Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor” uses the famous melody from “Lambada” by Kaoma. But Kaoma didn’t originally create that melody. The musical idea comes from “Llorando se fue”, recorded by Bolivian group Los Kjarkas. That…
Tag: sample
Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” samples “Genius of Love” by Tom Tom Club. The original recording was released in 1981. It contains one of the most recognisable grooves in pop, funk and hip-hop history. Carey used it…
The Chi-Lites. That explosive brass phrase at the beginning of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” comes from the Chicago soul group’s 1970 recording “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)”. Producer Rich Harrison had held onto…
“More, More, More” by the Andrea True Connection. More specifically, LEN built the famous groove in “Steal My Sunshine” around a sample from the instrumental break of the 1976 disco hit. Once you hear the…
Daft Punk’s “One More Time” samples “More Spell on You” by Eddie Johns. The lead singer on “One More Time” is Romanthony. They are two different contributors to the sound of the record: Johns is…
Modjo’s “Lady (Hear Me Tonight)” samples Chic’s “Soup for One”, released in 1982. The familiar guitar-led groove comes from that earlier recording, while the lead vocal on “Lady” is sung by Modjo member Yann Destal,…
Stardust’s “Music Sounds Better With You” samples the guitar from Chaka Khan’s 1981 song “Fate”. The brief passage became the repeating hook in one of French house’s most recognisable records. Chaka Khan is the artist…
Doechii’s “Anxiety” is built around “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra. If the instrumental instantly sounds familiar, that’s why. But there’s another twist. Doechii originally made “Anxiety” years before becoming a…
Ever heard a brand-new song and immediately thought: Where have I heard that before? Sometimes there’s a very good reason. Popular music constantly recycles itself through samples, interpolations, covers and reworked melodies. Stella Lefty’s current…
