The world of music evolves by leaps and bounds, since it does so hand in hand with technology. This is clearly seen in the field of electronic music and EDM. There are so many ways to combine, modify and merge songs and styles that more and more new concepts are needed to label the creative processes.
It is likely that concepts such as bootleg, remix or mix sound familiar to you, since many of these appear quite frequently in the titles of the songs and of course, on YouTube; probably the internet portal where more music is consumed and there is more variety.
On the other hand, concepts such as mashup, flip, medley, VIP, extended mix, or edit,They are easy to understand if the differences are explained, but few really know them, unless you dedicate yourself (or want to dedicate yourself) to the field of music.
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Differences: remix, bootleg, mashup, cover and others
There are many concepts that appear related and sometimes with vague distinctions. Next we are going to try to describe concepts such as flip, medley or bootleg (among others), to see if with a bit of luck people start to use these terms correctly.
1. Remix
Probably the most used term on our list. It is also well known and used in its Spanish translation as “remix”.
The concept of remix is quite broad and is used quite indiscriminately , which makes it difficult to define it and distinguish it from the rest. From the outset, we can say that there are several types such as the Mashup and the bootleg, which we will see below.
The central premise of the remix is to take an existing song and modify some of its elements to achieve new effects and a somewhat changed aesthetic. In addition, other more or less simple elements can also be incorporated to complete the process , but always based on the original song.
To give a bit of music to the atmosphere, we bring you this remix by Cat Dealers and RAWA of the famous song by the Arctic Monkeys: RU Mine.
2. Remake
Although there is a fine line between remix and remake, and between the latter and cover, the truth is that at theoretical levels it is clear. The remake does not use the base of the selected song to modify them, but the process focuses on adding totally new things, without modifying what already exists.
Regardless, it could be said that a remake is the same as a cover (which we will see below), although there are subtle differences that are important for music foodies.
3. Cover
Although it is rare to find a cover in electronic music , it is one of the most used concepts in the field of music in general, since many singers start doing covers or simply enjoy doing them throughout their career.
When a singer (for example unknown) picks up his guitar and interprets (in his own style) a classic (or not) like Wonderwall by Oasis, he is there doing a cover. Instead,the remake focuses on reproducing the song with the same style and being just as faithful to the original , except in some parts of the song where (keeping consistency) new things are added.
However, the remake would involve taking the song exactly the same, and (for example) adding one more verse , keeping the style, musicality and other attributes of the song.
To continue with the example, a cover could be interpreting the Wonderwall song with a style closer to jazz:
4. Bootleg
The bootleg is very similar to the remix (we could even consider it a subtype), so much so that people confuse them, but the truth is that there are different nuances between both concepts. But we warn that you have to get a little technical to understand this concept.
In the case of the remix, the person has the small parts of the song, from the basses, the vowels, and all the sounds that appear separately. In the case of the bootleg, the person does not have these separate elements , but rather has the file as you and I can have it on the mobile.
This greatly limits the use of software to create something new through the existing song. In fact, the vast majority of remixes on the net are actually bootlegs, since a normal person at home does not usually have the steams (the small and numerous sounds that make up the song), because this is only what the original composer has on his computer.
For this last reason, the concept of bootleg is usually considered as an unofficial remix , since it does not have the consent of the owner of the original song.
5. Mashup
Basically they consist of doing what we could colloquially call “copy and paste”. The new theme arises from the combination of already existing fragments with others. The most normal thing is to find the vowels of a song with the instrumental sound of another, or take a complete half of a song and put it just before the middle of another, something not complex at all.
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6. VIP
We all know that VIP stands for Very Important Person, but in the world of music these acronyms mean something very different.
The VIP versions are usually made by the authors of the original song . Basically they are versions a little different from the original that the author had and decides to publish time after the original version. As if a film producer decided to publish the version of the film that they were about to release but that in the end they ended up modifying.
But it doesn’t just have to be before the release, sometimes the author of the original song, after the release, decides to refine some element of the song, and release this new version as a VIP.
7. Flip
Originally it comes from when artists used vinyl , in which each side had a version or directly two different songs. The remixed version used to be found on the B-side of the vinyl or also called the flip-side.
From this origin it has derived (curiously) to mean a remix of another remix. That is, when a DJ or producer makes a remix of a song that has already been remixed , the truth is that he is doing a flip.
Next we show a clear example of flip. The original song is by Nero, the remix is by Skrillex and in the video we have Quix’s flip. This last one has made that from minute 3:10, it sounds with a completely different trap style if we compare it with 1:08, which would be the dubstep version of Skrillex.
8. Edith
The edith (or edit) is very similar to the already mentioned VIP. This case happens when an artist, listening to a song, thinks that he can improve it by changing some detail (for example, increasing the bass a little or making the vocals higher). The changes are usually small, so it could not be labeled as a remix, bootleg or remake.
9. Mix
This concept really refers to a process rather than a type of song . The mix is when you put together all the components and small fragments to make a production. For this reason, whenever some parts are taken from here and others from there, or even when you are the one who creates all the sounds, the step of putting them together is considered a “mix”.
For this reason, we often talk about “vocal mix”, “instrumental mix”, etc.It is because in each mix some elements have been put together (in the first one it is warned that the vocals are present), or others (in the second, only the instrumental elements).
10. Medley
Making a medley is very simple. Just take a group of songs and put them one after the other with subtle transitions so there are no cuts in between. The most normal thing is that the songs are of similar styles and with very similar or equal rhythms.
11. Extended Mix
One of the most common mixes. They are always longer than the original versions, with longer beginnings and endings . It could be said that the extended mixes are less commercial than the original versions due to the duration.
As an example of an extended mix we bring Summer, by Calvin Harris, since everyone will know this song. Thus we will easily appreciate the 30 seconds of introduction and the 40 seconds of exit of this extended version.
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