I somewhat recently remember seeing a type of score sheet for a mix contest and on it one of the negatives (-1 point) was for having an old remix in the mix.
I guess I hadn’t really thought of it too much before, but do other DJs look down upon playing old remixes or older songs (Like from the past few years)?
I realize it was for a contest, but it got me thinking about it. At least in my eyes if the song is a good song then it doesn’t matter that its not the freshest track on the streets, unless it was maybe an older very popular club song that was just played out.
put it this way people are still blasting 90s dance and pretty much every “great song” from the 90s has been remixed over and over,if its a classic then people are just happy to hear it as it takes them back to a good time.
on the other hand if your blasting out a remix of lady gaga week in week out then no.
as shes on just about every music channel day in day out.
Yeah, I realize that people still loving hearing classic songs from different decades, I meant it more along the lines of not classic/big hit songs/artists. I can understand people enjoying hearing hit songs from the 90s especially if it is spiced up a little by a remix.
But I mean more in the way of say, hearing I dunno, a Bloody Beetroots song or some artist like that. Seeing that score sheet made me think “would other DJs look down upon playing an older song by ‘Insert artist from the past few years’” and be like ugh this song/remix is 2 or 3 years old.
Personally, no. A tune is a tune. It’s all about balance really. I think we have a responsibility to remind people of great tunes they may have forgotten as well as great tunes they haven’t heard yet.
Of course if they’re completely sick of it then it’s probably played out for the time being.
I agree with all of you, I feel the same way, I was just curious after reading that score sheet if other DJs felt the same way.
I especially like your thought Pizzle “I think we have a responsibility to remind people of great tunes they may have forgotten as well as great tunes they haven’t heard yet.” A very accurate/true statement right there. Thanks!
guys who do eclectic mixing, half the game is digging up rare grooves and nostalgiac tunes and blending them with new flavours. so not only is playing older tunes forgiven, it’s encouraged.
if you’re doing more straight up dance genres with an emphasis on new sounds, then you’re gonna wanna balance your playlist in favor of songs from the last few months or atleast within the year - with the occasional older song sprinkled in there just to add something unexpected.
i don’t think there’s a rule book, just what i personally expect from djs and i what i try to do myself.
one thing for certain is if you only play music from one season or one year, you end up closing yourself off to possibilities and fall into the trap of sounding like other people who are only playing the current flavors of the month - naw mean?
the power of the recognizable or nostalgiac tune should never be underrated… when done right it can be an automatic crowd pleaser and make your audience’s night.
The great thing about dance music, well all music in general, is that it has the ability to take you back to that place where you first heard that banging tune or that awesome opening of that club or that summer anthem that just takes you back to better times. There’s something about music that with the a just a few beats boom we all can picture oneself in full clarity. I love playing some great tracks that take me back. On the other side thou those same tracks may not do the same for who I’m playing for it really is all about the crowd. Who knows you may stumble upon a bunch of people who have never heard “It’s a Fine day” or one of my personal faves “Voodoo Ray” know both of those songs would more than likely clear the floor if I played them in any club today but for the right group of people it would be fantastic.
people love that kind of stuff, to hear a song they used to love a few years back without expecting it is usually an instant hit, nostalgia is nostalgia people have a soft spot for it
generally i’m of the opinion that if its a good track, and fits with what you are doing, then play away.
Very true, It can definitely be a very hit or miss type of situation. On one hand playing an older track, well I guess even a new one for that matter, some people might be like eh what is this?
But on the other hand playing an older track that someone/or a group of people might have heard before, could invigorate the place into a frenzy of happiness/nostalgia/general good feelings haha
I think the difference is that other DJs may know the tracks you are playing a lot more than the crowd might, as they are in the same occupation or hobby, depending, that you are. So therefore they may be able to judge the choice of track differently than the typical club goer.
I don’t mind dropping in old stuff in my sets but of course I try to keep the majority current. Anyone who disses old remixes are obviously newbies with something to prove.
My track list is currently time warped to 2004 hehe
I have stoped to get new Psytrance songs since 2006 and I love the records from that time, it were so warm and every music had a theme or something…
Now it seems that the psytrance tracks are more commercial, without meaning or without any theme…
Now it’s just the beat for the beat, I don’t know how the DJs can even name a song without a theme
There is still alot of good psytrance being produced, I think most djs nowadays are producers in psytrance and the “theme” is however they choose to lay it down by having control over all the elements and are essentially doing a live mixdown…
regarding remixes… If the song is good… play it..
if the song is bad… then thats a bad thing
The 90s are still ok but before that, things get a bit tricky because in the old days, you not only have to go by BPM (severely restricted because of the limited range of adjustment in the turntableS), you had to go by music style PLUS key too since a lot of them had very distinct melodies and basslines. Not like today’s pop stuff which sounds pretty much alike.
If you don’t know what to play, take a look at Billboard’s charts for that period. Not sure whether they still have the Hot 100 for each year. That’s useful. Start throwing in chart hitters, not songs which YOU think sound good. Very important if you’re playing to people from that era because THEY’d know the songs well. That’s what I do for stuff from the 60s to early 80s. I was born in the early 70s so am comfortable with songs from the mid 80s onwards.
