Sampling The Classics. Hot Trend or Nothing New?

It seems like every pop artist at the moment is jumping on the latest trend of turning a classic into their own new revision. Most recently, we have new releases from Rita Ora remaking Fatboy Slims "Praise you", Kim Petras sampling Alice Deejay (Which I remember, was done by David Guetta back in 2013 with "Work Hard",)  one of my favorites, Switch Disco and Ella Henderson sampling Robert Miles "Children, " and of course, the super mega smash of this year from David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, "I'm Good," a different spin on the Eiffel 65 one hit wonder from 1999, "Blue." This formula works because the melodies in these tunes are timeless and can reach a broader age range of listeners. But is it really a new phenomenon?

The trend of sampling classic tracks and making modern versions has been a staple in dance music for decades. It's a way for producers to pay homage to the past while creating something new and fresh. The origins of electronic dance music can be traced back to the 1960s, but it wasn't until the 1980s that sampling became a popular technique.

Hip hop is built on sampling, and it's no surprise that rappers have used dance music classics to create new hip hop anthems. Some of the most iconic examples include Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby," which sampled Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure," and Puff Daddy's "I'll Be Missing You," which sampled The Police's "Every Breath You Take."

But it's not just hip hop that's been influenced by dance music classics. Producers across all genres have used sampling to create new tracks. In recent years, we've seen a new generation of music sampling, with more and more producers splicing and reusing old tracks to create their musical pieces. Some have even perfected the art of sampling to the point where they can create entire tracks using only samples.

The evolution of sampling culture has been a storied and mostly modern tale. It's found in the essence of all altered creation: to take something old and make it new again. But with the rise of digital music production, sampling has become easier and more accessible than ever before. This has led to a proliferation of new music that draws on the past while looking to the future.

In conclusion, the trend of sampling classic tracks and making modern versions is a testament to the enduring power of dance music. It's a way for producers to pay homage to the past while creating something new and fresh. And with the rise of digital music production, we can expect to see even more innovative uses of sampling in the years to come.

What are some of the most popular classic tracks that have been sampled in dance music?

According to¹, some of the most iconic samples used in dance tracks include "Good Life" by Inner City, which samples "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross, "Ride on Time" by Black Box, which samples "Love Sensation" by Loleatta Holloway, and "Show Me Love" by Robin S., which samples "Love and Happiness" by Al Green. ² Daft Punk has been sampled by many hip hop artists, including Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, and more recently, Drake and 21 Savage. ³ lists some surprising dance music samples, including "More Spell On You" by Eddie Johns, which was sampled in "One More Time" by Daft Punk, "Fate" by Chaka Khan, which was sampled in "Aerodynamic" by Daft Punk, and "Ashes The Rain And I" by James Gang, which was sampled in "Renegade Master" by Wildchild.

There are many hit songs that have used samples of classic tracks. Some examples include:

• "Paper Planes" by M.I.A., which samples The Clash's "Straight to Hell"¹
• "6 Inch" by Beyoncé, which samples Isaac Hayes' "Walk On By"²
• "Mo Money Mo Problems" by The Notorious B.I.G., which samples Diana Ross's "I'm Coming Out"¹
• "Blood on the Leaves" by Kanye West, which samples Nina Simone's "Strange Fruit"¹
• "Hung Up" by Madonna, which samples ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"¹