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A form of Older Than They Think where the original version of a song is lesser known than the remix or revised version. Unlike Covered Up, the original artist themselves is outshining the previous version of their song. This often occurs when a song gets a more danceable Speedy Techno Remake. On the internet, it's not uncommon to see Nightcore videos with more views than the original song's videos.

Compare and contrast to Parody Displacement (a parody becomes more popular than the original), Sampled Up (a song samples another and becomes more popular), and Sequel Displacement (a sequel becomes more popular than its predecessor).


Examples (sorted alphabetically by song):

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    0- 9 
  • The most popular version of "19-2000" (also known as "19/2000" or "Get the Cool Shoeshine") by Gorillaz is the Soulchild remix; while the original version is fairly popular, the remix is one of the band's most popular songs of all time, to the point where many believe it is the original. Considering it was intentionally engineered to be a hit song with crossover appeal, this may be a possible example of an invoking.

    A-D 
  • The most popular version of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" is a remix by Junkie XL, released in 2002 (25 years after the King died). This remix was a #1 hit in much of Europe.
  • If you know Easton Corbin's "Are You with Me" at all, it's most likely through the remix by Belgian DJ Lost Frequencies. While Corbin later tried to popularize on the remix by releasing the original version as a single, this did not pan out as well.
  • DJ Taucher's remix of Ayla's self-titled song was radically different and far more popular than the original 1995 mixes, therefore nearly all subsequent remixes, including frontman DJ Tandu's own 1999 remix, were based on Taucher's arrangement.
  • The 1980 remix of The Human League's "Being Boiled", featured on Travelogue, is better known than the 1978 single version.
  • Russian rapper and producer Breezy Montana recruited LSP, a hip hop act from Belarus, to feature on his track "Bezumie" (Madness). LSP, who only got to sing the hook of the original, wanted to add a verse of his own, but Breezy objected since he felt that would drag on the song for a bit too long. LSP settled on recording a remix (with a guest verse from Oxxxymiron). The remix was released a month after the original dropped (which took some time). LSP and Oxxxymiron's version of the track ended up absolutely eclipsing the original, becoming one of LSP's signature songs. In fact, after the relationship between LSP and Oxxxymiron went south (a long story in its own right), LSP recorded a solo version of the remix, with a new second verse.
  • She Moves' "Breaking All The Rules", originally a typical '90s boy band/girl group pop ballad, was overtaken by the Berman Brothers dance remix.
  • Cornershop released "Brimful of Asha" in 1997 where it reached the dizzying heights of number 60 on the UK singles chart. Enter Fatboy Slim who remixed that song for them and the 1998 re-release of his version hit number one.
  • The original 1997 version of Pigeonhed's "Battle Flag" never charted, but once the British group Lo-Fidelity All Stars completely revamped it the following year, it became a massive hit on American alternative rock radio and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.
  • The best-known version of New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle" is the Shep Pettibone remix, which has been the basis for all live performances of it since 1998. (the Stephen Hague remix from The Best of New Order also gets more airplay than the original)
  • Underworld's signature song "Born Slippy .NUXX" is a "remix"note  of their 1995 single "Born Slippy". The ".NUXX" version was an overlooked B-side until its inclusion in the Trainspotting soundtrack, after which its popularity exploded and absolutely dwarfed the original. These days, when you hear someone mention "Born Slippy" (even the band themselves), they're almost definitely talking about ".NUXX" rather than the original.
  • Public Enemy's original 1987 release of "Bring the Noise" was a sleeper hit at best and has since faded into obscurity. The best known version is the 1991 rap metal remake with Anthrax.
  • For most audiences, the definitive version of Energy 52's trance hit "Cafe del Mar" is the 1998 "Three 'n' One" mix, which eclipsed the original from 1993.
  • "Call on Me" by Eric Prydz is a convoluted example. The song was originally a bootleg track created by Together, a duo consisting of DJ Falcon and Thomas Bangalter (yes, that one). Eric Prydz' version was a cleaned-up and more pop-friendly remix of the track, which became a big hit in 2004. Eric Prydz however was credited as the sole artist behind the track once it began to receive radio play, which obscures the song's origin as a remix and makes this a rare case of an EDM song being Covered Up.
