Wiz Khalifa Removed From Hit Song ‘See You Again’
Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s hit “See You Again” is now a hit on Adult Contemporary radio, too, but it’s missing its lead vocalist. It was given a new audience by almost completely removing Wiz Khalifa from the mix.
Charlie Puth has long had a cut without Wiz Khalifa on his personal SoundCloud page. A similar Khalifa-less cut has been gaining traction after a program director at a radio station in Kansas City took Charlie’s unofficial solo version, and combined it back with elements of the original “See You Again.” According to Billboard, it has risen to No. 15 on the Adult Contemporary chart, without Wiz Khalifa.
Releasing a version without Wiz’s rap vocals, and only a syrup-sweet chorus with expanded verses, is not a new concept. But this time the record label played no part in the process. Judging from the massive radio plays, listeners also approve of the track without Khalifa.
This has got to feel like an insult to Wiz. Except for a few barely audible ad libs, Wiz is out of the picture. But this is more welcome among the sort of more mainstream listeners that populate adult contemporary radio. Wiz Khalifa is up for two MTV Video Music Awards, so he may not have noticed how he slipped out of the remix. But Khalifa’s contributions were noted, in any case, since both MTV awards center on his “See You Again” contributions.
Reasons why a version of a hit song minus its rapping segment can work relates to the tastes of an audience interested in light, melodic music. Music Times noted other examples of this.
“As hip-hop has found its way into more and more popular music, Adult Contemporary radio programmers have been pushing for labels to release versions without the hip-hop segments. Some examples in recent history include Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ (minus Juicy J’s guest verse) and Taylor Swift’s ‘Bad Blood’ (minus Kendrick Lamar’s contribution). When the song is based around hip-hop, the performers behind the hook occasionally pull a Puth and release a more relaxed version. Alicia Keys took this approach when she dropped her ‘remix’ of Jay Z’s ‘Empire State of Mind.’ Rihanna could make a virtual ‘greatest hits’ album if she reprised every smash hook she’s delivered for Eminem, Jay and Kanye West.”
Fans wonder if Wiz Khalifa can still collect royalties on an unofficial remix in which you can barely hear him. It might be a good experiment to put out a remix with only Wiz Khalifa, and compare that to the new Charlie Puth one.
[Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]
