Five Ways Flo Rida Can Save His Label Some Money Next Time

Dan Gibson | March 6, 2009 2:00 am

Flo Rida is currently dominating the charts with “Right Round,” his (and Dr. Luke’s) re-imagining of Dead or Alive‘s “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record).” But it’s not just his two-hit wonderdom that makes me think he might be the ultimate pop star for this crazy time. Billboard asked him how he came around to using the Dead or Alive track, and his basic response was that his A&R guy at Atlantic asked him to use the song, so he did. While that’s likely been great news for whatever plastic surgeon Pete Burns sold his songwriting share to for services rendered, I had to wonder why the A&R guy didn’t think of what could be plundered from the Atlantic catalog before providing revenue to Dead or Alive’s then-label Epic. Since I’m in the giving spirit, here are five tracks from the house that Ahmet built that Flo Rida should consider in the near future.

5. White Lion, “Wait” (from the album Pride, Atlantic Records, 1987):

The track’s intro has a dancefloor-ready build, and although the verses would need to be vastly re-worked, if you throw a few vocal ad-libs on the chorus and replace the guitars for shiny synths you have a hit waiting to happen. If nothing else, bringing Mike Tramp back might help Flo Rida break into the lucrative Danish market.

4. Donna Lewis, “I Love You Always Forever” (from the album Now In A Minute, Atlantic Records, 1996):

I’m not sure this song can be thugged up quite enough for the club, but it does has a few things going for it: one, female singers from Wales are big right now; two, Flo Rida can win over the female demographic that misses Ally McBeal.

3. Jawbox, “Savory” (from the album For Your Own Special Sweetheart, Atlantic Records, 1994):

There’s no way this would work, and I certainly don’t want to hear it happen, but I wanted to use this opportunity to boost the number of views on this video. Only 54,541? For shame, America. For shame.

2. Skid Row, “18 And Life” (from Skid Row, Atlantic Records, 1989):

Flo Rida has said in interviews that he wants to release more music that emphasizes his difficult childhood in his work. Problem solved.

1. Collective Soul, “Shine” (from Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, Atlantic Records, 1993):

Can’t you just hear Flo Rida providing the “yeah”s in between those big alt-rock riffs? I smell another hit.

Exclusive: First Listen To Flo Rida’s Sweet New Single [Billboard]