Zendaya - "Replay" [Jason Nevins Remix]
This is an entry by Zendaya, a Disney actress, turned model, turned singer. Even though I've had this top-shelf track for over a year now, all I knew about Zendaya and Jason Nevins before doing this write-up, were their names. So, another Disney alum that wants to be a pop star? What's the difference here? The difference, aside from the fact that Zendaya can sing well, for this specific track, is actually Jason Nevins. I may have never heard of him before, but he's no stranger to the music industry. Nevins is the producer responsible for RUN-DMC's
"It's Like That," and he has worked with artists such as 2 Live Crew, Cypress Hill, N.E.R.D., Duran Duran, Florida Georgia Line, and Nelly, among others.[1]
The original version of
"Replay" is from Zendaya's self-titled album, and it would peak at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later become certified platinum.[2] Unfortunately, while "Replay" features Zendaya's piercing vocals, the beat seems like a throwaway beat that someone plopped the vocals on top of; it doesn't add anything to the song, it doesn't fit the vocals, and I'm not quite sure what they were going for with that. This is where Nevins' experience comes in, and his remix results in a balanced, club-oriented sound where neither the instrumental or singing overpowers one another. Certainly, at 6:42 in length, that leaves enough time and space for the instrumental to become an integral part of the experience, rather than a detractor. Melody + movement = stuff I'm more inclined to like, and it's that combination that is reason enough to continuously press "Replay."
I looked up this remix on Beatport just to try to satisfy my genre-labeling OCD, but no dice, as it's not a track they have in their database. All I'm left with is guessing games. I say it's electro house, but it could just be music.
Current YouTube views for "Replay"
Original: 115,262,902
Jason Nevins Remix: 329,336
^^ Big difference, but not same difference.
[1]
Jason Nevins - Wiki
[2]
Zendaya - Wiki.