A few weeks ago, Fool’s Gold anchored IAMSOUND’s excellent CMJ showcase at Bowery Poetry Club, alongside Golden Silvers, Suckers, NewVillager, etc. A highlight of their set was the infectious, afro-pop amalgamating summertime jam “Surprise Hotel,” an endlessly sunny track that’s already received remix attention from the likes of Micachu & The Shapes and one of the year’s better videos. Its singular status gets another bump today with a pair of reworkings from other corners: there’s the Mad Decent Toadz mix, which shifts the locus from Africa to a nightclub by the beach, and a mashup by Wallpaper which seamlessly substitutes Mariah Carey’s “Emotions” melisma for Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov’s Hebrew-and-horns incantations. Two very different looks for one very good song. The Wallpaper mash is the first in a series he’s called SiSTRS From Different MiSTRS. An explanation of the inspiration:
When I first heard “Surprise Hotel,” I felt all these little thought bubbles effervescing in my brain. There is a lot to take in, on a musical level. The original vocal coats this exuberant track with a calm, peaceful beauty. So I started combing the universe for a vocal that seemed as wilin’ out as those guitar parts and roughly the same tempo and / or key. Turns out Mariah Carey’s “Emotions” is already in the exact same key (the relative minor) and dances atop the rhythm section like it was born to. This is the first segment of SiSTRS from different MiSTRS.
The Mad Decent take:
(via NME)
The original:
Fool’s Gold is out via IAMSOUND.
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WOW!! the Wallpaper Mariah mashup thing is strange and awesome. i love this!
bizarre!
more fool’s gold coverage, pls!
Gotta love a Dj who knows his relative minors. Also like the fact that he kept this song in tact, as opposed to the Mad Decent jont. Seldom am I disappointed by anything from the MD camp, but this one didn’t do much for me. Go Wallpaper. If u haven’t heard his remix of the utterly absurd “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,” I strongly suggest doing so. But beware, it’ll be in your head for days.
Fool’s Gold is very underated and have a lot more heart and creativity in the songwriting than many of the american afro-pop bands most people like today. Their debut album is one of my favorite of the year. I hope more people get to soak up their beautiful tunes and great backstory! Thanks for the mash up 411 !