What is a Remix?

When I hear the word remix, I tend to think along the lines of music. Perhaps this is because I am more familiar with those types of remixes. Our professor provided us with a definition of remix and asked us to compare ours to the one she provided. For the most part my definition is the same but it isn’t quite so technical as the dictionary. Usually when I hear ‘remix’ my mind jumps to music, but now that this class has been focusing on identity, my mind also thinks about people and their identities.

On a daily basis I don’t think I encounter a whole bunch of remixes. But watch, as I sit here and think about it, I’ll be able to think of more. Music is a part of my daily life, so that’s one remix. People often remix themselves, and I am constantly surrounded by them. And if you want to get real technical, the words I hear are remixes. Because everything you’ve ever read is just a remix of 26 letters. Trip-y huh? The most memorable of these daily encounters with remixes is perhaps the music. Certain remixes I like/understand better than the original, simply because of how the newer version portrayed the idea. These are a couple of the ones that come to mind. The first is “Heartless” originally by Kanye West, but here Dia Frampton (From the Voice) sings. The second is “Holding Out for a Hero” originally by Bonnie Tyler, but in this remix is sung by Ella Mae Bowen.

Specifically on Bowen’s remix, I like the fact that her version is so different from the original! Instead of hard-core, Bowen takes a slower rhythm and focuses in on the words. Now these are just the two that come to mind, but there are plenty remixes on my iPod.

But remixes are not the same thing as remakes or newer versions of things. Remixes are revamping the whole thing – for lack of better words. A remake would be the newer version of “The A-Team” or “Footloose”. The main idea of the remix can be the same as the original – ideally that is how you identify what the remix is. The components differ from the original to make the remix stand alone or at least next to its parent project. Or at least this is what I think. Until next time, ~V