Tomorrowland’s 2023 Top 5
Popular festivals are indicative of where the music industry is heading these days. Look no further than Tomorrowland, where plenty of artists play a smorgasbord of music to the attending fans. Yet, some tracks stand out for getting heavy rotation. So here’s the question: which of those got the most repeats?
We headed over to the Tomorrowland website for our answer, and here are our thoughts on the top five listed (rank-wise).
5. David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – I’m Good (Blue)
Already having crossed into the one billion streams club on Spotify since its release last year, “I’m Good (Blue)” from hitmakers David Guetta and Bebe Rexha has probably amassed more radio popularity than the classic that inspired it.
From our point of view, it ticks on every dance-pop requirement: a catchy (and recycled) melody, under three minutes, and singalong vocals. Surprisingly enough, the polished radio attributes didn’t hinder the trending song from translating well into festival dancefloors.
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4. Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana
Paying homage to the 90s house music, Peggy Gou ended up creating a summer sensation with “(It Goes Like) Nanana.”
Albeit receiving criticism for the ATB “9 PM” influenced melody, the song has an ingenuity with its classic house sound: the M1 organ bassline, 909 drums, dance pianos, and the whole lot. For some reason, it reminds us a lot of “Dudley’s Theme (You Blow My Mind)” from the arcade classic Street Fighter III.
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3. Skrillex, Boys Noize – Fine Day Anthem
Coming in at number two is the rather unconventional “Fine Day Anthem,” a very recent team-up between Skrillex and Boys Noize. We briefly discussed it on the Weekly Roundup LXIX.
To summarize, the track features brisk patterns of drums and hypnotic vocals. Co-engineered by Fred Again (“Turn On The Lights again” also ranked under the top ten), the song carries his handiwork in plenty but is augmented by the American moniker’s uncanny sound design skills.
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2. Mau P – Drugs From Amsterdam
What served as a viral breakthrough for Maurice West’s start-from-scratch project Mau P ended up being Tomorrowland’s favorite house tune as well.
The tech house release needs no introduction: with fun-provoking illicit-themed vocals and hammering bassline groove, “Drugs From Amsterdam” may have very well taken the first spot if not for the presence of the number one entry.
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1. Kevin de Vries, Mau P – Metro
This rework of Nico Parisi’s “Metro” has rung alarms in the dance music scene recently. A project between techno specialist Kevin de Vries and recent Tech House trailblazer Mau P, the song has marked a new turn for the once-niche melodic techno imprint Afterlife.
Bringing gargantuan saws and big room-like trademarks over a peak-time techno affair, the song strays far from the near leftfield and aesthetic offerings from Tale of Us’ imprint. Rather, it targets the festival audience directly with its juggernaut-like cadence. We can see why it turned into such a sensation in a crowded festival such as Tomorrowland.
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