20/02/2012

An Evolution of Sound - Etta James to Skrillex

So, like me you've probably heard the same 'Ooh oh sometimes' vocal hook being recycled a lot recently. This hook was originally sung by the late great Etta James, and it only seems to be adding to her already sizeable musical legacy. The evolution of this one hook, and how it has recently been incorporated into a number of musical ideas and styes is pretty interesting. So much so, I've written a couple of sums using youtube videos to make this evolutionary process audio visual.

Yes, this exercise is possibly a bit lame, but it does highlight how modern pop music is able to spin something released in 1962 (making it 50 years old this year) into one of the freshest sounding chart successes in recent times. Having said that, maybe this hooks ability to span a half century whilst sounding timeless is more a testament to talent and great song writing, rather than a producers ability to reinvent the past. I guess if something just sounds good, it will whenever you hear it. Either way, next time I'm in a club I might just sing 'Ooh oh sometimes I get an old and familiar feeling' in protest. Well, I might if I were older, and that hook wasn't so damn catchy...

1:
Etta James - Something's got a hold on me




2:
Etta James Something's got a hold on me + Judy Clay and William Bell Private Number = Pretty Lights Finally Moving




+



=


3: Etta James Something's got a hold on me + Avicii = Avicci Levels


4: Etta James Something's got a hold on me + Flo Rida =  Flo Rida Good Feeling


5: (Etta James Something's got a hold on me + Avicii = Avicci Levels) + Skrillex = Levels (Skrillex Remix)