Soraya De Grasse
Boscarino
ENG 4U - 11
July 29, 2021
Everything is a Remix, Remix Inc.
Everything is a remix; music, films and texts of which appear to be original are actually reused
portions of pre-existing pieces. When people use fragments of pieces of music and complexly put them
together to enhance or construct their own music, they are sampling. Sampling can be found in many
different musical works nowadays, as many famous artists sample songs from different genres including
r&b, soul, rock, reggae, jazz, etc. An example of sampling can be found within Mariah Carey’s hit single
Fantasy.
In this song, Mariah Carey heavily samples elements from Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love”
and alters certain parts to turn it into “Fantasy”. Her sample of the song is similar to the original in some
ways as it incorporates multiple sounds and rhythms composed by Tom Tom Club. Carey includes the
hook Tom Tom Club uses in the original song and transforms it into a more up-tempo piece using
different lyrics. However, there are some changes to Mariah Carey’s sample that distinguishes the two.
Unlike the original, the remix of this song starts off with a high note sung by Mariah Carey and features
rap lyrics by Ol’ Dirty Bastard. This song is written in a G major key and 4/4 signature, and also includes
heavy bass and percussion. “Genius of Love” is performed in a slow, soft tempo while “Fantasy”’s tempo
is more upbeat.
Thanks to these alterations and adjustments to the lyrics in “Fantasy”, Mariah Carey is able to
sample “Genius of Love” without being accused of copyright infringement. However, I would not go so
Boscarino
ENG 4U - 11
July 29, 2021
Everything is a Remix, Remix Inc.
Everything is a remix; music, films and texts of which appear to be original are actually reused
portions of pre-existing pieces. When people use fragments of pieces of music and complexly put them
together to enhance or construct their own music, they are sampling. Sampling can be found in many
different musical works nowadays, as many famous artists sample songs from different genres including
r&b, soul, rock, reggae, jazz, etc. An example of sampling can be found within Mariah Carey’s hit single
Fantasy.
In this song, Mariah Carey heavily samples elements from Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love”
and alters certain parts to turn it into “Fantasy”. Her sample of the song is similar to the original in some
ways as it incorporates multiple sounds and rhythms composed by Tom Tom Club. Carey includes the
hook Tom Tom Club uses in the original song and transforms it into a more up-tempo piece using
different lyrics. However, there are some changes to Mariah Carey’s sample that distinguishes the two.
Unlike the original, the remix of this song starts off with a high note sung by Mariah Carey and features
rap lyrics by Ol’ Dirty Bastard. This song is written in a G major key and 4/4 signature, and also includes
heavy bass and percussion. “Genius of Love” is performed in a slow, soft tempo while “Fantasy”’s tempo
is more upbeat.
Thanks to these alterations and adjustments to the lyrics in “Fantasy”, Mariah Carey is able to
sample “Genius of Love” without being accused of copyright infringement. However, I would not go so
