We'd like to thank Detroit's own charming rock duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. for lifting our spirits this morning. It's not just their infinitely likable EP "Patterns" that's got us in a good mood, but a new remix and video for one of their singles that appeals to the nostalgic nerd in all of us.
"If You Didn't See Me (Then You Weren't On The Dancefloor)" was already getting heavy play on our stereo (well, our Spotify playlists), but an alternate version translates it into 8-bit video game music -- you know, like the soundtrack to a super old Nintendo game with graphics that now seem more Stone Age than '80s. According to Gizmodo, the band used a simple plugin to turn the original song into the MIDI version.
But there's more to the music than meets the ear, explained Daniel Zott, one half of the band.
"If you go back and listen to the music from Super Mario or Sonic the Hedgehog, they're such amazingly intricate, busy songs," he told Gizmodo. "And so much fun to listen to."
In the accompanying video (watch above), they've compiled scenes from dozens of these games, and there's something soothing about watching poorly-rendered characters swim, dance, play hockey, throw javelins and makeout to this digital and dreamy, but no less dance-y take on the song. Listen to the original here.
All of the games used in the video -- more than 40 -- are listed on YouTube, where you can also download the song for free.
The original version of the jam isn't the only song worth listening to on the band's third EP, released earlier this month. The Metro Times' Jeff Milo raves about it thusly:
The lead single on "Patterns," “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t on the Dancefloor)," is a devastatingly catchy, shimmering gem of a dance-pop anthem. It’s a buzzy neo-disco ballad that could easily fit right alongside your latest Passion Pit or Phoenix singles. Spin toward the later tracks and you’ll find a keen sensibility for intricately layered, complex compositions and remarkable re-imaginings of what’s possible inside a pop song. That’s the best of both worlds, really.
We can't help but agree. Catch Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. live this spring if you missed last week's Majestic show -- they're on a tour that takes them to California, New York, Texas and Illinois.
