Everything Looks Brighter is a 1/2 year old today! We would like to commemorate this occasion and thank you for your support by giving you a list of our 12 to 13 favorite songs since the blog started back in November. Mikey and I will both be doing our own list as well as featuring a list from a new member to the ELB team and a list from Mikey’s girlfriend Brittney! The list is in no particular order but I will be giving some awards like the “Under the Radar Track”, “Most Valuable Track”, “Crowd Pleaser” and “Favorite Remix”. Now let’s get to the list, I’ll start with oldest and make my way to the newest of the tracks.
El Jay’s Favorite Tracks:
Imma kick off my list with one of ELB’s first ever posts, which is Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman’s remix of Mikael Weermeet’s and Audible’s ‘Free’ which features vocals by Max C. The vocals by Max C set the track up while Vangelis & Wyman progress the song into a synth heavy banger. I have almost listened to this song daily since November because it is so god damn uplifting and catchy.
Mikael Weermets & Audible feat. Max C-Free (Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman Remix)
Another one of the biggest tracks from November had to of been Cazzette’s remix of Spencer & Hill’s track ‘Believe It’. The song features vocals from the incredibly beautiful and talented Nadia Ali and one epic drop from the Swedish duo. The song is about working for the weekend which is basically the story of my life, and the drop will leave you craving Friday more than ever. This one has been a staple of my sets and for this reason I’m going to dub it BEST REMIX.
Spencer & Hill, Nadia Ali-Believe It (Cazzette’s Androids Sound Hot Remix)
In late November Axwell, and Michael Calfan brought us ‘Resurrection’ which was easily one of the anthems of 2011. Then in December Fareoh brought us his Fuck Finals EP, which included ‘Resurrecting Timebombs’ which is one of my favorite bootlegs to date. The song includes Calfan’s Resurrection and Laidback Luke’s ‘Timebomb’, when combined the two make one unforgettable track. I am constantly being asked for the title of this song and where people can download it, for this reason this track is crowned BIGGEST CROWD PLEASER!
Michael Calfan vs. Laidback Luke-Resurrecting Timebombs (Fareoh Bootleg)
When I think of last summer a few tracks come to mind and one of those tracks had to be ‘Sending My Love’ by R3hab, Swanky Tunes, and vocals by Max C. In late December Afrojack made one unbelievable edit of the song which featured Hard Rock Sofa’s remix for the intro but it kept the original song’s unreal drop. When put together you get one epic tune. I remember seeing R3hab open his set with this tune at Pacha NYC’s 6th year anniversary show and thinkin’ damn Tommy Trash’s remix of this is so sick. Turns out I was wrong about that one but honestly, who cares?
Hard Rock Sofa, R3hab, and Swanky Tunes feat. Max C-Sending My Love (Afrojack Edit)
Next up is a song that may have had a little hype, Ivan Gough, and Feenixpawl’s ‘In My Mind’ which you might remember was used to push Axwell’s Cosmic Opera. The track features unreal vocals by Georgi Kay, and one unforgettable drop that’ll have you pressing repeat for sure.
Ivan Gough and Feenixpawl-In My Mind Featuring Georgi Kay (Axwell Mix)
Tiesto released his mix album Club Life Volume 2: Miami a couple of weeks back and on that album he featured Avesta’s anthem ‘Arena’. Arena was released on Musical Freedom back in Feburary and has been a absolute club banger ever since. The song features a beautiful piano line which is progressed until Avesta takes the track and drops it into absolute chaos.
Jump forward a week and the progressive jam ‘Trio’ was dropped in preparation for UMF, I assume. The song is a collabartion of super producers Arty, Matisse & Sadko, and features a great piano line that is progressed into a unreal synth line that will have you fist pumping like no other.
Arty, Matisse & Sadko-Trio (Original Mix)
Third Party had a huge year with releases like his ‘Otherside’ Remix, ‘Duel’, and his remix of Tiesto’s What Can We Do (A Deeper Love), but no track was as big as ‘Feel’ in my opinion. The song features vocals by Cicada and one of the happier synth lines you’ll hear today.
Thrid Party, Cicada-Feel (Original Mix)
The Bingo Player’s were easily one of ELB’s favorite artists in the first six months with releases like ‘Mode’, ‘L’Amour’, and ‘Rattle’ just to name a few. Their label Hysteria Records is also becoming one of the best labels that EDM has to offer producing huge hit after huge hit. One of the biggest hits released onto Hysteria had to have been the Bingo Player’s edit of Carl Tricks’ track ‘Mad Dash’. The song features a harmonic build up and in classic Bingo Players fashion they take that beautiful intro and turn into absolute electro chaos.
Carl Tricks-Mad Dash (Bingo Players Edit)
Jidax produced in my opinion the best progressive track of the year, which is entitled ‘Rainfall’. The French producer created a song with the best chord progression I’ve heard in a hot minute. The song starts out with a simple synth which is paired with a cymbal and is progressed into a huge synth line that’ll definitely get you moving. The production value on this track is extremely highn and why this track went so far under the radar is unknown to me. That’s why I’m going to have to give Rainfall the award for Most Underrated Track!
Heard You Were Walking In Paris has been by far the most popular song ever posted to ELB, I mean no other song is even close in comparison. The song is a bootleg by MAKJ and Hardwell that combines Empire Of The Sun, Jay-Z and Kanye West, and Peace Treaty. The result is a huge track that is highly addictive and is also the biggest party pleaser I have ever heard. I absolutely love this track because it adds ‘Sing Along’ lyrics while maintaining it’s house roots making it a must have for any DJ. These are just a few reasons why the award for MOST VALUABLE TRACK goes to Heard You Were Walking In Paris!
Dirty South has had some huge releases as of late with tracks like Alive, Walking Alone, and of course his remix of Diddy Dirty Money’s I’m Coming Home. Since ELB was founded he has had some huge tracks as well like I Love Bullet Promises, Eyes Wide Open, and Rise but those tracks are nowhere near as big as his remix of Miike Snow’s ‘Devil’s Work’. The track opens with simple vocals that state ‘We All Need Somebody To Love’ that Dirty South progressively builds up with a nice bass line, the song then drops into the best synth line of the year, adds more vocals, and drops one more time. This one was easily one of my favorite songs from April and is quickly becoming one of my most played songs in Itunes.
Miike Snow-Devil’s Work (Dirty South Remix)
My final track is by Wolfgang Gartner’s new track ‘Red Line’ which was released back in April onto Ultra Records. This is easily my favorite track that Wolfgang has produced to date and that’s saying a lot seeing ‘Wolfgang’s 5th Symphony’, ‘Illmerica’, and ‘Conscindo’ are a few of my all time favorite songs. This one opens up with a simple yet catchy synth line that is progressed perfectly with a second underlying synth as it adds a simple clap, and bass line to really get you into it. My fellow Canadian brother has made what I believe will be the song of the summer!
Wolfgang Gartner – Red Line (Original Mix)
Thanks so much for being with ELB through it’s first six months, and we hope you stay with us through our next six and beyond! Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter if you get the chance. Love you guys! Enjoy the lists you rave babies!
-El Jay
