So while I was waiting for my ears to return from their mystical journey through the land of leanin’, rockin’ Bobby McFerrins sporting flat-brimmed baseball caps, armed with impecabble flows and the ability to summon Robin Williams at a whim, it got me to thinking. For those that came for a review-type situation, I won’t beat around the bush: It’s a good mashup, a fine example of the genre and yet another display of dj BC’s talent as not a wall-breaker but a gap-bridger (his first Beastles effort still finds its way into my regular rotation, especially “What’cha Want, Lady?”). But, alas, what makes this mashup particularly outstanding in a sea of Miley Cyrus’ vs. Black Eyed Peas vs. Elvis Costello vs. Howlin’ Wolf vs….well, you get the point.
Personally my first encounters with recent artists have been strictly through mashups: a series of “So THAT’S where they got that from,” moments brought on by the songs people who I may have never heard or even heard of otherwise and, to be honest, may have never considered normally due to, you know, factors up to and including not being that up on what the kids are listening to. It’s rarely a problem of notoriety; in fact, a good mashup/cover/remix in general brings freshness to a song that’s been beyond played out to the point where you just wanna reach through the radio and remove -generic pop star-’s voice box. The lacerations on my fingers aren’t proof of that ’cause they aren’t there. Yet.
That’s the rub: the context. These particular combined artists are ones who ostensibly aren’t suffering from a lack of people knowin’ their names. Everybody and their momma knows “Don’t Worry, be Happy” as the song that allowed Bobby McFerrin to achieve the quantum state of being topless while wearing a sweater (a teal one, no less) and CL Smooth, an artist I’m ashamed to say I’m not familiar with, is big enough to be working with legends in the industry like Pete Rock. That’s Jesus quality. However, listening to the original “Perfect Timing” track, I found myself having trouble getting through it not for lack of skill and talent on the part of the artists (especially considering the vocals are 100% identical), but I just wasn’t feelin’ the backing instrumental. dj BC’s putting CL Smooth’s lyrics to a well-worn but still well-liked song was the key in me loving verses that I might have never given the time of day otherwise (although I can imagine purists criticizing it for completely changing the tone of the work). It’s something that gives me the warm fuzzies, something that can probably be tied into a vague metaphor involving roses and smells.
If I have any complaints, it’s probably that the song feels repetitive as it edges past the halfway mark, but considering the patchwork method that so many employ in making a mashup…I suppose it can be forgiven. Bravo, Mr. Bob Cronin.
