Welcome to a series where we ask some of bass music’s finest to choose five tunes from any era and in any genre that have inspired them, influenced them, and maybe even changed their lives.
I used to jam this whole album on the way to school on my Discman while playing with my Tech Decks and eating Fruit Roll-Ups.
Linkin Park “Krwlng” (Warner Bros, 2002)
I love the extra chords they added throughout this track; it really made me appreciate chord progression. This song also made me realize how awesome remixing is. I used to jam this whole album on the way to school on my Discman while playing with my Tech Decks and eating Fruit Roll-Ups.
R. Kelly “I Believe I Can Fly” (Jive, 1996)
It was the first time I ever got to DJ—nap time in kindergarten. It was my turn to choose the song that we listened to before we fell asleep on our gym mats. I handed my Space Jam cassette to the teacher and she popped it in the boombox without hesitation. I proceeded to dream about having super powers that I could fly.
Daft Punk “Aerodynamic” (Virgin, 2001)
I stayed up all night waiting for Cartoon Network to premier Daft Punk’s Interstellar 5555 [film]. This song always stuck out to me the most on the album because of the gnarly guitar solo breakdown.
Gorillaz “Clint Eastwood” (EMI, 2001)
Cartoon Network also premiered this song the same night as Interstellar 5555. I recorded the whole thing onto VHS and religiously re-watched it. I also wrote down all the lyrics in my notebook until I memorized every line; me and a group of friends on the playground would sing the whole song. I have no idea why we did that but “Clint Eastwood” is probably my favorite song of all time by my favorite band of all time.
“Pokémon Theme” (Koch, 1999)
“I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was. To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause. I will travel across the land searching far and wide. Each Pokémon to understand the power that’s inside. Pokémon—gotta catch them all—it’s you and me. I know it’s my destiny. Pokémon, oh, you’re my best friend in a world we must defend. Pokémon—gotta catch them all—a heart so true. Our courage will pull us through. You teach me and I’ll teach you, Po-ké-mon. Gotta catch ’em all. Pokémon!”