  • The version of the dance classic "Can You Feel It" by Mr. Fingers that is most fondly remembered is the vocal version credited to "Fingers Inc.", which takes the original song and places a lengthy spoken word sample (lifted from "My House" by Rhythm Controll) over it.
  • The original version of "Caramelldansen" is actually a midtempo Eurodance song. The version that is a meme is the much faster SpeedyCake remix.
  • The 2015 Felix Jaehn remix of OMI's "Cheerleader" is vastly more well-known than the 2012 original.
  • Skrillex's remix of "Cinema" by Benny Benassi and Gary Go is considerably more well-known than the original and even won a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording
  • In the UK, Ed Case's 2-step garage refix of Gorillaz’ “Clint Eastwood” featuring Sweetie Irie is more well known than the original featuring Del The Funky Homosapien, mostly due to how popular the garage sound was in the UK at the time of its release.
  • The Cure had a UK hit with "Close To Me" in 1985, and then again with a remix in 1990. It's one of their most enduring radio staples, but the two versions that became hits were remixed from the original. The 1985 single added a horn section, while the 1990 version was fully remixed with an Alternative Dance beat for their Mixed Up album. The former is the best known version in America, while you're more likely to hear the latter on British radio. The original album cut is barely heard in comparison.
  • The more upbeat, Single mix of "Cooler Than Me" by Mike Posner is more popular than the original. Still, the original was the version that was converted into Similish for The Sims 3.
  • New Order's "Confusion" isn't too much known, if compared to its remix by Pump Panel, as it appears in the soundtrack of the movie Blade. Note that both versions of the song lacks similarities, except the lyrics, that were vocoded in the remix.
  • Subverted with A Perfect Circle's song "Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm Of The War Drums". It is more popular than "Pet" and sounds like a remix of it, but Word of God is that it's a Sequel Song.
  • Played with in regards to Bruce Springsteen's "Cover Me". A remix of the song was made by Arthur Baker, which Bruce liked so much that, when performing the song live, he followed the remix version instead of the original.
  • The "Stop!" remix of Britney Spears' "(You Drive Me) Crazy", featured in the film Drive Me Crazy, is much better known than the album version, which received little if any public promotion.
  • Calexico's song "Crystal Frontier" was originally a rock song on their relatively obscure tour CD Aerocalexico. Then they recorded a mariachi-flavored "Widescreen Mix", which was much more widely released (it got a music video and appeared on the Even My Sure Things Fall Through EP, and the European version of the album Hot Rail). Now, the Widescreen Mix is the version they play at their live shows, and it's more or less their Signature Song.
  • Fifty Fifty's "Cupid" was originally recorded in Korean with Gratuitous English mixed in. The "Twin" version with fully English lyrics, featuring Sabrina Carpenter, is much better known internationally.
  • The Crookers remix of Kid Cudi's "Day 'n Nite" is more popular and better known than the original, becoming an international dance hit and being featured on numerous video game soundtracks such as Midnight Club: Los Angeles, NBA Live '09, and Watch_Dogs.
  • "Despacito" was originally by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. The most popular version is a remix with Justin Bieber that features some lyrics in English. The remix is the version that's usually played on non-Spanish language radio stations.
  • "Deep Cover" by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg still holds some recognition, primarily for the importance of being Snoop's first official appearance on a song, but is mostly overshadowed by "Twinz (Deep Cover '98)" by Big Pun and Fat Joe, which is the former's Signature Song and is still often in contention as one of the best hip-hop remixes ever.
  • The Living Tombstone's remix of the Odyssey song "Discord" has overtaken the original to the point that it has over five times more views on YouTube than the latter, and to the point that many firmly believe that Tombstone's version is the original, and Odyssey's version is the remix, even though it's clearly Odyssey who sings in both versions.
  • Mylo's "Doctor Pressure", a mashup of his own "Drop the Pressure" with the vocals of Miami Sound Machine's "Dr. Beat", eclipsed both of the original songs.
