We Cast Music: Who Knew (Bimbo Jones Remix)

Song: Who Knew (Bimbo Jones Remix)
Artist: Pink
Album: Who Knew

Back in 1993 the band 4 Non Blondes, lead by now uber-producer Linda Perry, had a hit with their song “What’s Up?” (“What’s going on?”) One year later, DJ Miko did a remix of the song as a dance track (with a different, sound-a-like vocalist) and had another hit with the song. (He has since re-mixed the song in 2000, 2001, and just last year... give it up partner!) Despite Nirvana killing dance music on the pop charts in the early 90’s… this Alternative pop / meets the clubs fusion worked and it was a hit again. Another noteworthy example of this was Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” which was a smash pop-rock track, and then a huge club hit due to the Jason Nevins remix. While many pop tracks are remixed for club play, they rarely crossover again to radio as club versions.

Pink’s last single from her latest album “I’m Not Dead” didn’t have that fate unfortunately. Though “Who Knew” and the previous single “U + Ur Hand” did have success on the dance charts. I was a big fan of Pink’s record, and while it was huge in Europe and especially in Australia, it just didn’t catch on as well here in the States. And it should have. Pink is actually a great songwriter, and she teamed up with some catchy producers who gave her the pop sheen she needed for the songs, yet never diminished what makes her great… the powerful soulful voice, and her resistance to staying within the pop norm. (Do you think Rihanna had an anti-Bush song on her record?)

“Who Knew” is a rather moving song about death and/or the end of a close friendship. If you’ve ever lost someone close to you, or lost contact with a once close friend, you will feel it with this song. As far as pop remixes go, Bimbo Jones really excel in my book because they keep the vocals and choruses pretty much in tact, and just build bigger drama, extenuating the hooks and basically just making the perfect peak hour stomper. They did the same to “U + Ur Hand,” but “Who Knew” is a better song, just as catchy, but deeper.

I REALLY like this mix as it does al the right things. It keeps the essence of the song but adds a new dimension; the club beats perfectly fitting in with the songs structures and killer hooks. As pop remixes go, this is good stuff.

Enjoy.

Who Knew (Bimbo Jones Remix)