August 25 of this year marked the 20th anniversary of when New York pop singer Kelis released her iconic single “Milkshake.” To celebrate the occasion, she decided to put out a remix of the song today (September 12), which includes a new mix from French DJ Alex Mann and newly recorded vocals from herself.
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“It’s nice that after twenty years, ‘Milkshake’ is still connecting with people all over the world, across all genres and across all ages, the Alex Wann remix is a great record and I’m excited for people to hear it,” Kelis said in a press release.
Wann first put out the new rendition of “Milkshake” on August 10 via Beatport, a platform dedicated to “electronic music for DJs, producers, & their fans,” per their Instagram page. Upon its release, Wann’s version earned co-signs from prominent DJs like Diplo, David Guetta, Pete Tong, and more, leading to its eventual addition to all digital streaming platforms.
“Milkshake 20 (Alex Wann Remix)” sees Wann include more synths and electronic production on the recording, making the song more applicable to modern dance club settings. Replacing the song’s original production from Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who helped Kelis produce the entire album Tasty which “Milkshake” originally landed on, Wann is now reintroducing the classic 2000s hit to younger audiences.
[RELATED: 20th Anniversary: The Meaning Behind Kelis’ 2003 Neptunes-Penned Hit “Milkshake”]
With its initial release, “Milkshake” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is Kelis’ highest placement to this day. When speaking about the song during a 2014 interview with Spin Magazine, she explained how she still appreciates the song very much, and how she wants people to understand the impact it has had on the music landscape.
“I love the song,” she said. “It’s bright. I know what it meant, I know what it did for music and for female artists in that era. I’m not saying I single-handedly did it, but you know it played a huge part in where music went. I’m aware of that, I don’t regret it or resent it at all, and I’ve found new fun ways to perform it and to do it and make it enjoyable for people. I don’t put too much thought into it.”
Check out Alex Wann’s new take on “Milkshake” below.
Photo by Prince Williams/Getty Images