  • Azzido Da Bass's "Dooms Night" was eclipsed twice, first by the Timo Maas remix, then by the Stanton Warriors "Revisited" mix.
  • Rob Zombie's "Dragula" is one of his most popular songs in his solo career, but the Hot Rod Herman remix is way more popular than the original theme, even appearing in some OST like The Matrix and Jet Set Radio.
  • The Corrs's cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" didn't do much until Todd Terry got hold of it; the remix's success sparked a slew of other remixes from the parent album, all of which vastly outperformed the originals. A Special Edition rerelease of the album, with the originals replaced with their remixes, boosted the album to the top of the charts.

    E-H 
  • "Eternity" by Orion, a project of trance DJ-producer Darren Tate, was originally a slow chillout song. Said version was overshadowed by Tate's club remix, and later the Ayla mix.
  • Hunter Hayes' "Everybody's Got Somebody but Me" was originally a solo outing. However, he rereleased his debut album with a version that had Jason Mraz on guest vocals, and this was the version that became a single.
  • The album version of "Express Yourself" by Madonna was overtaken by the House Music-inspired Shep Pettibone remix, which was used for its music video and is also the version featured on both The Immaculate Collection and Celebration.
  • The remix of "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey, which paired her with Ol' Dirty Bastard, was a massive hit that completely overshadowed the original, and today is often credited for being the Trope Codifier for A Wild Rapper Appears!.
  • The Blue Satellite remix of "Feisty" by Jhameel is more popular than the original.
  • "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" by Tracy Lawrence was originally a solo release. But after lingering at the bottom of the charts for several weeks, it was re-done with guest vocals from Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, turning the song into a Sleeper Hit nearly a full year after release. Virtually all airplay of the single since then has been of the remix.
  • The Cardi B remix of Bruno Mars' "Finesse" is most popular. It's also the one featured in the music video.
  • The Vanic remix of "FML" by K.Flay is much more well-known than the original.
  • Shania Twain's "From This Moment On" was originally a duet with Bryan White, but was turned into a solo song for the pop remix due to White not being very well-known outside of country. Due to the crossover appeal of the solo version, the Bryan White version has largely been pushed aside except for the occasional country music station.
  • Solarstone's remix of Moonman's "Galaxia" was the most popular version, and became the basis for Ferry Corsten's own remake on his 2006 LEF album.
  • Elmo & Patsy originally recorded "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" in 1979 and released it on their own label, before striking up a distribution deal with a Nashville label. 1983 was the year it finally became a hit Anti-Christmas Song. Then the next year, they signed with Epic Records to release an album, and took the opportunity to re-record and re-release the song, and the re-recording, which prominently features a piano in the mix and a hammy lead vocal, is the one everyone knows. The original, with just drums, guitars and bass and a more deadpan vocal performance by Elmo Shropshire, is largely forgotten.
  • Orbital's original "Halcyon" was released as a single and has rarely been re-released. The remix "Halcyon + On + On" was included on their influential album Orbital II, on several Greatest Hits Albums and several movie soundtracks. And at all of their live shows, they would remix "Halcyon" even further by adding vocal samples from Bon Jovi and Belinda Carlisle. Both of those remixed versions are much better known than the original.
  • Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads will Roll” was the second single to their third album “It’s Blitz”. A catchy dance-rock composition, it would later be remixed by Canadian DJ A-Trak which was notably used on Project X. Then, the remix itself was remixed by Soundcloud artist J-VHC, which saw his creation used on a meme of a Brazilian dancing dog which went viral. Today, most people would either express shock over learning there is an original version of the song, or even glee of finally hearing the unremixed version.
  • The well-known "original" version of Italo Disco artist Ken Laszlo's Signature Song "Hey Hey Guy", which opens with a phone conversation between Ken and his gay lover, is actually a re-recording. The true original version, recorded in 1983 but unreleased until 2009, is slightly slower and lacks the conversation, instead featuring an early example of A Wild Rapper Appears! between the second verse and the chorus.
