From March 20-25, 2007, WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE was once again the dance industry’s annual round-up. But in addition to the all-important partying, club-hopping, elbow rubbing and hob-knobbing, there was also the IDMA (International Dance Music Awards). IDMA doled out awards to the best songs, DJs, performers and labels in the dance industry… and while they usually get it right, we at DIVA DIVO did disagree with a few of the choices.
Below is our guide to the nominees, winners, and overlooked songs from the 11 major subgenre categories. While we won’t go into all of the IDMA categories (“Best Headphones” just isn’t that riveting) or complain about all the inaccuracies we see (nominating Cascada as “Best” anything should be outlawed), we thought our readers might be interested in how WE would have voted if DIVA DIVO ruled the IDMA.
Maybe one day…!
1. Best Underground Dance Track
Horny As A Dandy, MOUSSE T. vs THE DANDY WARHOLS – Peppermint Jam/Zebralution
Faster Kill Pussycat - Paul Oakenfold feat. Brittany Murphy – Reprise
Lost - ROGER SANCHEZ – Ultra Records
Put Your Hands Up For Detroit - FEDDE LE GRAND – Ultra Records
Discoteka - STARKILLERS – Star 69
WHO WON: Fedde Le Grand “Put Your Hands Up for Detroit” 
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Paul Oakenfold feat. Brittany Murphy “Faster Kill Pussycat”
It may be the most obvious (read: commercial) choice, but Oakenfold’s single was also the best of the lot. From its campy title to its vampy vocals from actress Brittany Murphy, the track was a breath of fresh air this year. If only the rest of Oakenfold’s artist album had lived up to this single’s grinding, crackling energy. Those guitars? What an adrenaline rush!
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2. Best Alternative/Rock Dance Track
It’s Too Late - EVERMORE VS DIRTY SOUTH – Ultra Records
Chasing Cars - SNOW PATROL – A&M/Interscope
Dangerous Power - GABRIEL & DRESDEN f/ JAN BURTON – Organized Nature Records
F**king Boyfriend – THE BIRD & THE BEE – Blue Note Records
I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ - SCISSOR SISTERS – Universal/Motown
WHO WON: Gabriel & Dresden feat. Jan Burton “Dangerous Power”
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Gabriel & Dresden feat. Jan Burton “Dangerous Power”
Aren’t these the International Dance Music Awards? What’s whine-rock like “Chasing Cars” doing on the nominee list, anyway? Regardless, we have to agree with the obvious selection of Gabriel & Dresden… those boys certainly know how to rock out on a dance floor. But that’s only because the truly deserving winner never made the nominee list: “Chelsea” by Stefy. If IDMA had accepted write-in votes, we would have dried out a pack of Bics on that one.
3. Best Latin/Reggaeton Track
Hips Don’t Lie - SHAKIRA – Sony/Epic
Rompe - DADDY YANKEE f/ LLOYD BANKS - Interscope Records
Dale Don Dale – DON OMAR - Machete/Universal
Rakata - WISIN & YANDEL – Machete Records
Cuentale – IVY QUEEN – La Calle/Univision
WHO WON: Shakira “Hips Don’t Lie”
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Shakira “Hips Don’t Lie”
It’s another obvious choice, but Shakira’s mammoth hit also differentiated itself from the pack with an obvious melodic hook that went beyond reggaeton beats. It didn’t hurt the song’s cause that it was one of the biggest songs of ’06 and is the only English-language nominee. Okay, it may be the “safe” choice, but at least it kept “Rompe” from walking home with an award. The Daddy Yankee track (and the other crossover hit on the list) was one of the most grating songs of the year.
4. Best HiNRG/Euro Track
Secret Of Love - BARCERA – Marian Records
Raindrops – STUNT - Ultra Records
Look On The Floor – BANANARAMA – The Lab/Fuel 2001
What A Feeling - PETER LUTS & DOMINICO – Nervous Records
Without Breaking – DA BUZZ – Airus Entertainment
WHO WON: Peter Luts & Dominico “What a Feeling”
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Stunt “Raindrops”
Aha! Our first truly competitive category here. In name and music, Barcera sounds too much like Cascada for our liking, and “Without Breaking” is one of the weaker singles we’ve seen from Da Buzz. Bananarama’s comeback hit “Look on the Floor” almost sways us on nostalgia alone… but in the end, we prefer the frantic, tense pacing of “Raindrops.” The track is so deliciously HiNRG, it almost turns “Raindrops” into hail.
5. Best House/Garage Track
I Want More - AMUKA - Kult Records
Anymore - HARRY ‘CHOO CHOO’ ROMERO & RAMONA - Subliminal Records
World Hold On - BOB SINCLAR f/ STEVE EDWARDS – Tommy Boy Records
Sensitivity – SHAPE UK – Ultra Records
Watchin' – FREEMASONS FEAT. AMANDA WILSON – Ultra Records
WHO WON: Harry “Choo Choo” Romero & Ramona “Anymore”
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Freemasons feat. Amanda Wilson “Watchin’”
We’ve nothing against “Anymore,” but Freemasons blast the competition away with their delicious house track. It’s got an old-fashioned disco sound, an old-fashioned disco message (as in, “watch out, you cheatin’ louse!”), and a modern sense of fun and playfulness. Freemasons quite consistently churn out great house tracks, and this competition was theirs to lose.
Diva Divo • copyright 2007 • kurtmalecdesigns.com
