Songs that are better than the songs they sample

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this may have been done, was inspired by the notion of 'U Can't Touch This' and 'Ice Ice Baby' being better than 'Superfreak' and 'Under Pressure', which i can see but am not really convinced of.

so what songs are better than the songs they sample? and - importantly - how come?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

P Diddy - "I'll Be Missing You"

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Why? The sung bit is great. Doesn't actually have Sting on it.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

MOP "Cold As Ice"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

whatever chaka khan song khan-ye west is samplin' on through the wire

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

A lot of the time it's very close cos good samples are often from good songs (i.e. if you're a non-specialist and have heard of the song being sampled it is most likely a good song)

"Will2K" is better than "Rock The Casbah" (better jokes, just as much vibe) but even that's one of the better Clash songs.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Verve: 'Bittersweet Symphony'
Almost all tracks that sample 'Funky Drummer', which is boring.

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Gus Gus' "Believe" is entirely superior to Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Jazz" (from whence came the drum'n'cowbell sample) but I'm dead certain lots of folks will disagree with me. (I prefer "Jungle Boogie" over "Jungle Jazz," for whatever that's worth).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom that's crazy! Puffy's rap is awful and much worse than Sting's lyrics and singing which sound okay to me. i've always thought of it as a terrible track. 'Every Breath You Take' does seem trite now but oh I quite like that middle eight myself, and the subsequent 'pleeeeease' - good songcraft.

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

"Firestarter" by the Prodigy is HUGELY SUPERIOR to whatever Breeders tune the guitar was swiped from.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

And after listening to Stevie Wonder- The Definitive Collection last night, "Gangsta's Paradise".

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Disagree thoroughly on 'Will2K > Rock The Casbah' too (predictably I know) - again for the triteness factor ("and we're gonna party like it's 19 - hold up, it is!"). RTC has 'Dr Who' type sounds to symbolise Jet Fighters - and if you can't see the superiority in that concept then I drop bombs between YOUR minerettes bucko.

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

"and we're gonna party like it's 19 - hold up, it is!"

That's brilliant!

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

You have low standards for "brilliance".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

i can't think of any - i am officially old

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

'Planet Rock' > 'Trans-Europe Express'

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

ok 'Where's Your Head At' by Basement Jaxx IS better than Gary Numang's 'ME' because it warps that detuned synth further, ups the tempo from 'plod plod' to 'hop hop' and spills the contents of the Jaxx sound blender all over the shop better than anything else they've done I think

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Nobody Beats the Biz > Fly Like an Eagle

― BrianB (BrianB), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

That's a good bit though! Also "The new millennium - no 'scuse me, WILLENNIUM" - yes it's crass but so is New Years Eve, it made (and makes) me smile hugely!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

'Crazy In Love' is almost certainly better than the track it samples (the horns) too I guess, for the sheer impact it's had on dancefloors since it's release

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

ILM fave 'Regulate' - Michael McDonald's high register never fit in with the backing track for me, it's like the track was meant for 'Regulate'.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Pop music! Laughing out loud! Having fun! Fuck's sake Alex!

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

oooh i might go with 'regulate' - mainly for the reference to shooting dice, in the alley

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Stevem you were the patron of the bootleg revolution - WHERE IS THE (SAMPLED) LOVE?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

ooh ooh definitely Len - 'Steal My Sunshine' because the pops fit summery pop far better than hedonistic disco.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

heh I'm using a sample-listing website to cheat - 'Stan' because it keeps the only good part of 'Thank You'.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

"Bootylicious"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

What does that sample? Problem is, so so so many songs have little samples, but maybe this thread is about the 'Ice Ice Baby' style whoppers.

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah i meant songs that are built around a specific hook which is sampled from another song

Stevem you were the patron of the bootleg revolution - WHERE IS THE (SAMPLED) LOVE?

'a stroke of genieus' is better than both the songs it pilfers no doubt. obviously i love sampling but i guess not so much in pure pop?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

dizze doing Fix Up/Look Sharp > sampled bit from Squire

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Mariah Carey and ODB lifting Genius of Love...radical.

― ddb, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Nas - "Got Yourself A Gun" > A3 - "Woke Up This Morning"

― Kornél Kovács (Kornél Kovács), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Kanye West - Through the Wire, kinda ruins the chaka khan version.

― Chris V (Chris V), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Janet Jackson & Q-Tip - "Got 'Til It's Gone" > What's the name of that Joni Mitchell song?

― Kornél Kovács (Kornél Kovács), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Rocky Dennis - "Maple Leaves" > The Left Banke - "Walk Away Renee"

also

Rocky Dennis - "Black Cab" > The Left Banke - "I've Got Something On My Mind"

― Kornél Kovács (Kornél Kovács), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Jay-Z 'Sunshine' > Kraftwerk 'Man Machine' because the latter is just TOO monotonous and sparse for me (i do like 'Trans Euro Express' tho)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I think that Beck song "Jackass" is better than Them's version of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue."