  • Kygo's remix of Whitney Houston's cover version of "Higher Love" (originally a Japan-only bonus track on I'm Your Baby Tonight) became a worldwide smash hit in 2019, seven years after her death. In some countries, it even surpassed the Steve Winwood original, also making it a minor case of Covered Up.
  • When the song "History" by Michael Jackson was released as a single in 1997, a remix was chosen instead of the album version by the record company. Michael was too busy with doing a world tour at the time to be able to stop it, and the music video consists people dancing to clips from his older music videos.

    I-L 
  • The popular 1986 version of Nu Shooz's "I Can't Wait", which was a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic, is a remix by Dutch producer Peter Slaghuis. Hardly anyone remembers the original mix, which was released a year earlier and never charted anywhere.
  • The "Tarro Remix" of blackbear's song "idfc" is more popular than the original.
  • The non-remixed version of "Ignition" by R. Kelly is almost never played. Most don't even know that it's a remix, despite the lyrics saying it's a remix at the start and the fact it literally contains the line "It's the remix to 'Ignition'". The original is a lot slower and puts more emphasis on the Intercourse with You elements.
  • Jennifer Lopez's first version of her 2001 single "I'm Real" is a upbeat pop song that was initially popular, but it was then remixed into a slower R&B ballad featuring Ja Rule and its own popularity exploded with it having many times more views on YouTube and being seen as the real version of the song.
  • The Hani Num remix of Deborah Cox's "I Never Knew" overshadowed the original album version. Same for the Hex Hector mixes of "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here", "Things Just 'Aint The Same", and "It's Over Now".
  • Spice Girls member Melanie C's "I Turn to You" is best known from the trance remix by Hex Hector.
  • Mike Posner originally composed "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" as a folk pop song. It wasn't until it got remixed by Seeb, making it more of a Tropical House song, that it reached the top 10 in various countries.
  • Whitney Houston's original version of "It's Not Right But It's Okay" from her 1998 album My Love is Your Love is a well-known song, but the Thunderpuss remix released shortly after soon overtook the radio stations and was more requested of the two singles (to the point that it eventually wound up on her next Greatest Hits album).
    • From the same album, her solo version of "If I Told You That" was eclipsed by the duet remix with George Michael.
  • The Furious F-EZ remix of DHT's cover of "Listen To Your Heart" is more popular than the slower original.
  • A nocturne-style remixed version of La Roux's "In For The Kill", the original being faster paced and with chip-tune style sounds, appeared in a trailer for the game Bayonetta, and was a lot of people's first introduction to La Roux's music. It is arguably more well known than the original version of the song.
  • The Twelve's remix of "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You" by the Black Kids is far more popular than the original, being featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 09 and getting performed on Glee.
  • The popular version of Faithless's "Insomnia" is actually the "Monster Mix," which had its lyrics almost completely rewritten due to the original's referencing weed (marijuana) use.
  • The breakbeat remix of Sonique's "It Feels So Good" was a worldwide hit in 2000, while few people outside of Australia remember the original trance mix.
  • Run–D.M.C.'s "It's Like That" was a modest hit when it first came out in 1983, but experienced an international surge in popularity via the Jason Nevins remix in 1998.
  • Crush's lone hit "Jellyhead" was originally a dance-rock tune remniscent of fellow British group Republica. The better known version, included on their self-titled album, is the Motiv-8 remix.
  • The Ferry Corsten remix of Apoptygma Berzerk's "Kathy's Song (Come Lie Next to Me)" is more recognized than the original.
  • Eric Church's "Kill a Word" was originally a solo song with Rhiannon Giddens singing backing vocals. However, the remix had her sing most of the second verse by herself, and this is the version that became more familiar to listeners.
  • The Vengaboys' "Kiss (When The Sun Don't Shine)" originally met with mixed to negative reception, with the bubblegum dance genre being Condemned by History in most countries by the time of its release, whereas the In Name Only Airscape remix was far more popular, particularly among the EDM/trance community.
  • R&B group Jagged Edge's 2001 hit "Let's Get Married" was originally a slow ballad that was soon remixed into an upbeat party song that is more likely to receive airplay (and subsequently played at weddings, especially receptions).
