The Video Pool 234 – December 2003: A Chaotic Christmas Mashup That Somehow Works
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—this album is wild. Like, "what were they thinking?" wild. Released in 2003 by The Video Pool (UK), The Video Pool 234 throws every genre at you like confetti at a New Year's rave: electronic beats, pop hooks, rock riffs, hip-hop swagger, and enough dance-pop energy to power a small city. It’s messy, it’s bold, and honestly? I kinda love it.
Now, there are some tracks here that stick out like sore thumbs—or maybe like glitter-covered disco balls. Take “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, for example. Yeah, yeah, we’ve all heard Mariah Carey belt this holiday classic till our ears bleed, but whoever remixed it for this album gave it an edge. They cranked up the bass so hard it feels like Santa’s sleigh just smashed through your living room wall. It’s cheesy as hell, but man, does it slap when you’re drunk on eggnog and bad decisions.
Then there’s “It’s My Life”, which sounds like Bon Jovi got into a fistfight with a drum machine—and won. This track doesn’t even try to blend in with the rest of the playlist; it just barges in like an uninvited guest who ends up being the life of the party. Every time I hear those opening chords, I’m ready to punch the air and scream lyrics I don’t fully remember. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top, and exactly what you need when you're stuck in traffic or pretending you’re not dreading family dinner.
But here’s the kicker—this album isn’t just random noise slapped together. There’s something oddly cohesive about how chaotic it is. Maybe it’s the UK vibe tying everything together, or maybe it’s just that everyone involved decided, “Screw it, let’s make people feel something.” And trust me, you’ll feel things. Confusion. Joy. Mild panic. All the good stuff.
So yeah, The Video Pool 234 might not win any Grammys (or even show up on most critics’ radars), but it’s got personality dripping out of every synth-heavy second. If nothing else, it proves that sometimes throwing spaghetti at the wall works better than you’d think. Just don’t ask me why “Pon De River, Pon De Bank” is sandwiched between two Christmas carols—it still haunts my dreams.
Final thought? Whoever curated this mess deserves either a medal or a restraining order. Probably both.
