It’s that time of the semester when students get comfortable with their schedule, studying gets mundane and the piles of homework that sit before us seem less and less important. Before you check completely out of the building, remix the way you do things. Study outside, hike the Hinkson Creek Trail instead of catching up on your favorite TV shows, suggest a new activity for your friends to do on the weekend or, if those things seem a bit out of your comfort zone, simply change up your playlist.
1. **“The ‘F*** You’ Remix” — Chiddy Bang** — It seems like almost everyone breaks out into a lip-syncing or karaoke fest when “Forget You” by Cee Lo Green comes on the radio, or at least they did before it was played more times a day on one radio station than any sane person could tolerate. The only solution to being burnt out on the song? Speeding up the tempo at some parts, giving it a relaxed vibe at others and letting Chiddy spit clever lyrics over the restructured sound.
2. **“Trust Issues (Remix)” — Justin Bieber feat. Drake** — Before you write off this song because the Canadian pop-star doesn’t exactly appeal to your tastes, give it a listen. I actually heard about this song through a friend who has a strong distaste for the Biebs but a love for Drake. To be honest, it doesn’t even sound like him for the most part, but the mix on the chill track that Drake originally put out is really fitting, and something that most hip-hop or R&B fans can appreciate, despite their feelings about swoopy-haired 17-year-olds.
3. **“Smells Like Teen Spirit (DJs From Mars Remix)” — DJ From Mars** — In honor of the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s second album, “Nevermind,” listen to this sick track that brings grunge-rock into the land of club-dance music. Despite the unusual combination, it melds almost effortlessly and certainly effectively. The buildup along with Kurt Cobain’s raspy and strained voice brings an intensity that surprisingly adds to the impact of the song.
4. **“Hello (Remix)” — D-WHY & Martin Solveig & Dragonette** — “Hello” was one of the biggest radio hits of the summer, and in this version of the song rapper D-WHY brings a new perspective with his light-hearted yet witty lyrics. For those mornings when you feel like you just can’t roll out of bed, or the nights when you can barely drag yourself back up your dorm steps due to the excess of textbooks in your backpack, blast this song for an instant pick-me-up.
5. **“Pumped Up Kicks (Skeet Skeet Remix)” — Foster the People** — These kids are the surprising indie breakout band of the year, invading top 40 radio with their mellow style and airy-vocals. This remix takes the song and makes it into a dance-club sensation with a chill enough feel to still be listening to when studying. The distant sound of the vocal parts seem fitting with the new perspective. It’s funny how a dance beat can turn any song into something completely different, and this song by Foster the People is no exception.
