This is what they did with another one of my favourites, "ABC"; it was remixed with a reggae vibe, and (a little surprisingly, perhaps) it really works well. This track is definitely one of my favorites off this suite.
My other favourites were the remixes that didn’t touch the original song, but rather added to them with a beat, looping of particular segments or adding extra voices to the chorus (think DJ Morsy’s version of "Working Day and Night"). The first track on the CD, "Skywriter" was remixed with added dynamism, perfectly suited to today’s upbeat pop sounds. The second track was also a tribute to the original song rather than a remix; "Never Can Say Good-bye" sounds like an updated version rather than a total remix; so is "Who’s Lovin' You".
"I Want You Back" is another song that was only touched up; the unmistakable beat was left untouched and some of the best parts of the song were looped for emphasis. While a little unsettling on the first couple of listens (when, for example, you start singing only to realize that in this version, the singing starts a little bit later), it’s a great remix.
There are some others that were remixed to become electronic-style club songs – and, big surprise, I didn’t like any of those.
"Forever Came Today" was remixed almost beyond recognition; the generic opening beat seems almost insulting, as it kicks off the remix of a song by one of the most avant-garde artists this generation has known. The original track of "Forever Came Today" was added almost as an after thought; you can barely hear Michael’s voice. So, while the song itself is really good, it doesn’t make for what I’d consider a good remix.
The remix to "Hum Along and Dance" was very interesting, to say the least. It was given an old school hip hop edge. Again, as was the case with "Forever Came Today", it barely featured the original track, and it’s not that the song itself isn’t good; but as a remix of a Jackson 5 song, it really doesn’t pull its weight.
In short, this is an interesting CD, and a solid addition to the Michael Jackson collection of any fan. However, be ready to be shocked and perhaps even offended by what was done with some of these songs.
For more on Michael Jackson: The Remix Suite, you can visit their official website or their MySpace.
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