The mash-up as a type of music presentation has actually taken off within the twenty first Century, however who created the primary mash-up and the place did the type of presentation come from? It turns on the market’s a protracted historical past main as much as phenomenon of two (or extra) recognized songs overlapping via a mutually shared beat.

Who Invented the Mash-Up?

Whereas there are a number of cases of music releases which can be key to forming what ultimately grew to become the mash-up, many level to singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson as recording the primary mash-up as a part of his 1967 album Pandemonium Shadow Present. It was on that report that he issued the tune “You Cannot Do That.”

Although the tune was a canopy of the Beatles tune of the identical title, and Nilsson managed to re-arrange the tune at a slower tempo and work in references to 18 different Beatles tune lyrics into the combo, all introduced collectively over the same beat. Although the tune stalled out on the U.S. charts, it did climb into the High 10 in Canada.

Harry Nilsson, “You Cannot Do That”

Had been There Precursors to the Mash-Up?

The reply is: Sure! The earliest trace that one thing resembling a mash-up could be coming was Charles Ives’ “Central Park within the Darkish,” extensively thought of to be the primary sound collage. It was composed in 1906 for a chamber orchestra. The piece has been paired with The Unanswered Query as a part of “Two Contemplations” and with Hallowe’en and The Pond in “Three Out of doors Scenes.”

Charles Ives, “Central Park within the Darkish”

However, bringing this dialogue into the rock ‘n’ roll period, the following vital motion got here with 1956’s “The Flying Saucer.” On this case, Invoice Buchanan and Dickie Goodman would collaborate to reconstitute a few of the in style music of the day right into a skit wherein an interview was being performed with the solutions coming within the type of musical snippets of in style songs. On this case, the interviewer was making an attempt to get the story from the sight of a flying saucer touchdown with music from The Platters, Little Richard, Fat Domino, Elvis Presley and extra laying out the story.

This novelty report drew the ire of music publishers who had not agreed to the music being sampled in such a fashion. A lawsuit adopted, however a choose refused to subject an injunction on the report, noting that it was an “clever and intelligent” parody.

Goodman would go on to have a stable profession, utilizing the same method to function in style songs of the day. “Mr. Jaws” was his greatest hit, reaching No. 4 in 1975 with Goodman doing an interview based mostly across the occasions within the in style movie Jaws.

Buchanan & Goodman, “The Flying Saucer, Pt. 1 & 2”

What In regards to the Medley Craze?

Although Harry Nilsson usually will get the credit score for the primary mash-up, the efficiency type did not precisely catch hearth from there. Artists nonetheless tried out completely different shows till we bought to the mash-up type we all know immediately. One of many extra in style shows began to take maintain across the late ’70s / early ’80s.

The Dutch novelty act Stars on 45 (or Stars On as they later grew to become recognized) took to recreating in style songs in medley type. In January 1981, whereas releasing a full album of medley choices, the self-titled “Stars on 45” tune, which primarily took Beatles hits and added a number of different ’60s favorites over a danceable disco beat, caught hearth.

The monitor hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Sizzling 100 and prompted two different equally approached medleys showcasing Seaside Boys music and well-known classical music items that each had chart success as nicely.

“The Seaside Boys Medley,” arriving later in 1981, pulled collectively eight of the legendary band’s traditional songs into one danceable medley. It peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Sizzling 100. Then got here the Hooked on Classics album, that includes a titular medley with the works of Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Bach, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart, Gershwin and extra. It peaked at No. 10 and earned a pair of Grammy nominations.

Stars on 45, “Stars on 45”

The Mash-Up Cracks the Charts

As acknowledged, it could be some time earlier than the mash-up began to garner traction once more. However one of many first pairings to get some consideration was 1983’s “Do It Once more Medley With Billie Jean” from the Italian outfit Membership Home.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was the largest factor on this planet in 1983, along with his single “Billie Jean” serving because the breakout monitor. However the creators in Membership Home observed a similarity with the ’70s hit tune “Do It Once more” from Steely Dan, utilizing the Steely Dan lyrics over the Jackson beat, actually providing up one of many first cases of a modern-day mash-up

Although dubbed a medley within the title, it is actually extra a mash-up, and it grew to become one of many first charting successes for this type of presentation, cracking the Billboard Sizzling 100 at No. 75. Nonetheless, it grew to become a High 10 single in Belgium, Eire, the Netherlands and the U.Okay.

Membership Home, “Do It Once more Medley With Billie Jean”

One other mash-up chart success got here in 1990 when Norman Cook dinner (who would later turn into often called Fatboy Slim) earned at No. 1 tune with Beats Worldwide on the monitor “Dub Be Good to Me.” The tune paired up the SOS Band’s “Simply Be Good to Me” with The Conflict’s “The Weapons of Brixton.”

Beats Worldwide, “Dub Be Good to Me”

The Mash-Up Craze Explodes within the 2000s

Mash-ups began to turn into extra prevalent in golf equipment within the early 2000s, however they bought a shock run within the highlight when Kylie Minogue paired up her single “Cannot Get You Out of My Head” with New Order’s “Blue Monday” throughout a 2002 Brit Awards efficiency.

The “mash-up” type bought one other massive, and considerably sudden enhance in 2004 when Hazard Mouse took the a capella samples of Jay-Z from The Black Album and paired them with samples from The Beatles self-titled white album, calling it The Gray Album.

“Lots of people simply assume I took some Beatles and, you realize, threw some Jay-Z on prime of it or blended it up or looped it round, however it’s actually a deconstruction,” defined Hazard Mouse. “It is not a simple factor to do. I used to be obsessive about the entire venture, that is all I used to be attempting to do, see if I may do that. As soon as I bought into it, I did not take into consideration something however ending it. I caught to these two as a result of I assumed it could be tougher and extra enjoyable and extra of an announcement to what you possibly can do with pattern alone. It’s an artwork type.”

However the musician by no means supposed it to achieve the recognition that it did. Initially restricted to three,000 copies, the music then began to unfold via the web, ultimately catching the eye of the Beatles report label, who tried to close it down. However Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Jay-Z had all shared their approval for the venture. Whereas some cease-and-desist letters have been served, ultimately the label backed off and no chargers have been filed towards Hazard Mouse.

Hazard Mouse, “99 Issues”

The Gray Album‘s sudden success then led to a different Jay-Z mash-up joint, because the rapper linked with Linkin Park and MTV on a venture that will ultimately turn into their Collision Course EP. On this occasion, the band and Jay-Z deliberate to pair their respective music collectively, however fairly than simply utilizing samples, all of them hit the studio collectively.

“Numb/Encore” grew to become the breakout hit, peaking at No. 20 within the Billboard Sizzling 100. “Factors of Authority/99 Issues/One Step Nearer” additionally was launched as a single, whereas “Jigga What/Faint” and “Izzo/Within the Finish” garnered consideration as nicely. The album debuted at No. 1, making it the primary mash-up report to take action.

Then, chatting with the recognition of mash-ups on the time, the “Numb/Encore” collab received a Grammy for Finest Rap/Sung Collaboration, whereas Linkin Park and Jay-Z have been joined by Paul McCartney who added “Yesterday” to their mash-up in a Grammy efficiency.

Linkin Park & Jay-Z, “Numb/Encore”

READ MORE: Metallica + Megadeth Mash-Up Champ Returns With ‘Countdown to One’ 

The mash-up format has continued to thrive all through the 2000s, even making its approach into the gaming world with the DJ Hero sport in 2009 and the Fuser online game in 2020. And artists akin to Lady Speak, DJ Earworm, DJ Cummerbund, Invoice McClintock and extra have continued to develop the recognition of the mash-up format.