  • The Black Eyed Peas released "Let's Get Retarded" around the time they were transitioning into a pop act, and accompanied it with a radio-friendly remix, "Let's Get It Started", which in addition to changing sensitive lyrics also slightly polished the song's production. Values Dissonance undoubtedly applies today, but even at the time of release "Let's Get It Started" was probably one of the few Bowdlerised versions of a song that is more well-liked than the uncensored original.
  • Freddie Mercury released the single "Living On My Own" from his first solo album Mr. Badguy, which only peaked at #50 on the UK charts. Two years after his death, a remix by No More Brothers climbed straight to #1 in the UK and did similarly well in other markets. In addition, an earlier remix by Julian Raymond was included on Queen's Greatest Hits III instead of the original.
  • "Local Forecast" by Kevin MacLeod is far better known for its "Elevator" version, where the song's tempo is slowed down and the instruments are more subdued, so it sounds like the song comes from an elevator speaker. This is likely because of many YouTube videos using the "Elevator" version of the song during time-lapsed segments that indicate a lengthy wait, a similar experience to waiting in an elevator while music plays in the background. The original version, meanwhile, is hardly ever heard in YouTube videos.

    M-P 
  • "Macarena" by Los del Río was an folky Latin pop song about a woman who cheats on her boyfriend while he's serving in the military. Three years after it's release, a remix by obscure DJ duo the Bayside Boys hit #1 on the Hot 100 and spawned a massive Dance Sensation.
  • The Art of Trance's original version of "Madagascar/Madagasca/Madagasga" was overshadowed by the almost completely different Cygnus X mix, which in turn was the basis for the even more popular Ferry Corsten remix.
  • There are at least three versions of "Megalovania": The original was in The Halloween Hack, then it was fixed up and repurposed as a song for Homestuck (specifically for the flash, [S] Wake.), and then it was remixed and put into Undertale (specifically, it's Sans' boss battle music). The Undertale version is the most well known.
  • BTS' "Mic Drop" was eclipsed by the Steve Aoki remix, mostly due to the fact that the music video uses the remix and not the original song.
  • The Beyoncé remix of "Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy William is the version usually used on non-Spanish language radio stations.
  • Todd Terry's deep house remix of Everything but the Girl's "Missing" outshone the Sophisti-Pop original to the point that the band underwent a total Genre Shift to the remix's style.
  • The DotEXE Dubstep remix of "Monster" by Meg and Dia is much more well-known than the original.
  • Loreena Mc Kennit's "The Mummers' Dance", if only because the version in the music video is the remix by DNA.
  • X-Cabs' original hard trance version of "Neuro" from 1994 was overshadowed by the more melodic '99 remix.
    • Speaking of X-Cabs, his remix of Transa's "Prophase" is much better known than the original mix, being a favorite of superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold during his residency at the Cream nightclub.
  • The Sinister Strings mix of Brainbug's "Nightmare", with its characteristic Jaws-esque strings ostinato and creepy pizzicato synth hook, completely eclipsed the original dream trance version.
  • Bastille's song "No Angels" is a remix of their cover of TLC's "No Scrubs" with quotes from Psycho added in.
  • Destiny's Child had a hit with their first single, "No, No, No", a low tempo ballad with a staid music video. The remix however was seen as their Breakthrough Hit and the accompanying music video received heavy rotation on television and made them into Household Names.
  • The version of the track "Nobody Like U" from Turning Red that Disney released as part of the official soundtrack features a City Shout Out to Glendale while the version heard in the film itself instead shouts out Toronto (in the form of T.O.). The latter version is only clearly heard in the credits and Disney only promotes the former version so few people who have heard the song even realize Disney changed it.
  • In many circles "Numb/Encore" ft. Jay-Z is more well-known than the original Linkin Park version of "Numb". It usually depends on what genre the listeners prefer.
  • Lil Nas X's remix of "Old Town Road" featuring Billy Ray Cyrus is more well-known than the base song. It's the version used in the music video.
  • Bad Boy remix of 112's "Only You" is more popular than the original.
