Mash-Ups: Creation or Abomination?

Mash-Ups are becoming more and more popular, most recently DJ Earworm www.djearworm.com was enlisted by Annie Lennox to compile a mash up from her masters. The end result Backwards/Forwards can be found on DJ Earworm’s site as well as Annie Lennox’s. It truly is amazing and the YouTube video shows off her many incarnations through the years quite nicely. DJ Earworm also managed to get to #58 on the Billboard Pop chart with “United States of Pop ’08 (Viva La Pop)” this can also be found on his website. 

United State of Pop unbelievably contains all 25 of the top songs from 2008:

 (Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain – Low, Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love, Alicia Keys – No One, Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major – Lollipop, Timbaland Featuring OneRepublic – Apologize , Jordin Sparks Duet With Chris Brown – No Air,  Sara Bareilles – Love Song , Usher Featuring Young Jeezy – Love in This Club, Chris Brown – With You, Chris Brown – Forever, Ray J & Yung Berg – Sexy Can I, Rihanna – Take a Bow,  Coldplay – Viva La Vida, Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl, T.I. – Whatever You Like, Rihanna – Disturbia, Rihanna – Don’t Stop the Music, Natasha Bedingfield – Pocketful of Sunshine, Chris Brown Featuring T-Pain – Kiss Kiss, Ne-Yo – Closer, Colbie Caillat – Bubbly, Mariah Carey – Touch My Body, Madonna Featuring Justin Timberlake – 4 Minutes, Pink – So What and  Finger Eleven – Paralyzer.)

Obviously in the Annie Lennox case she sought out and provided DJ Earworm with her masters.

But what of all the other bootlegs and mixes readily available online? Are they even legal? Many people think that it is merely theft of the artist’s intellectual property. While others find Mash-Ups to be a tribute and a natural extension of the creative process.  Are they just the evolution of sampling that began in the 80’s?

As you can see I am a fan of Mash-Ups so I will leave the discussion to you.  I have posted a few of my favorites for enjoyment or to be picked apart as only the denizens of internet can do.

DJ Lobsterdust  - Blondie vs. The Temptations
“Call Me Already”
Call Me Already

DJ Earworm - Top 25 Billboard songs from 2008
“United States of Pop 2008 (Viva La Pop)”
United States of Pop 2008.mp3

Party Ben - Green Day vs. Oasis vs. Travis vs. Aerosmith
“Boulevard of Broken Songs”
Boulevard of Broken Songs