60. American Boy – Estelle Ft Kanye West

From Estelle’s 2008 album, Shine.

59. Love Generation – Bob Sinclair

A love anthem for the new generations from the 2006 album Western Dream.

58. Hang Me Up to dry – Cold War Kids

My favourite track from the 2008 album Robbers & Cowards .

57. Radar – Chris Whitley

From the 2001 album Rocket House with an appearance from Dave Matthews.

56. Banquet – Bloc Party

55. I Found U – Axwell

The single, with many remixes, was released in 2003.

54. One More Time – Daft Punk

53. Forget Myself – Elbow

Originally released in 2005 on Elbow’s album Leaders Of The Free World then again in 2007 on the soundtrack for Southland Tales.

52. Lose Yourself – Eminem

From the 2003 soundtrack to the film 8 Mile.

51. Spacewalk – Lemon Jelly

From Lemon Jelly’s 2002 album Lost Horizons. One of my all time faves!

This is the second part of my tribute to the Swedish House Mafia. The first was all songs that were pure Swede magic. This post is all songs of other artists that at least one of the trio remixed. I do hope you enjoy!

Promiscuous (Axwell Remix) – Nelly Furtado

British Columbia’s sweetheart teamed up with Timbaland to put together this fresh and dirty duet. Axwell took what the pair made and made it dirtier! The once pop tune is suitable for even the after hours clubs with Axwell’s touch. Nelly Furtado caused quite a stir mentioning the MVP Steve Nash in this track, as the sports world was already suspicious about a relationship between the Canadian singer, and the NBA star. They both atest that they are nothing more than friends.

Let it Go (Axwell Remix) – Dirty South

The Australian DJ and producer hash been slowly increasing in popularity, but got lucky when Axwell picked up this track to release it on his label Axtone, with this standout remix. A message of positivity flows through this track with the main vocals repeatedly spreading the valuable advice, “No matter what they say, let it go. Let it go“. Let it go, and dance I say!

Suburban Knights (Angello & Ingrosso Remix) – Hard Fi

Now I know this post has been very Axwell heavy, but it’s ok, because the previous post was Angello & Ingrosso heavy, and this song makes up for it. Angello & Angrosso took a pop tune and make it nearly unrecognizable, giving it an epic sound that pulls the listener super thick beats, huge harmanic vocals from Hard Fi, and a beautiful string instrumentations. Plus, you gotta love the cutesy use of the line “These bills keep dropping through my door“. You’d be hard pressed to find one clubber out there who doesn’t think that ‘b’ is a ‘p’!

The Swedish House Mafia have made themselves a household name amongst dance lovers on an international scale. Ever since their Ibiza set was played on the Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 in August 2007, its rare to hear a set that doesn’t have at least one track with the Swedish touch. I’m in a beats sort of mood, so I’m posting all of my favourite tracks from Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Axwell, in two parts… the first being dedicated to work done solely by the Swedes themselves, the second, watch for it later this week, dedicated to the Swedes remixing artistry!

Listening to these tracks makes me want to dance, and it makes me proud, having some Swedish-ness in my ancestry, I’m pumped to say that those Swedish House Mafia are my people! Keep cranking out those bangers guys!

Umbrella - Angello & Ingrosso

This song came out way back in mid 2007, marking the beginning of the Swedes international notoriety. The instrumental track mixes acoustic guitars of varying styles and violins with  large room electronic beats and sounds. The end result reaches near epic proportions as it has found its way into many big name DJ sets.

Be (Laidback Luke Remix) – Steve Angello

I had the pleasure of seeing Angello and Ingrosso play at my neighborhood club, Celebrities,  last spring, and this tune made the floor go mad! Laidback Luke, while not one of the Swedish House Mafia and not being Swedish, is still a good buddy of the SHM, and has worked with the Swedes on many occasions.  His contribution on this track alone is enough for me to give the DutchDJ props!

An interesting tidbit about Steve Angello, from Wikipeadia, Angello left for his mother’s country, Sweden, from his native land of Greece to escape the mafioso lifestyle that killed his father. Ironic that he now be in a ground called the Swedish House Mafia!

I Found U (Remode) – Axwell

I posted the Axwell’s Classic mic of I Found U for one of my many Vanentine’s Day posts, earlier this year. This Remode mix has the same high level of Axwell quality, with a little extra.  The beats are thicker, and the sound is fuller, a track worthy of any club.

I hope I’ve got you dancing! Watch for part 2 of this tribute to the Swedish House Mafia later this week!

I Found You (Classic Remix) – Axwell

Axwell, one of the three musical geniuses behind the Swedish House Mafia, has had quite a year since the Swedish House Mafia Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1, and the subsequent tours and recordings! The classic mix of Axwell’s I Found U is the best of all the mixes available for this track. It has the cutest little melody that you end up wanting to hear over and over.  This song has special significance for me, as it came out when Perfect and I were falling in love. The lyrics say exactly what I was feeling at that time:

Thank god I found you
I never really had a love
Sent from heaven up above
I’m just so happy because
Thank god I found you

This song is perfect for those moments when you are dancing in a crowded club with your loved one, and it feels like no one else is there,  no one except the two of you, the love, and the music!

Hopefully – My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket’s Hopefully has a certain beautiful tragic element to it, a desperation in the emotion filled vocals that sing:

Hopefully, it occurs to me
That there’s one thing I can’t stand
That’s the thought of a single day
Without your head in my hand

The lyrics sing of a long term love, one that sees many trails through the day to day of normal life. With all its desperation, this track is beautiful to listen to, with Jim James’s vocals soaring over the acoustic guitar and keyboard sound-scapes. This song is perfect for gazing into the eyes of your loved one, and re-discovering why you feel in love in the first place.

My Morning Jacket are wrapping us a touring in Australia and Japan in promotion of their latest album Evil Urges, which was released in June of last year.

In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel

Likely best know for it’s integral role in the 1989 film Say Anything. The often imitated scene when John Cusak holds the stereo high above his head outside her window, is one of the most romantic moments in 1980s cinema. The song itself powerfully shows Peter Gabriel’s sensitive side (not that this is a rare occasion), with lyrics he wrote in response to the failure of his relationship with Rosanna Arquette. The lyrics clearly paint that wonderful, inescapable feeling you get when you gaze into the eyes of the one you are in love with. This particular version is from Gabriel’s Secret World Tour recorded back in 1994. The live version is particularly long, but it’s well worth the listen. It is good music to accompany cuddles on the couch, particularly with the jam session towards the end featuring the vocal stylings of Youssou N’Dour.

Peter Gabriel is going to be touring Mexico and South America through March, if you have the opportunity to go, do! He puts on quite a show.

At Last – Etta James

Arguably the most romantic songs that has ever been recorded, At Last has stood the test of time. Originally, written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Orchestra Wives in 1941, the song has been covered many times, by artists such as Etta James, Jason Mraz, Miles Davis, Christina Aguilera, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Norah Jones, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, and Beyonce Knowles. The lyrics tell of the fabulous moment when you recognize that love has finally arrived.

At last, my love has come along
my lonely days are over
and life is like a song

The song has held a very special place for me since it was featured in one of my favourite movies, Pleasantville. Ah… Tobey Maguire, he’s so dreamy (not as dreamy as my Perfect though, of course!).

Watch for my next post, another special Valentine’s edition!