  • Eric B. & Rakim's "Paid in Full" is well-liked in its original form, but Coldcut's "Seven Minutes of Madness" remix is probably the best known version of the song as it became a dance hit overseas, and its sample-heavy style was influential for a wide range of genres.
  • The most well-known version of Michael Jackson's "A Place With No Name" is a remix. The original is much slower.
  • Exposé's first version of their Signature Song "Point of No Return", recorded with the "Mk. 1" lineup of Alejandra Lorenzo, Sandra Tola Harvey, and Laurie Miller, never caught on as a pop hit despite topping the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, and was pushed off the public radar by the 1987 re-recording sung by Jeanette Jurado, which peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 alongside "Come Go with Me".
  • "Ferrari Horses" was a modest hit in 2021 for British hip hop collective D-Block Europe and singer Raye. Two years later, an unofficial remix by Cassö blew up on TikTok, and was released as a single, under the title "Prada". It charted at #2 in the UK Singles Chart, much higher than the original's #14 peak.
  • DJ Sakin's "Protect Your Mind", a Speedy Techno Remake of the Braveheart theme, had its original mix released in 1997 to little fanfare. The version most people know, which directly samples the original movie theme and is the basis for the vocal version, is the 1999 Suspicious remix by Torsten Stenzel.
  • The most known version of Nightcrawlers' "Push the Feeling On" isn't the original version, but "The Dub of Doom," mixed by Marc Kinchen, while the true original version is this, released in 1992. Wait... Is that the same song? Yes. Note the lyrics sampled in 1:14 and 1:29.

    Q-T 
  • "Ready, Set, Don't Go" was originally a solo release by Billy Ray Cyrus, but after a few weeks on the charts it was remixed with his daughter, Miley Cyrus, on duet vocals. That was the version that became a hit, and the only version played by most stations ever since.
  • Jay Sean's 2008 single "Ride It" was a sizable hit in his native UK and a number of East European countries; however, the 2019 remix by Regard was much more popular worldwide.
  • "Roses" by rapper SAINt JHN became an out-of-nowhere chart hit three years after its release when it was given an upbeat House Music remix by Kazak producer Imanbek, largely driven by its use in a Snapchat filter.
  • The original version of SWV's "Right Here" was the band's debut single, released late in 1992. It was quickly overshadowed by the Human Nature Remix.
  • Several remixes of "Run Rabbit Run" by Massive are more popular than the original.
  • Information Society's rare first release of their breakthrough single "Running", also included on their similarly hard-to-find debut LP Creatures of Influence, was rushed out by Wide Angle Records with embarassingly bad vocals by Murat Konar. It was quickly pulled from stores and remixed by freestyle producer Joey Gardner into the definitive version featured on their 1988 Self-Titled Album, with re-recorded vocals and a revamped chorus. The 2008 rerelease of Creatures uses the instrumental of the original, but the vocals of the remix.
  • As with the aforementioned "Insomnia", the trance remix of Faithless's "Salva Mea" is far better known than the original trip-hop version.
  • Real Life's 1989 remix of "Send Me An Angel" out-performed the original 1983 version.
  • The hit version of Robin S.'s "Show Me Love" is actually a remix by a Swedish producer called Stonebridge. The original mix came out a couple of years earlier, was never a hit, and remains obscure today. The reason for the popularity of the remix are probably the catchy bass and synth riffs; the only part Stonebridge used from the original version are the vocals, everything else was added by him.
  • The Tiesto and Airscape remixes of Delerium & Sarah McLachlan's "Silence", the latter mix being used in the video, are both much better known than the original.
  • "Sing it Back" by British electro band Moloko was originally a percussion-heavy techno single combined with sultry vocals from singer Róisín Murphy. However, the version most familiar to the public was the remix made by German DJ Boris Dlugosch, which replaced the percussions with a catchy disco-inspired House Music beat. As a result, it became the band's Signature Song, was a critical and commercial success (Hitting number one on the UK Singles Chart, and charting highly in Europe, North America, and Australasia), and has been hailed as one of the best dance songs ever composed.
