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Top 10 Remixes That Are Better Than The Original Song

Top 10 Remixes That Are Better Than The Original Song
VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu WRITTEN BY: Mimi Kenny
Who says the original is always better? For this list, we'll be looking at officially licensed remixes of songs that managed to top their predecessors. Our countdown includes “Levitating (The Blessed Madonna Remix)”, “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” (SeeB Remix), “Summertime Sadness (Remix)”, and more!

Top 10 Remixes That Are Better Than The Original


Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Remixes That Are Better Than The Original

For this list, we’ll be looking at officially licensed remixes of songs that managed to top their predecessors.

What’s your favorite remix? Let us know in the comments!

#10: “4 My People” (Basement Jaxx Mix) (2002)

Missy Elliott feat. Eve
A good remix takes what’s great about the original song and expands upon it. “4 My People” by Missy Elliott, featuring Eve, was already a total dancefloor banger. But London electronic duo Basement Jaxx managed to give the song even more energy than we thought possible. Adding a heavy dose of house music to the production and extending the length to seven minutes, Basement Jaxx made us all feel like we were at the club. More sounds are added, but they never distract from the song’s addictive rhythm and catchy hooks. The party was already jumpin’, but Basement Jaxx helped to bring it through the roof.

#9: “Levitating (The Blessed Madonna Remix)” (2020)

Dua Lipa & the Blessed Madonna feat. Madonna & Missy Elliott
18 years after “4 My People,” Missy Elliott hopped on the remix of another artist’s song, “Levitating” by British pop sensation Dua Lipa. And the excitement doesn’t stop there, as this remix also has a double dose of Madonna. First, it’s produced by DJ The Blessed Madonna, who made a whole remix album with Lipa. And it also features vocals from the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna. The already anthemic “Levitating” became even more invigorating with the faster tempo, heavier beat, and legendary guest stars. When this remix comes on, it’s hard to not feel like you’re floating away into a world of love and dance.

#8: “Savage” (Remix) (2020)

Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
Megan Thee Stallion’s music is full of sharp flows, memorable lyrics, and utter confidence, and “Savage” is one of the best songs in her discography. Shortly after its release, a remix dropped, featuring vocals from another Houston artist. You might know her as Beyoncé. Rather than just tacking a verse or chorus onto Megan’s original, the remix essentially creates a new, better song. While Megan’s hook remains, she has a new verse, with even more potency. Meanwhile, Beyoncé sings, raps, and overall just reminds us of how awesome she is. The two artists have instant chemistry, and “Savage Remix” unsurprisingly topped the charts. Hopefully, these two will collaborate again soon.

#7: “A Little Less Conversation” (JXL Remix)(2002)

ELVIS VS JXL
Not all remixes come out the same year as the original song. For instance, some take more than 30 years to drop. When Elvis Presley released “A Little Less Conversation” in 1968, Dutch producer JXL was less than a year old. And when JXL dropped his remix of the song in 2002, Presley was no longer with us. Nonetheless, this remix manages to bridge two artists from two different eras seamlessly, with Presley’s unmistakable baritone fitting into JXL’s big beat sound. JXL was the first artist given permission to remix Presley who wasn’t from the Presley organization, and he did an outstanding job.

#6: “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” (SeeB Remix) (2015)

Mike Posner
Mike Posner’s “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” is a somber reflection on the fleeting and dangerous nature of fame. So, a remix of it might seem like a bad idea, as it could take away its intimacy. However, while Norwegian EDM duo SeeB’s take adds more sounds to give a tropical house vibe, the song doesn’t lose its heart. Here, Posner sounds like he’s reflecting on the emptiness of the party lifestyle while the party is happening. The “Ibiza” remix was a huge hit, topping the charts in numerous countries and getting more than one billion streams on Spotify. Electronic remixes of acoustic songs don’t always work, but Posner and SeeB have a special kind of bond.

#5: “It’s Like That” (1997)

Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins
With its booming drums, “It’s Like That” is a natural fit for a house remix. Producer Jason Nevins took Run-DMC’s classic song about encouraging people to not give up and gave it a new dancefloor vitality. Rappers Run and D.M.C.'s message is still clear, it's just amplified by some harder beats. It’s not often you hear a club banger about struggling to pay bills, but the “It’s Like That” remix became an international hit. It even managed to break the Spice Girls’ impressive streak of number ones in the U.K. Don’t like that? Well, that’s the way it is.

#4: “Tom’s Diner” (DNA Remix) (1990)

DNA feat. Suzanne Vega
The original “Tom’s Diner” is completely a cappella, making for endless remix possibilities. British electronic duo DNA didn’t just create a good remix of Suzanne Vega’s song; they arguably made the definitive version of it. Mashing up Vega’s vocals with the beat for Soul II Soul’s “Keep On Movin’,” DNA turned a low-key narrative into a rhythmic adventure. Three years after its original release, “Tom’s Diner” became a top 10 hit in multiple countries. While Vega's voice sounds great with no accompaniment, the extra layers of the remix show that sometimes going further can work wonders.

#3: “Summertime Sadness (Remix)” (2013)

Lana Del Rey and Cedric Gervais
Lana Del Rey’s music evokes feelings of nostalgia for a romanticized version of the past. But this remix is pure 2010s bliss. Taking Del Rey’s sweeping ballad about sunshine and depression, French DJ Cedric Gervais put out all the production stops in his remix, with handclaps, drumrolls, eccentric synths, and more. Del Rey’s vocals and her bittersweet lyrics are still the stars of the show, but Gervais just gives them more support. The “Summertime Sadness” remix became one of Del Rey’s biggest hits, reaching the top 10 in numerous countries, and unsurprisingly, she and Gervais worked together again.


#2: 'I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By” (1995)

Method Man feat. Mary J. Blige
Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man isn’t the first artist that comes to mind when you think of romantic songwriters. But he managed to pull off an effective love song with “All I Need.” Then, he topped it on this remix. By bringing in Mary J. Blige, “All I Need” turned into a new hip-hop classic. Producer RZA’s beat goes harder, with prominent horns and spacey synths, and Blige’s heavenly vocals are a great contrast to Meth’s gruffer tone. There are plenty of hip-hop love songs out there, but few manage to achieve the passion of this one. You might feel like this song is all you need to get by.

#1: “Flawless Remix” (2014)

Beyoncé feat. Nicki Minaj
If there’s any artist who can get away with titling a song “Flawless,” it’s Beyoncé. The original song is a trap-inspired ode to Beyoncé’s home city of Houston and female empowerment, featuring the iconic phrase “I woke up like this.” But the remix, featuring Nicki Minaj, is even better. This was the first collaboration between these two superstars and they bring out the best in each other. Beyoncé's lyrics are altered some, with some more explicit lines added, while Minaj gives one of her most explosive verses ever. If this song isn’t actually flawless, it’s as close as they come.
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