll keep coming back to it. The only problem being that people will have heard the original by now (unless they have been living under a rock this August), and approach this track with apprehension.

So, that was it, return for the 10 best soundtracks this year!