  • "Situation" by Yazoo was originally a B-side running less than two and a half minutes. François Kevorkian remixed it into a five and a half minute 12" single, and it became a huge hit in the American dance market. Few Americans even know the original exists. Even UK listeners are far more likely to be familiar with the Kevorkian remix as although the original can be found on CD, both Upstairs At Eric's and their most popular "Best Of" collection Only You contain the remix.
    • Likewise, Francois K.'s remix of Kraftwerk's "Tour de France", featured in Breakin, eclipsed the original "Kling Klang Analog" mix.
  • The best-known version of Newcastle-born singer Duke's "So In Love With You", which was an international club hit in the late '90s, is the house remix by Full Intention. Few if any people remember the pop-disco original version.
  • For quite a while, the 1965 remix of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound Of Silence" was more well known than the original 1964 version. It took some time for the original to become more popular again.
  • The Living Tombstone's remix of "Spooky Scary Skeletons" seems more popular than the original. It at least has more recognition/views on YouTube.
  • CJ Bolland's original version of "Sugar is Sweeter" never caught on, whilst Armand van Helden's speed garage remix was a #1 dance hit in 1996. In turn, the Sol Brothers mashed up this version with Praxis & Kathy Brown's "Turn Me Out" for its "Turn to Sugar" remix the following year, which eclipsed that song's original as well.
    • Armand's Dark Garage remix of Sneaker Pimps' "Spin Spin Sugar" also outshone its original mix.
    • Not to mention his remix of Tori Amos' "Professional Widow". Armand really has a knack for turning in remixes that completely dwarf the originals.
  • Scooter's "Sunrise (Ratty 's Inferno)" was originally an obscure instrumental B-Side, which they remixed With Lyrics as the much more famous "Sunrise (Here I Am)" under their Ratty alias.
  • The Rank 1 remix of Cygnus X's "Superstring", from 2000, is much better known than the original mix from 1993. Same goes for Ferry Corsten(as Moonman)'s remix of "The Orange Theme", which was often misattributed to DJ Tiesto.
  • "Surfin' Bird" by the Trashmen is a remix combination of two songs originally relaeased by The Rivingtons: "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird's the Word." "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" peaked at #48 in the top 100 and "The Bird's the Word" didn't break into the 100, but "Surfin' Bird" hit #4.
  • Many listeners in the US don't realise that Soft Cell's cover of "Tainted Love" was originally a standalone track since they're more familiar with the 12" megamix where it's segued into their cover of "Where Did Our Love Go?". The parent album Non Stop Erotic Cabaret featured "Tainted Love" as a standalone track; modern reissues add both the standalone version of "Where Did Our Love Go?" and the combined 12" mix as bonus tracks.
  • The version of a-ha's "Take On Me" that everybody remembers is the second version of the song. The first, released in 1984, was a commercial flop, but was recognised by the label as a hit in the making. Record producer Alan Tarney was brought in to remix the song, which alongside its iconic music video became an international hit in 1985.
  • New Order's 1982 single "Temptation" is best known for the 1987 re-recording included on Substance, largely owing to its brief inclusion as diegetic music in Trainspotting and its consequent inclusion on the hugely popular soundtrack album.
  • Rock group Terrorvision's biggest hit was a dance remix of "Tequila" (an original song, not a Champs cover). It was something of a Black Sheep Hit for them.
  • Age of Love's 1990 single "The Age of Love," reognized as one of the first genuine trance songs, is better known from the 1992 Jam & Spoon "Watch Out For Stella" mix, which added the iconic synth climax not present in the original.
  • The Disco Fries remix of VenSun's "The Dragon Flies", being the mix used for the video, is better recognized than the original mix.
  • The original mix of Tiësto's "Theme from Norefjell" was never released except as an ultra-rare acetate test pressing and on the DJ mix compilation In Trance We Trust 001. The definitive version is the "Magikal Remake" mix. Ironically, the 2004 remix, featured on the Olympic Games live mix album Parade of the Athletes as "Coming Home", was based on the DJ Jan & Christophe Chantzis mix, which has a completely different melody than the other versions.
  • "This Girl" by Cookin' on 3 Burners remained an underground funk track until seven years later, when a 2016 tropical house remix by Kungs made it a worldwide smash hit.
