SLAG PATROL

Pink – So What (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit)

Bimbo Jones is at his best remixing Pink (see U and Ur Hand); this is just fantastic–it takes the cheese out of the melody and turns a light, fun song into a tight, angry anthem.

Britney Spears – Womanizer (Nick* Remix)

This remix just changes the backbeat, in a fierce, Personal Jesus sort of way. I’m still waiting for a remix that makes a fundamentally new song, but until then this works.

Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of my Head (Greg Kurstin Remix)

Thoroughly Modern Kylie: Greg Kurstin has created the best remix of this song yet. It wouldn’t sound out of place on X; it keeps the song’s irresistible melody and makes it slicker, better.

Lindsay Lohan – Bossy (Sam998899’s In Control Edit)

Lindsay Lohan is indeed still making music; the original version of Bossy is fine, but not as good as this. Sam998899 adds a video game vibe and a pounding synth that is so 80s and so good.

Finally, here is my top 10 for 2006. After compiling the list I discovered that my top 10 is actually very close to Popjustice’s. This was not intentional–great minds just think alike.

1. Nelly Furtado – Maneater (acoustic version linked)

Whether radio version, album version, acoustic (so good!), or remixed, this is the song I loved most in 2006. The aggressive verses, the glorious chorus, the sheer dance-worthiness of it–i still can’t get enough of it.

2. All American Rejects – Move Along

I love this because it’s so catchy. And not to get maudlin or overly sentimental but my life did a lot of moving along in 2006, and I had this song in the background for a lot of it.

3. Pink – U and Ur Hand (Bimbo Jones Mix)

This song wasn’t bad before. But Bimbo Jones made it epic. The chorus is played up fantastically.

4. Take That – Patience

I’m generally not a sucker for ballads, and I didn’t even know who Take That were before 2006, but I love this.

5. Jamelia – Beware of the Dog

At first I thought it was sacrilege for Jamelia to sample Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus. But it’s excellently done.

6. Paris Hilton – Nothing in this World (Kaskade Radio Mix)

My favorite remixes tend to make saccharine songs sinister, and this is the best example of it in 2006.

7. Gnarls Barkley – Crazy

Sure it got overplayed, but it’s so good.

8. The Modern – Sometimes

Retro done right. Starts a little slow, but the chorus is amazing.

9. Beyonce – Ring the Alarm (Freemasons Radio Mix)

So angry. One of my favorite song to run to in 2006, along with Maneater and Beware of the Dog.

10. Muse – Supermassive Black Hole

Muse stopped trying to sound like Radiohead and turned on the pop machine in 2006. This song’s great.

Pink – U and Ur Hand (Bimbo Jones Remix)
Justin Timberlake – My Love (Paul Oakenfold Radio Edit)

This Pink remix takes the best part of the song, the chorus, and makes it almost entirely the focus. It repeats, overlaps, swells and crashes—it’s fantastic. And the Oakenfold remix of JT is also very very good. I thought the original My Love was pretty good, certainly better than Sexyback and good to dance to, but this remix turns the song sinister and assails you with synth. I cannot wait to hear it out at a club.