Music lovers of all ages can thank Kygo for the revival of some of the most legendary songs by some of the most legendary women of the twentieth century. The Norwegian DJ entered the music industry this past decade but has already established his signature: making genius remixes of the classic hits of dance divas.
A regular entry into DJ Mag’s top 100 DJs, Kygo has experienced international success with his own original tracks. In 2014, his single “Firestone” was played on speakers around the world and debuted on several charts, including Ultratop and Billboard. Earlier this year, the artist released his third studio album, Golden Hour, which peaked at number two on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums.
But undoubtedly, what sets Kygo aside from other top DJs is his remixes of music divas. In fact, he is rumored to be working on an EP titled Divas & Dancers that will feature remixes of artists such as Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, and Cher.
KYGO & WHITNEY
The trend began when Kygo released a remix of Whitney Houston’s “Higher Love” last year. The remix was played over half a billion times across streaming platforms, eliciting nostalgia from an older audience that had witnessed firsthand the original artist’s record-breaking career in the 90s and early 2000s. For younger listeners, the mesmerizing ballad coupled with Kygo’s upbeat techno sound was an unfamiliar and exciting new experience.
KYGO & TINA TURNER
Riding off of the wave of energy from that release, Kygo released a remix of “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” the iconic song by Tina Turner from the 1980s. In 1985, the year the song was released, it won Grammys for record of the year, song of the year, and best female pop vocal performance. Thirty-five years later, the song may be able to add yet another Grammy to its repertoire: Kygo’s remix has already been nominated for best remixed recording.
KYGO & DONNA SUMMER
His most recent release is a remix of “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer, who several decades ago became known as the “Queen of Disco” during the disco era of the 1970s.
Fans can no longer contain their excitement nor veil their impatience––they have already began speculating over which dance diva Kygo will remix next. The top contenders are Diana Ross, and her legendary song “I’m Coming Out,” and Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time.” Both potential tracks have already been registered on Genius.com, a platform that has been successful in anticipating future releases by Kygo.
It is safe to assume that Kygo’s multigenerational audience can expect to continue to enjoy revived trips down nostalgia lane.
