Remixing is the process of recreating or expanding an existing piece of music. Remixes have been popularized and developed by DJs, with the 1970s being the starting point. Famously known as the disco era, DJs in the 70s used remixes to spice up the party and get people excited. Remixing was also a fun activity or experiment in a sense. Certain parts of a song would be repeated, or two different songs would be blended together to create a mashup. Since then, remix songs began gaining popularity, but it wasn’t until the producers got involved that they were taken to another level. In the 1980s, as electronic dance music entered the mainstream, a flood of officially recorded remix songs began to appear. They were still mainly used for parties, but an overwhelming portion of them secured a spot on the tracklist of single albums. At last, remixes were recognized as a form of creative work. From the mid-1980s, the scope of remix music was expanded once again as hip hop music started finding commercial success.

Remix music took different forms. Some had an entirely new production, being altered into a completely different genre or putting on different moods, while others kept much of the original song but were paired with a new instrumental or arranged in a slightly different way. Apart from the production side, there were even cases where new verses were added. Some remix songs would not be recognizable if they didn’t have the label “Remix.” Another common way of creating a remix song is to feature a new artist. In terms of music, the original version survives, but the new verses sung by the featured artist creates a new atmosphere.

Jason Derulo, Jawsh 685, and BTS' "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat) (BTS Remix)" that recently topped the Billboard Hot 100 is a prime example. “Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat)” embodies the characteristics of dancehall, a genre that originated in Jamaica, and reggaeton that evolved from dancehall. Reggaeton, with its roots in Puerto Rico, is a style of music that combines dancehall, hip hop, R&B, Latin American, and Caribbean music. From his debut album, Derulo has presented music that blends different genres together while being grounded in R&B and pop. He has an outstanding ability to create melodies that are intuitive but still inspiring. On top of the beat created and released by Jawsh 685, an up and coming producer from New Zealand, Derulo, once again, let his talent run wild.

What first triggered the track’s mega-hit success was its popularity on TikTok. The original form of “Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat)” was “Laxed – Siren Beat,” without the “Savage Love.” The instrumental that Jawsh 685 released on TikTok was soon featured in numerous dance challenges and instantly became a viral hit on the platform. Jawsh 685 later revealed in his interview that many artists inquired about making a remix soon afterward. Among them, Derulo was the fastest of all. He sampled “Laxed – Siren Beat,” added lyrics, and teased bits of his new song on social media under the title “Savage Love.” The song literally blew up. But it was soon met with heavy criticism because Derulo did not give proper credit to Jawsh 685. This prompted an official request from Jawsh 685 to have his name credited, and fortunately, the fierce controversy was quickly resolved without causing more trouble. As soon as Derulo obtained sample clearance, he renamed the song “Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat),” and Jawsh 685 was recognized as the official producer. Once the sensitive issue was resolved, The artists put even more effort into promoting the song, and rave reviews followed.

The final piece of the mega-hit puzzle was completed when BTS, the world’s most sought-after group, got involved. Half of the chorus that Derulo sang was given to Jung Kook, showing BTS’ ownership of the song, and SUGA and j-hope added Korean verses, reminding the listeners of where they came from. “Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat),” which debuted at No.81 on the Billboard Hot 100, reached the top 10 in just seven weeks and finally climbed to the number one spot after the BTS remix was released. When producers work on a remix idea that involves new artists, they look for those that would fit perfectly into the music and are well-known to the audience. Apparently, this song had found the very artist that had both of these qualities.

It seems like the achievement is going to hold a special meaning for all three artists. For Jason Derulo, it was the first time in 11 years he topped the Billboard chart after winning the title in 2009 with his debut single, “Whatcha Say.” BTS, the first Korean artist to reach No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Dynamite”, topped the chart once again, creating a rare scene with their name on both the No.1 and No.2 spots. But perhaps the biggest beneficiary of all is Jawsh 685, who became an overnight star. Now a producer with a Billboard-topper under his belt with his first official track, he has signed with Columbia Records, a major American label.

Remix songs were once created to complement the aura of the original song or give the audience something else to enjoy. Today, it has grown to enjoy an elevated status similar to that of original songs. To be sure, there have been remix songs in the past that outdid the impact of their originals. But it has not been too long since they began enjoying commercial success. “Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) (BTS Remix)” represents the changing stature of remix songs, which makes it all the more interesting.