BPM Edition 2009 Volume 8 | Take 1

Well, I finally got my groove back and I have to say "it feels freaking fantabulous!"  While there are still issues with iTunes (which I just received another email from them to let me know they haven't forgotten about me)and now my Facebook Fan Page, which I've decided to leave well enough alone, things are going relatively well with me in general.  I'm still peddling away on the 'under the hood' issues for the sight, so I figure everything will hopefully fall into place in due time.  I'm actually getting better at this patience thing, just take a deep breath and walk away.  Come back in an hour or so and try again.  Works pretty well. Normally, I like to mix up the different styles and genres within my BPM mixes, but this time I decided to separate them out.  This first set is for all the mainstream electro-pop folks who like their radio favorites mixed for the dancefloor.  Nothing wrong with that at all.  As you skim down the track list, you may notice a couple of things.  First, Mariah Carey; yes I was critical of her remake of the Foreigner classic "I Want to Know What Love Is", but I have to admit her vocals are spot on and she hasn't sounded this good in a long time.  Sadly, Moto Blanco (who I would have tapped for the remix) sped the vocals up losing the actual flavor of the song.  This is a big ballad with some serious undertones that deserve better than the Mickey Mouse rendition they delivered.  That's not to say most of you won't like it, I just think something more dramatic is in order; maybe Tony Moran, Chris Cox; I'm just saying. The next thing you'll notice is my inclusion of Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A."  I haven't been particularly nice to Miley on this site, only because I guess I'm way over the whole bubblegum scene.  History has always manufactured huge stars targeting the Teen Beat crowd, so Miley's success comes as no surprise.  Certainly, I've had my fair share of favorites over the years (Debbie Gibson comes to mind), so it wouldn't be fair of me to deny anyone else their right to enjoy it now.  While I'm not ready to join Miley's fan club, I will admit that this song is sinfully delicious! While I generally enjoy all the songs in my mixes for one reason or another, as usual, there are a few diamonds that stand out and stick in my head like gum to the bottom of your shoe.  Cindy Gomez' "Again and Again" is pure pop bliss, while Priscilla Renea's "Dollhouse" takes on a familiar theme while making it all her own.  One of the biggest artists of the year, Agnes follows up "Release Me" with "I Need You" which is just as ear-pleasingly catchy.  I'm not sure what the huge appeal to Agnes' kind of meat and potatoes pop is, but she sure has one hell of a writing team, if she isn't writing these songs herself.  Taking the familiar piano riff used in "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland (another HUGE track from earlier this year) this is bound to be BIG. After the massive worldwide success of "In My Arms" from 2007, Plumb returns with a new album and single "Hang On" already destined for dancefloor glory.  Packed with fantastic mixes by Dave Aude and Digital Dog, it's the Pete Hammond mix that blows my socks off.  If you weren't fortunate enough to have lived through the second half of the 80s, Pete Hammond (who's been making the rounds on the circuit lately) was part of Stock, Aitken, and Waterman or better known as SAW.  They churned out dozens of hits for Bananarama, Dead or Alive, Rick Astley and even Donna Summer amongst many others.  Their signature sound could be heard not just on dancefloors but at Top 40 radio throughout the world.  I'm happy to say that Pete, who has already been featured in previous BPM Editions, is back and quite possibly even better than before.  He's taken the classic SAW sound and updated it for the today's dancefloors'.  Despite my obvious bias, it's refreshing to hear something dropped in between the usual Bimbo Jones,