Megamix 5: Belgium’s Pop Frankenstein That Somehow Works
Let’s get one thing straight—compilation albums are usually a gamble. You either end up with a masterpiece or a chaotic mess that sounds like your Spotify algorithm had an identity crisis. Enter Megamix 5 by Various Artists, courtesy of Ariane Music in sunny (rainy?) Belgium. This is pop music on steroids, stitched together like some sort of musical Frankenstein monster. And guess what? It kinda works.
First off, the tracklist reads like someone raided every corner of early 2000s nostalgia and threw in a few curveballs for good measure. From “Sandstorm” to “Les Rois Du Monde,” this album has more range than a toddler on a sugar high. But two tracks really stuck out to me—and not just because they’re earworms you can’t unhear.
Take “Groove Jet (If It Ain’t Love).” If this song doesn’t make you want to grab the nearest lampshade and turn it into a dance prop, you might need to check your pulse. It’s funky, flirty, and smooth as butter melting on a warm baguette. The bassline slaps so hard it should come with a warning label. Every time I hear it, I’m transported back to dodgy club nights where everyone thought they were cooler than they actually were. Spoiler alert: we weren’t.
Then there’s “Kids.” Oh boy, does this one hit differently now compared to when I first heard it. Back then, it felt like rebellion wrapped in shiny synth beats. Now? It feels like life advice from my younger self who didn’t know squat about responsibility. “You can do anything!” Yeah, sure, buddy—until rent day rolls around. Still, its energy is infectious enough to forgive its naivety.
The rest of the album bounces between French ballads (“Où Que J’Aille”), guilty pleasures (“Shake Your Booty Up”), and absolute classics like “Around The World.” Honestly, it’s like flipping through channels late at night; sometimes you stumble upon gold, other times… well, let’s just say not everything ages gracefully.
What makes Megamix 5 oddly charming is how unapologetically random it is. There’s no pretense here—just a bunch of songs thrown into a blender and served with a side of Belgian flair. Sure, it’s messy, but isn’t chaos half the fun?
So, would I recommend this album? Absolutely—if you’re into eclectic playlists that feel like a fever dream of pop history. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself humming “Les Rois Du Monde” while stuck in traffic.
Final thought: Whoever decided to put “Sandstorm” next to “Why Can’t We Live Together” deserves either a medal or therapy. Probably both.