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Five Starcle Men's "Pizza Hut Families" -- sample from the "Deliverance" soundtrack, I thin...

― George Smith, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

"Mama Said Knock You Out" > Sly & the Family Stone's "Trip to Your Heart"

"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" > "True" (close one, though)

― Joseph McCombs, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:38 (twenty-two years ago)

explanations people, explanations

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"Rocked by Rape" > "The CBS News with Dan Rather"

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

dude "Bootylicious" samples a very well-known Stevie Nicks song! "Edge of Seventeen" I think. it was a whopper to me, anyway

in "Edge of Seventeen" that guitar vamp is just a throw-away tension builder. The rest of the song is miles away in tone, and sort of lets down the promise of the vamp. "I got excited for THIS?" "Bootylicious" is like a scientific experiment on what would happen if that feeling of the vamp got carried thru the whole song and hey presto: it turns out that people can listen to that one power chord getting chugged on for minutes at a time! You need some tricks when you've only got one chord to work with, and DC makes it work mainly w/ grebt harmonies, but also to the subtle dynamic (loud/soft) shifts in the song. Here's to science and scientists everywhere!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"I do not think we are ready for this jelly, Dr. Morgan"

"We ARE READY!!!! hit the loop button and BE DAMNED!!"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

i think I'm channelling Custos!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Right now, I'm enjoying 3rd Bass's "Pop Goes the Weasel" moreso than Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer". That may change later.

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Busta Rhyme's "Gimme Some More" is way more entertaining than Bernard Herman's theme from "Psycho".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

i like "O Fortuna" better than "Carmina Burana"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

it's way more psycho

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Scooby Snacks > Movement of Fear

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Right now, I'm enjoying 3rd Bass's "Pop Goes the Weasel" moreso than Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer".

OH MY GOD i need to hear this (3rd Bass totally passed me by)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Bjork - Possibly Maybe > That Dead White Guy

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"Rocked by Rape" > "The CBS News with Dan Rather"

haha!

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

The two most obvious examples:

George Michael: Waiting For That Day
Oasis: D'You Know What I mean
Also, Oasis' "Got Let It Out" if that drum groove was sampled from elsewhere.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

cooby Snacks > Movement of Fear

The FLC tune? That samples Tones on Tail? This I must hear!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Btw. The George Michael track samples James Brown's "Funky Drummer", while "D'You Know What I Mean" samples some Public Enemy track (dunno which one, and the sample is uncredited in the sleevenotes)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The FLC tune? That samples Tones on Tail? This I must hear!

Indeed! That's the bass line isn't it. Never noticed that.

Incidentally, Tones on Tail still crap messily all over FLC, but thanks for pointing it out.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

That Boredoms Song > That B-52's Song

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

DJ Pica Pica Pica > Anything he uses

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Fantastic Voyage!

― PDAS, Thursday, 5 February 2004 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll take Biz Markie's "Just A Friend" over that turgid Gilbert O'Sullivan dross any day.

And the promo of Four Tet's "Unspoken" > Tori Amos - "Winter"

― strophic (strophic), Thursday, 5 February 2004 23:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Strophic, "Just a Friend" was lifted from Freddie Scott's "You Got What I Need"

― angel duster, Thursday, 5 February 2004 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Come on come on come on A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays!! Unless you prefer Frankie Valli or Chicago, in which case never mind.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Friday, 6 February 2004 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Great thread.

I think everybody should agree that Eminem's "Stan" is way better than Dido's "Thank you". I just hate the chorus on her version.

― daavid, Friday, 6 February 2004 00:42 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Gas Face" > Aretha's "Think"

― angel duster, Friday, 6 February 2004 00:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Daft Punk "Harder Better Etc Etc" > Edwin Birdsong "Cola Bottle Baby"

i wanted to prefer the Birdsong version but it just doesn't quite match the 'Punk.

― snd, Friday, 6 February 2004 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Agreed on usage of "Jungle Jazz" in Gus Gus's "Believe" - although it's such a wonderful, lovely evocative groove that I can't imagine going wrong with it. It's also used to great effect in Layo & Bushwacka's "Deep South".

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 6 February 2004 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"Hey Ma" for the block.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Friday, 6 February 2004 03:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Stan probly wins
Mos Def Ms. Fat Booty > Aretha One Step Ahead, cause it's a pretty weak Aretha track.
Jay-Z Lucifer > Max Romeo I Chase The Devil but it's close

― sym (shmuel), Friday, 6 February 2004 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

*revive*

"Digital Love" Daft Punk > "I love you more" George Duke

― Jole, Monday, 16 February 2004 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Beastie Boys' "High Plains Drifter" > whatever Eagles song that is with the Joe Walsh talkbox gtr

― Myonga Von Bontee, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"Risingson" > "I Found a Reason"
"Firestarter" > "S.O.S."/"Close To The Edit"
"Disco 2000" > "Gloria"

The first two only by a little bit.

― The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)

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