Sampling other musicians work is nothing new in music. Yet sometimes we have to hit pause on a song and think to ourselves, “Where is that beat/noise from?”
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Story by Savannah Olson
There will be occasions where I’m sitting around, listening to music and minding my business, when out of nowhere, an off-putting noise or familiar tune will blast through my headphones behind the vocals of the musician, leaving me questioning where that came from. This phenomenon of using a portion of music or sound to create a whole new track is called ‘sampling.’ Made popular by DJs in the early days of hip-hop, sampling is as common in modern music as the release of an unannounced Beyonce album.
Samples aren’t limited to simply using other artist’s music. Through the access of modern audio mixing technology and daily use of mass media, artists are crafting fresh and interesting sounds with eclectic samples from video games, cash registers and even animals. Take a look below to hear some of the cleverest samples wielded in recent memory.
1. DRAM: “CHA CHA”
Samples: “Star Road Theme” Super Mario World
Photo courtesy of Faye Webster
Rap sampling video games isn’t a rarity, but DRAM perfects it with his giddy use of Super Mario World’s “Star Road Theme” on his infectious party-anthem “CHA CHA.” Playing old Nintendo games is an event worthy of inviting over some friends and busting open sugary drinks, but DRAM level up the childhood memory to a bumping party song. The mixing of the looped, island-inspired “Star Road Theme” with the booming bass gets you up off the couch and ready to cha cha all night long.
2. Maggie Rogers: “Dog Years”
Samples: Woodpecker, spoons and jars
Photo courtesy of DIY
Instruments were classically created to mimic sounds heard in nature. Maggie Rogers takes this a step further in her track “Dog Years” by implementing twinkling spoons and the echoing call of a woodpecker. The atmosphere of the song is shifted to somewhere surrounded by heavy forests, as Rogers’ earthy voice drifts on the low-patter beat throughout the song.
3. FKA Twigs: “Pendulum”
Samples: door opening and closing
Photo courtesy of Ryan McGinley
Hauntingly beautiful, FKA Twigs’ “Pendulum” begins with a noise replicating the creaking of an old door. Once FKA Twigs’ angelic voice enters the track, the sound of the door has been layered on itself. The constant creaking gives the song an ominous tone, similar to when the villain in a horror movie slowly opens the door to find the protagonist.
4. M.I.A.: “Paper Planes”
Samples: gunshot, cash register noise
Photo courtesy of Interscope Records
M.I.A.’s music is always coded with a political message and even her breakout hit, “Paper Planes” is no exception. Disguised as a humorous rap song, the chorus is spritzed with the sounds of a dinging cash register, the cocking of a gun and the ringing out of shots. In reality, M.I.A. explained that the sounds were replications of the stereotypical fears many Americans have towards immigrants — fears like increased crime and taking their money. By flipping the context of these cartoonish sounds, M.I.A. crafted one of the best political tracks of the 21st century.
