The remix that no one asked for…
Today, Kenny Rogers’ estate released a remixed version of “The Gambler,” which is in honor of the five-year anniversary of his passing this month. He sadly passed away at the age of 81 in 2020, after a legendary career in country music, though he will be remember forever as a country icon and extremely talented musician.
DJ duo VAVO put an EDM, fist-pumping spin on the country classic, and I have to be honest and ask, with all due respect, why in the world this ever got approved. “The Gambler” is such a staple and important song to country music, and this feels unnecessary at best. VAVO, made up of Canadian-born Jesse Fischer and London native Alden Martin, called the opportunity a “career-defining moment,” and an attempt to push the “YEEDM genre” (I’ve literally never heard of that and wish I hadn’t now, but I digress…):
“Remixing ‘The Gambler’ by Kenny Rogers is not just an incredible opportunity, it’s a career-defining moment that fills us with excitement and gratitude. Kenny Rogers holds a special place in the heart of country music, having shaped the genre with his storytelling and unforgettable melodies.
Infusing our own creativity into such an iconic piece is a profound honor. We are truly blessed to pay tribute to a legend who continues to inspire artists and fans alike. We are so happy to be pushing the YEEDM genre further into the mainstream with remixes like this.”
Of course, the original song was the title track for Kenny’s 1978 album and was one of a string of 5 consecutive #1’s. It was written by Don Schlitz and originally released by Bobby Bare, bouncing around between quite a few artists, including Johnny Cash who also released a version in 1978, though Kenny Rogers ultimately made it his own and the rest, they say, is history.
In addition to this remix, the estate has released rare Spanish-language renditions of classic tracks and the first-ever streaming releases of nearly the entire The First Edition catalog, the pioneering band Rogers fronted before going solo, which is pretty neat, actually.
Wanda Rogers, Kenny’s widow and Co-Executor of The Estate of Kenny Rogers, says they were “thrilled” to partner with VAVO, adding that her late husband loved trying new things and they want to use this remix as a way to introduce his music to a new generation, which I agree is a worthy cause, indeed:
“We’re thrilled to partner with the talented VAVO, who has allowed us to hear ‘The Gambler’ in an entirely different light through their creative and vibrant remix. Kenny always loved trying something new and never boxed himself in, so he would have loved this remix and the fact that ‘The Gambler’ is being re-introduced in a cool way to a new generation while also giving his fans an enjoyable fresh take on this iconic track.”
In general, I’m not a fan of any sort of remix on any standard like this, whether it be EDM or otherwise, especially if the artist is no longer around to give input. But, obviously, the estate runners can do whatever they want, and clearly they felt this was the right call.
In my humble opinion, his music stands on its own without needing anything more to reach a music fan of any age, but the good news I have free will and don’t have to listen to it ever again.
Check it out and see what you think:
If you need to cleanse your ears now…
“The Gambler”
