Magic! - Rude (Zedd Remix)

Aside from production duties for several chart-topping hits, Zedd has been relatively quiet of late. He hasn't released an original track, or even a remix, for over half a year. That's changed now though, as he returns with his much-anticipated remix of Magic!'s Rude - itself a chart-topper.



After a fairly generic, if extremely successful, track produced for Ariana Grande, can Zedd convince us that he still knows what he's doing? Read on to find out.

Zedd seems to have two very distinct strands of musical output - the hard-hitting electro that he first came to prominence with, and the more recent, Clarity-esque melodic pop. To the dismay of some fan's, it's the latter that seems to have his full attention at the minute, but that's understandable given how successful it's proved to be for him. And no matter which you prefer, you can't deny that he's good at both.

His remix of Rude again shows his prowess with the second style. Piano chords combine with the original's vocals at the intro, before that Zedd pulsating arp comes in - you hear it, and know that things are going to kick off.

What follows is a thumping section of euphoric melodies and uplifting synths, combined with Zedd's signature bass sound, that the producer himself has on more than one occasion likened to the sound of an electric razor. The stunning vocals sit above all of this - but the original track has now been transformed from a laid-back, reggae-infused jam to an all-out progressive house floor-filler, so can Nasri's vocals make the transition to such a different genre? Yes. Absolutely. Sometimes it doesn't work, but the transfer here works perfectly.

The chord sequence is changed slightly from the original, and for the better, I'd say. It somehow manages to become even more uplifting than the original, despite the lyrical subject matter. The transition to a fist-pumping monster of a club track - one that absolutely destroyed Lollapalooza upon its debut there - is absolutely seamless. It goes from easy listening to a massive crowd singalong. It's testament to Zedd's ability, and to the charm of the original, that this works so very, very well.

Is it a revolution from the point of view of a Zedd fan? No. It's Zedd doing what he's discovered he can do well. But Anton does show small signs of experimenting with new things. The second verse of the remix sees an unexpectedly funky accompaniment, which he somehow manages to successfully mesh with the rest of the song. Not quite a revolution then, but certainly a promising sign that Zedd is at least considering mixing things up a bit.

It'll win few prizes for innovation, but who cares? This is Zedd very much back on form, and his remix of Rude takes the original to the next level. And what's more, you'll be able to get your hands on it in just a few days for free, as he's releasing it for download on his birthday as a present to himself. How lovely - someone should probably tell him that he's the one that's meant to receive gifts though, not us. Anyway, you can grab it on the 2nd of September, and I definitely recommend you do so.

UPDATE: So it's not free. My bad, obviously I got the wrong end of the stick there. Definitely worth a purchase though; the iTunes link is below.

The Octopus' Rating: 7/8

Release Details:

Name: Rude (Zedd Remix)
Artists: Magic!, Zedd (Remixer)
Label: N/A
Release Date: 2 September
Purchase: iTunes

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Alex Simpson

Writer, musician, and all-round top guy. I set up Excited Octopus. Currently, I'm on a one man team. It gets lonely sometimes. But I don't mind, because I love you all.

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