Top 10 Sample Happy Pop Songs

Current hot songs built on hooks from past hit songs

Musical notes with psychedelic lights

Ralf Hiemisch/Getty Images

Building a new hit single on the hook from a past hit is nothing new. "Ice Ice Baby" from Vanilla Ice anyone? This list celebrates 10 recent examples of the art form. If that hook sounds really familiar it probably is.

01
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Flo Rida featuring Ke$ha - "Right Round" (2009)

Flo Rida - "Right Round"

Atlantic Records

Samples Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (1985)

Looking for a follow up to his huge quadruple-platinum hit "Low," Flo Rida turned to sampling the 80's classic hit "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)." Dr. Luke brought the sample to the project and Flo Rida ended up with another #1 smash which set a record for the most digital downloads ever recorded in one week.

Watch "Right Round"

02
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M.I.A. - "Paper Planes" (2008)

M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"

Interscope Records

Samples the Clash's "Straight to Hell" (1982)

M.I.A. was already one of the most celebrated underground dance artists, but few expected her to break into the pop mainstream in 2008 with a top 10 smash hit. A hypnotic riff borrowed from the Clash's "Straight To Hell" helped as did prominent placement in the soundtrack to the film Pineapple Express.

Watch "Paper Planes"

Listen to "Straight to Hell"

03
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Kid Rock - "All Summer Long" (2008)

Kid Rock - "All Summer Long"

Atlantic Records

Samples Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" (1974) and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" (1978)

It is a very rare situation to have a hit song sample two past hit songs. However, Kid Rock did just that and keep up with a nostalgic track that became the biggest single of his career. Both classic rock samples create an instant feeling of hanging out with friends in a never-ending summer.

Watch "All Summer Long"

Watch "Sweet Home Alabama"

04
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Lady GaGa - "Poker Face" (2009)

Lady Gaga - Poker Face

Interscope Records

Samples Boney M's "Ma Baker" (1977)

That "ma ma ma ma" segment of Lady GaGa's hit "Poker Face" is one of the hooks that sticks instantly. It may ring a distant bell for some, and that is because it was a key element to Euro-disco group Boney M's hit "Ma Baker."

Watch "Poker Face"

Watch "Ma Baker"

05
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T.I. featuring Rihanna - "Live Your Life" (2008)

T.I. featuring Rhianna - "Live Your Life"

Atlantic Records

Samples O-Zone's "Dragostea din Tei"

"Dragostea din Tei" is probably the biggest Moldovan pop song of all time. It was a smash hit across Europe in 2004 and even managed to make a dent on the US pop singles chart. T.I. gave a gorgeous exotic touch to his expansive hit "Live Your Life" by having Rihanna warble the "Dragostea din Tei" hook.

Watch "Live Your Life"

Watch "Dragostea din Tei"

06
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Kanye West - "Stronger" (2007)

Kanye West - Stronger

Roc-a-Fella Records

Samples Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" (2001)

When Kanye West wanted to move in a more electronic direction, he went straight to one of the top electronic acts in the world for a sample. French duo Daft Punk are masters of electro-pop that is simultaneously futuristic and hearkens back to classic disco. The Daft Punk vocal sample here ties the entire track together.

Watch "Stronger"

Watch "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"

07
of 10

Gym Class Heroes - "Cupid's Chokehold" (2007)

Gym Class Heros Cupid's Chokehold

Decaydance Records

Samples Supertramp's "Breakfast In America" (1979)

Gym Class Heroes took a unique approach to the use of a sample here. They built the song "Cupid's Chokehold" around a singalong to the hook of Supertramp's classic, humorous "Breakfast In America." It even includes wordlessly singing with the musical hook.

Watch "Cupid's Chokehold"

Watch "Breakfast in America"

08
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Flo Rida featuring Wynter - "Sugar" (2009)

Flo Rida featuring Wynter - "Sugar"

Atlantic Records

Samples Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" (1999)

The hooky pop sample on "Right Round" went straight to #1 on the pop singles chart for Flo Rida. Why not try the same trick again? "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" amounts to irresistible electronic bubblegum, and here it makes Flo Rida's "Sugar" instantly memorable.

Watch "Blue (Da Ba Dee)"

09
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Hilary Duff - "Reach Out" (2008)

Hilary Duff - Reach Out

Hollywood Records

Samples Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" (1989)

Most would not instantly think of teen pop princess Hilary Duff and legendary electronic band Depeche Mode as a solid musical match. However, in this case, "Personal Jesus" pulls out a side of Hilary Duff few of us have seen before.

Watch "Reach Out"

Watch "Personal Jesus"

10
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Lady Sovereign - "So Human" (2009)

Lady Sovereign - Public Warning

Photo from Amazon

Samples the Cure's "Close To Me" (1985)

The Cure's "Close To Me" has always been one of their most charming hits musically. Here Lady Sovereign lays the classic sound down as the foundation for her latest pop single.

Watch "So Human"