A great remix does more than speed up the beat. Sometimes it rescues a song that had been forgotten, sometimes it introduces an artist to a whole new audience, and sometimes it turns a hit into a record-breaker. Here are 15 remixes that ended up bigger, or more loved, than the songs they started from.
1. Everything But the Girl – “Missing” (Todd Terry Remix, 1995)
The original was a quiet folk-pop ballad that went almost nowhere. New York house producer Todd Terry put it over a simple, pulsing beat, and it became a worldwide hit, reaching No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spending more than a year on the chart. It is still the template for turning a sad song into a dance-floor classic.
2. Lil Nas X – “Old Town Road” (Remix feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019)
Adding country veteran Billy Ray Cyrus turned a viral TikTok song into history. The remix helped “Old Town Road” spend a record 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, and it won two Grammys.
3. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee – “Despacito” (Remix feat. Justin Bieber, 2017)
“Despacito” was already a Latin smash. Justin Bieber’s verses carried it to No. 1 in the US, where it stayed for 16 weeks, matching the record at the time.
4. Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage Remix” (feat. Beyoncé, 2020)
Beyoncé’s surprise verse turned a TikTok favourite into Megan’s first Hot 100 No. 1. The remix won Grammys for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
5. Doja Cat – “Say So” (Remix feat. Nicki Minaj, 2020)
Released in the same month as “Savage”, the remix with Nicki Minaj went to No. 1 on the Hot 100, the first chart-topper for both artists.
6. Elvis Presley vs JXL – “A Little Less Conversation” (2002)
Dutch producer Junkie XL reworked an overlooked 1968 Elvis track for a Nike World Cup advert. It went to No. 1 in the UK and many other countries, giving Elvis a record-breaking 18th UK No. 1, 25 years after his death.
7. Cornershop – “Brimful of Asha” (Norman Cook Remix, 1998)
Before he was famous as Fatboy Slim, Norman Cook sped up Cornershop’s song about Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhosle. The remix went to No. 1 in the UK and is still a feel-good favourite.
8. Mariah Carey – “Fantasy” (Bad Boy Remix feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard, 1995)
Pairing pop’s biggest voice with the Wu-Tang Clan’s wildest rapper sounded like a strange idea. It changed pop music, making rap features on R&B and pop singles the norm.
9. Craig Mack – “Flava in Ya Ear” (Remix, 1994)
The posse-cut remix that introduced many listeners to the Notorious B.I.G., alongside LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Rampage. It is often called the greatest hip-hop remix ever.
10. Mr Probz – “Waves” (Robin Schulz Remix, 2014)
German DJ Robin Schulz turned a moody ballad into a breezy deep-house track. It topped the UK chart and launched Schulz’s career.
11. OMI – “Cheerleader” (Felix Jaehn Remix, 2014)
The original was a 2012 reggae-pop song. Felix Jaehn’s light, tropical remix eventually went all the way to No. 1 on the US Hot 100 in 2015.
12. Tori Amos – “Professional Widow” (Armand Van Helden Remix, 1996)
Armand Van Helden took one line from a dark, piano-led album track and built a pounding house record around it. It reached No. 1 in the UK in 1997.
13. Run-DMC vs Jason Nevins – “It’s Like That” (1997)
Jason Nevins gave Run-DMC’s 1983 track a big-beat makeover, and it topped the charts across Europe, including the UK, introducing the hip-hop pioneers to a new generation.
14. Beyoncé – “Flawless” (Remix feat. Nicki Minaj, 2014)
Nicki Minaj’s verse made the remix as quotable as the original, and it became one of the most talked-about features of the year.
15. Daft Punk – “One More Time” and the art of the club edit
Not a remix of someone else’s song, but no list about dance-floor reinvention is complete without it. Daft Punk built “One More Time” from a heavily processed vocal and a looped sample, and it remains the blueprint for so many of the remixes above.
What makes a remix great?
- It finds something new. The best remixes, like “Missing” and “Waves”, reveal a mood the original was hiding.
- It fits the moment. “Old Town Road” and “Savage” were perfectly timed for TikTok-era culture.
- It introduces new fans. Features like Billy Ray Cyrus or Justin Bieber pulled in audiences the original artist could never have reached alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most successful remix of all time?
The remix of “Old Town Road” with Billy Ray Cyrus, which helped the song spend a record 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Which remix made Elvis Presley No. 1 again?
Junkie XL’s 2002 remix of “A Little Less Conversation”.
Who remixed “Brimful of Asha”?
Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim.
Rankings are the opinion of the GeekyBar Desk.
