REVIEW: Ain't Nobody Remix (Felix Jaehn featuring Jasmine Thompson)

D.J. Felix Jaehn's remix of Jasmine Thompson's version of Ain't Nobody (originally by Chaka Khan) is a fantastic listen. It's very, very catchy, the perfect summertime song.

For help writing this review, I read a very good article about the art of remixing a song. One point the writer makes really stuck with me. He states that a good remix "respects the original track and it's content." He adds that "working with the material ... instead of against it is essential." A remix that respects the original track...makes so much sense, doesn't it?

But, what does such a remix sound like? It sounds a lot like Felix's remix of Jasmine's Ain't Nobody. To hear what I mean, listen to Jasmine's original cover below.

Then listen again to Felix's remix. Felix builds around Jasmine's original source material, keeping the song more or less intact from beginning to end. He does NOT distort and chop it up and re-arrange it in ways that makes it unrecognizable, turning the original into the musical version of abstract art.

Felix adds layers that are consistent with Jasmine's original. The remix does speed up Jasmine's voice a little. I'll admit, it took me several listens to get used to it. Ultimately, it works, because doing so doesn't distort Jasmine's vocals too much, and it makes the remix a bit more "danceable."

The key original effect that Felix adds is an extremely catchy xylophone melody. He starts and ends his remix with it. It works because it's stylistically in keeping with the sound of Jasmine's original. It could easily have been incorporated into Jasmine's original version and fit right in.

Ultimately, at the heart of the remix are Jasmine's playful vocals and her interpretation of Chaka Khan's version. Felix succeeds with his remix because it's clear that he respects the beauty and originality of Jasmine's cover. The remix is in effect a tribute or homage to it.

The end result? The perfect summertime song to listen to while sitting on a tropical beach, watching as the sun goes down into the ocean.