Divas Take Back the Dancefloors

This week, it was evident on the Billboard chart end-dated January 18, and on some promos that came across my desk and Internet, that there are some major, power-house divas ready to reclaim the discos! 2014 is starting off with a divalicious bang.

Deborah Cox's "Higher" (featuring Paige) is now #2. Ms Cox, who performed last summer at NYC's awesome Gay Pride pier dance, opening for Cher,  http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/07/on-pier-with-cher-and-hot-cox.html is always a welcome figure on the charts. Hopefully, she'll be taken even Higher next week to the heavenly #1 spot.

As for Cher, "Take It Like a Man," from her fab new album, is currently on the rise at #7, thanks to a bevy of robust remixes. The best of them is no doubt Tony Moran's Destination mix, a big-room rouser. I also particularly recommend UK's 7th Heaven EuroNRG revamp.

At #3, we have none less than Celine Dion, buoyed by the remixes of  "Loved Me Back to Life." She is seriously loved back to life by club-goers with this one. Although I prefer an unreleased LFB mix I heard months ago, it seems the only official remix is Dave Aude's club version. Good, mainstream remix for sure; it's a guaranteed floor-filler.

Kristine W, a diva's diva, peaked at #2 with "So Close to Me." Nine weeks on the charts, it currently hangs onto the top ten in the 9th nook.

And Donna Summer is back for the dancefloors via new dj-promo remixes of "MacArthur Park" by Rosabel, Laidback Luke and Frank Lamboy. Rosabel's mix gallops along nicely for contempo clubgoers; one of the more successful efforts to come off the recent remix tribute album. Laidback Luke's re-do, however, is a tinny calliope-like mess while I found Frank Lamboy's version a busy and belabored one. "MacArthur Park" is currently #14 on Billboard's club chart. Joel Dickinson recently informed us he has a remix forthcoming in a second wave. Seriously looking forward to that!

Lady Gaga's "Do What U Want" is on the rise at #19. And Jody Watley seems to have peaked at #18 with "Nightlife," dropping now to 22nd place when it really deserves to go higher. But major diva power is the trend right now on US Billboard's dance/club chart for certain.

Meanwhile, not on the chart but hopefully headed there, the upbeat and quite winning club number from Spice Girl Mel B ("Scary Spice"), "For Once in My Life," given new life by Dj Pornstar from Sobel Promotions.

And I received 7th Heaven's club mix of Dario G featuring Dame Shirley Bassey's "We Got Music" ~  and it is as fabulous as you might hope! Always a pleasure when Bassey returns to the dancefloors. Lisa Stansfield is also back! Moto Blanco (who can virtually do no wrong) has a club mix of her "Can't Dance" that will transport you to the floor in soulfully divine disco style. "We're gonna crucify the dancefloor!" And Ms Stansfield is back in full vocal range and all her glory!

Lastly, Sanna & Petron do a nice job of remixing Australia's Tina Arena, whom we've missed, with "Reset All." The diva returns in fine voice, though the song, as written, may not be catchy enough to catch on, at least in the USA where she is not a household name.

But the divas are distinctly back in force at the top of the year. Let's hope this is the trend for 2014!

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen's November Turntables

November is off to a hot start with new club music! And some mixes can be found on-line via Sobel Promotions. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SobelPromotions/

First off, it's a chiller killer hi-NRG remix that will take you to the dancefloor from Joel Dickinson. Halloween is over but "Thriller" is timeless. Joel does a magnificent re-work on this Michael Jackson classic that I think will be irresistible for dj sets and club floors around the world. Nice work on the Vincent Price moments scattered throughout. You can download from Soundcloud. https://soundcloud.com/joeldickinsonremix/thriller-joel-dickinson-2013

Matt Consola & LFB Swishcraft does a monster job on Vicki Shepard's "When Love Comes Calling," bringing the diva's outstanding vocals to a boil. Great pianissimo bridge. Solid, floor-filler stuff!

The new Chromeo & Oliver "Love Is in Control" re-do from the Donna Summer remix album is a very sturdy and uplifting mix with la diva's vocals very much upfront. Bound to be popular on the  floors but be aware it's a compact 4-minute mix in its original form.

Celine Dion's "Loved Me Back to Life" is currently sporting dj remixes. Just got a promo. I was not particularly impressed by the album version despite the diva's typical pyrotechnic vocals. JRMXMusic's remix, however, really delivers. I defy anyone to stand still to this. Magical match of mix and vox. Jump Smokers offer an uneven and hyperbolic re-vamp. Craig Vanity v. Rafael Frost is a bit of a misfired mess as well. The Dave Aude big room effort is very "processed," I found; kind of like Velveeta cheese for the ears. It might become the popular mix that delivers this to club crowds, at least in the USA, but I'll stick with JRMX, people.

When it comes to Icona Pop's "All Night," go directly to the Wayne G/LFB remix.  The Swedish girl duo is most infectious with a genuine pop snappiness in a sort of retro SAW-like style. The aforementioned mix puts this across in an updated '80s retro-progresso fashion. If you don't dance to this, check your pulse.


Finally, thank God it's "Thursday," The song by Pet Shop Boys is the next song off their fresh album, and Eddie Amador delivers the goods to club people globally. Excellent rap bridge by Example.

Until next time, have fun, play safe and get out there and dance! Support club life and it couldl be your life support.

Donna, Cher & Celine on my Christmas Countdown 2012

Kicking off Monday on a high note with this fan mix of Donna Summer, Cher & Celine Dion. Tweeted Cher of Donna, after her passing last May, "She was exquisite!... One of the GREAT voices of our time." Have a rosie Christmas, everyone, with three of the iconic voices of our lifetimes! We miss you, Donna.