  • "Toca's Miracle," a mashup of Fragma's trance instrumental "Toca Me" with the vocals of Coco Star's UK garage single "I Need a Miracle," was far more popular than either of its predecessors.
  • Everyone remembers DNA's remix of "Tom's Diner" from Suzanne Vega. Who remembers Vega's acapella version, in which the "do do do-do, do do do-do" hook only turns up right at the end? It was actually released as a single a couple of years earlier; it wasn't very popular.
  • "Treaty" by Yothu Yindi. The Filthy Lucre dance mix is more recognized than the original within Australia, and even got a fair amount of play in the US and UK.
  • Touhou Project: Some pieces that tend to have more recognition outside of the fandom are "Saishuu Kichiku Imouto Flandre S" (a remix of Flandre's theme "U.N. Owen Was Her?"), "Night of Nights" (a remix of Sakuya's theme "Flowering Night"), and "Bad Apple!! feat. nomico" (a remix of the stage 3 theme "Bad Apple!!" from Touhou Gensokyo ~ Lotus Land Story) , perhaps the Signature Song of the entire Touhou remix community (especially in Rhythm Games; it's hard to find a current arcade rhythm game that doesn't have it).

    U-Z 
  • Steve Winwood first recorded the song "Valerie" in 1982, but it barely missed the top 50 in his native UK and peaked at #70 in the US. After Winwood started working with mixer Tom Lord-Alge on his albums to achieve greater success in 1986, Lord-Alge remixed and rereleased the song in 1987, which hit the top 10 in the US and the top 20 in the UK. And this was before it was sampled for "Call On Me" in the 2000s, which was in itself an example of this trope (see above).
  • Although Vera Lynn's 1939 recording of "We'll Meet Again", backed by a solo electric organ, was hugely successful at the time, it has since been eclipsed by two orchestral remakes: one produced for the 1942 film of the same name, and another made for a 1955 Vera Lynn album which was later used at the end of Dr. Strangelove.
  • The dance classic "Weekend" has an interesting history. Originally a relatively unnoticed disco track by the musical project Phreek, it was revived with a post-disco cover by Class Action (a studio group headed by EDM pioneer Larry Levan) in 1983, which made it a minor dance hit. It was then subsequently given a House Music remix by the Todd Terry Project in 1988, which made it an arguably bigger hit and gave it recognition as one of the first widely successful EDM songs.
  • The Pet Shop Boys' original version of "West End Girls", produced by Bobby Orlando in 1984, was only a minor club hit that year and is all but unknown to the mainstream. The 1985 Stephen Hague-produced re-recording, which is slower and has slightly different lyrics, was a #1 international pop hit, and is the version featured on their Please album. Ditto "One More Chance", which was first released as a double A-side with "West End Girls" before being reworked by Julian Mendelsohn into the much better-known version that kicks off Actually, and "Opportunities"(Let's Make Lots Of Money), produced by JJ Jeczalik and Nicholas Froome in its 1985 single release, then also remixed by Stephen Hague for Please the following year.
  • The Above & Beyond trance remix of Madonna's "What It Feels Like for a Girl" is better remembered than the original, thanks to being used in the video.
  • Yellow Magic Orchestra: In a case where a whole album was subjected to this, the 1979 US mix of Yellow Magic Orchestra by Al Schmitt is generally much better-known than the original 1978 Japanese mix by bandleader Haruomi Hosono. Part of this is due to the Schmitt mix being the only version officially available outside of Japan before 2003, but even in Japan it overtook the Hosono mix in popularity and was even functionally adopted by the band as the canonical version of the album, to the extent where the Hosono mix took until 1992 to see a CD release in its home country (CD releases before then exclusively used the Schmitt version). To this day, the Schmitt mix is the one most heavily prioritized in reissues; on double-CD and double-LP releases that contain both versions, Schmitt's version is consistently placed on disc one.
  • Partial example with the 1999 remix of "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree quickly rose to the charts and has received more airplay across the UK and Europe compared to its original version, which was more successful in the US.

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