Special Star 4-Track Remix EP + Official Cover Art

 

Candy Apple Blue - Special Star (Matt Pop Mix)
ft. Nick Bramlett [Official Cover Art]

Press Release: Special Star 4-Track Remix EP + Official Cover Art

The queens are going to have to call an emergency meeting! Special Star is our tribute to celebrate the life and music of our beloved Pete Burns of Dead or Alive. Our Special Star ⭐ Remix EP lands on May 5th, 2023 and it's packed with Pete Burns punch! This musical endeavor was done with the utmost care and respect for the original song. We teamed up with Nick Bramlett and Matt Pop to put out a cover version that would exceed people's expectations. We knew that we were walking on sacred ground here. We aimed high and we reached for the stars! We all poured our musical hearts into it for Pete's sake. It's now time for you to be the judge.

Track 01: Special Star (Matt Pop Mix) 03:38

Matt Pop really knocks this one out of the ballpark! His radio edit is Hi-NRG and it's loaded with pure synth-pop goodness. It's unapologetically synth-bass driven and slightly techno aggressive in a Donna Summer "I Feel Love" kind of way. This perfectly balances out with Nick's heartfelt vocal delivery. Nick doesn't dare to emulate Pete Burns but rather puts his own spin on it. He approached the vocals more tenderly than the original. Matt sprinkles in a "Brand New Lover" flair with some smooth-as-silk synth bells and chimes. The falling star sound at the end of the song really pulled on our heartstrings. It's Matt's loving nod to Steve and Pete in the sky. If you like dark disco and dance-pop this one really razzles and dazzles! We are so proud of how bright our very first cover song shines.

Track 02: Special Star (Matt Pop Murder Mix) 06:28

The Matt Pop Murder Mix is totally killing it! It's 6 minutes and 28 seconds of classic pure Hi-NRG extended listening pleasure. There are plenty of Easter eggs 🥚 hidden here for devoted Dead or Alive fans to find. It's 100% total ear candy for Gen X'ers who are craving a new retro-inspired dancefloor favorite! And "Son of a Gun" we still can't decide which mix is our favorite; the edit or the extended mix. To our ears, both are genuine works of audio art. Someone who heard this mix in our inner circle said it "sounds like Stock, Aitken, and Waterman reunited to make this record". Is there a greater compliment?

Track 03. Special Star (Matt Pop Murder Instrumental) 06:28

For a lot of fans having an instrumental track to sing along to is quintessential and we get that. This mix is for you! So grab that hairbrush, put on an eyepatch, and get in that mirror! It's time for you to belt out your best Pete Burns!

Track 04: Special Star (A Cappella Mix) 04:16

This a cappella mix focuses on Nick's tender vocal delivery of the song without musical accompaniment. We added some Beach Boys and Four Seasons-inspired ad-libs at the end of the song to flavor it up a bit. These extra earworms and hooks help to keep the song sounding fresh. Carly can be heard singing background vocals in the chorus. It's nice to hear the song in a different way.

So there you have it! Or will you have it? Either way, we can't wait to hear what you think! Pete Burns is a celebrated LGBTQ+ icon and he was a hero to a lot of gay youth in the 1980s. Pete really was our "Special Star". We hope you will listen to our tribute with an open heart and mind. ~ 🍬🍎🟦

Special Star is a deep cut taken from Dead or Alive's third studio album Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know. Special Star was written by Michael David Percy, Timothy John Lever, Peter Jozzepi Burns, and Stephen Coy.

℗2023 Mrix Muzik Records ©1986 Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. and Westbury Music Ltd.