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So, if you don’t know what chiptunes are, that’s okay: you’re just not as nerdy as we are. However, we will say that the Amiga sound that is what makes chiptunes is still prevalent, even from mainstream producers like Timbaland and Danja Hands. We enjoy hearing some new 8-bit style or Amiga tracks and here’s one for your listening pleasure. You might not enjoy this on its own, but when incorporated into a full-on, studio-produced track, oh the awesomeness. We’re happy to see that this style is still around and that people are finding new ways to incorporate the old. That’s what it’s all about, really. Taking conventions and doing new things with what has already been done!

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Note there are even chiptune parties, like this one in philly we found the flier for on Geekadelphia.com. It featured entirely music like the streamable track above, no doubt.

Chiptunes are songs made with 8-bit sounds, inspired by the 8-bit Nintendo video game era. Of course, a lot of chip music was and is still featured in demos from the Demoscene but one new trend that has been emerging is chip music in popular culture. For instance, there are songs that sample these electronic songs with liberal arpeggiation to the point of intellectual property boundaries becoming questionable–as with Timbaland and Nelly Furtado’s song “Do It:”

Here Timbaland essentially ripped not only the sound but the entire musical structure of lesser-known Finnish artist Janne Suni:

At any rate, intellectual property chiptune drama aside, here are some cool covers and remixes of commercial music that you mind find interesting.

Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell – “Drop It Like It’s Hot (DatA Remix):”

Terry Poison – “Ballroom (DatA Remix):”

DatA – “Rapture Part II:”

8-Bit Rick Roll:

Rihanna – “Umbrella (8 bit remix):”

Katy Perry – “Hot N’ Cold (8-bit remix):”

Just because I like the original of the Katy Perry track too, here’s that:
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Even Machinedrum came down on a track with some 8-bit influence on his remix of “Me & U,” by Cassie… Observe:

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Cassie: