Gramophonedzie: ‘Why Don’t You’… have a hit!
By Paul Dakeyne
| Posted in Writer's Block
There’s a record - sorry, a track – which has been buzzing around some top DJs sets, the internet and radio for quite a few months now. It’s about to perform that fabulous trick of becoming an underground tune that slam dunks itself into mainstream radio, club and TV play with tornado force. Why Don’t You is by Belgrade based DJ/Remixer, Marko Milicevic, using the recording name of Gramophonedzie. Sampling what is evidently a 1940s Peggy Lee track called Get Me Some Money, the production blends this with some funky, tribal (and quite minimal) beats ‘n bassline to evolve into one of the catchiest, coolest dance tracks I’ve heard, the kind that only seems to come around every few years.
Purists may throw criticism directly at this ‘swing house’ track, accusing it perhaps of doing nothing than merely cutting-up (albeit very cleverly) an old vocal until the ‘catchy as hell’ factor gets cranked way beyond 10. “A novelty record..?” some may say? Well, having officially fallen into the pop chart archives as a one hit wonder myself, I’ll just pipe in and say I love what Marko has done here. He, like me, had, up to the point of making said hit, been in the industry for numerous years and no doubt he too will carry on after this flurry of profile peaking to make even more, and maybe even better, dance music.
For as many people that this track makes smile, dance and feel good, there’ll be an equal amount who’ll contort their face and rush to change the radio station every time it comes on. But, the important thing is that this artist, in the minority sales world of dance music, will make a difference and will have a monster hit with Why Don’t You. His stock will rise, bookings will increase, remix offers will be on the table and gigs will be plentiful – not bad for a DJ from Serbia. But this particular producer has kept his faith, studied his craft diligently, and committed himself to a music production career that has been varied and no doubt fulfilling, and now he’ll probably get his biggest financial reward to date.
Why Don’t You may indeed have the same love/hate reaction that Doop, by Doop did back in the early 1990s (a similar 1930s ‘swing’ dance track, which admittedly was quite dreadful). However, I say well done though Gramophonedzie. This particular novelty record has been pulled off with a cool factor of ‘hell yeah’, a funky lo-fi groove to die for, and a vocal and acoustic instrument arrangement that borders on perfection. The UK label Positiva is set to release this at the end of the month and it has incorporated a genius video where a black and white Jessica Rabbit sorts out the male object and turns his messy bachelor pad into a smart, tidy des-res. She then promptly kicks his ar*e out the door and sends him off to work to…”Get me some money too..!” Well said girl!
Tags: Gramophonedzie, Positiva records, why dont you