“Now, um, usually I don't do this but uh/Go head' on and break em off wit a lil' preview of the remix” are the immortal words of R. Kelly in his hit song "Ignition." A common backdrop to any adolescent party of debauchery, this hit song has reached the levels of fame that will go down forever in what many young people un-ironically refer to as “the turn up era." Everyone loves this song, which is why it is all the more surprising that so few understand that there is in fact an original version of Ignition.
What? You mean that R. Kelly isn’t just spitting nonsense in order to lay down a catchy beat? Why yes, that is exactly what is happening. The original "Ignition" by R. Kelly first came out in 2002 on his hit album of-something since R.Kelly definitely has some hit albums. The point is, a year after the release of the original Ignition, producers admitted they liked the ending of the original so Kelly should do a remixed version for the next album. This proved successful, as "Ignition (Remix)" may in fact be one of Kelly’s most famous songs.
Despite the popularity, why is it that so few people know that one of their favorite songs is in fact not the original? The number of people I have asked about this matter have adamantly replied that there is no original and the song is just catchy. The song makes a multitude of references that it is a remix of something, but that doesn’t even to strike a chord with the masses. People just continue to go along, jamming to a song sung by a man with corn rows who mentions a woman running her hands through his fro. Just watch the music video! I see you Mr. Kelly, you’re not fooling anyone with that hairdo! Your song may be catchy but ignorant portrayal of a hairstyle is unacceptable!
I digress, though. The real significance of this trend of people ignoring the remix truth tells us of a world where inquiry is at a low. If we are happy with something, we tend to not want to ask questions that may ruin something for us. People happily smoke a cigarette despite the obvious health risks, people don’t want to question where their chocolate is coming from (borderline slave labor in the Congo) and they definitely don’t want to take the time to delve into the truth behind this songs words. With his gift of "Ignition (Remix)," R. Kelly is actually giving us a lesson on not taking the world at face value and how perhaps it is our job as people to dig a little deeper.
