30 Day Song Challenge, Day 3: A Song That Makes You Happy

I’m going to pick a song and a DJ mix.

First, the song: KMDFM’s Drug Against War (Overdose Mix)

Few things make me happier than running, and this is my favorite song to run to. It’s really fast, and it’s really aggro, and it builds to a few solid climaxes, so, the perfect running song. I listen to this during the fastest part of my run, and you can bet I lip-synch along to the “K-M-F-D-M!” every time.

 

The DJ Mix: Jacques Lu Cont, BBC Essential Mix (2012)

If the KMFDM track is something that accompanies and facilitates something that makes me happy, then this mix is a piece of music that makes me feel good just by listening to it. This is my favorite DJ mix. I heard it live in 2012 while I was walking the dogs, and I listen to it at least once a week still. It’s SO GOOD. The remix of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” (around 8:00) is genius: it takes the energy of the arpeggiated guitar riff and makes it light, airy, shimmery–decidedly not like a steamtrain barrelling at you. And then the big climax that takes “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” (around 1:09:30) and puts it over what sounds like the combination of a drum corps-style company front and an EDM soar? Woah. (For the record, Stuart Price/Thin White Duke/Jacques Lu Cont/Tracques is probably my favorite DJ/producer. The records he produced for Madonna & Pet Shop Boys are also fantastic.)

Runners up: Nicki Minaj feat. Drake, Lil Wayne, & Chris Brown, “Only” (bc the whole song is a joke, mainly on Chris Brown); Au Pairs, “Come Again” (misandry! pointing out shallow men’s feminisms!); Happy Mondays, “Wrote For Luck” (it’s stupid fun).