Canadian artists Justin Bieber, Drake, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd and Alessia Cara are among those in an epic mashup of the year’s biggest hits.
Andy Wu, a 20-year-old college student and aspiring record producer from Taiwan, has seamlessly blended 90 tracks to create “We Were Young,” a 10-minute celebration of 2016 pop.
It’s all in there — from Adele and Beyoncé to Rihanna and ZAYN.
Wu’s compilation is comprised of four chapters: Young & Unsure, Wild & Free (01:04), Hurt & Lost (03:45), and Relief & Reminiscence (05:37).
On YouTube, Wu explained: “Remember when I got my first toy, played with it & cherished it for a long time; walking out with my friends, chasing each other under the sunshine; holding hands, kissing my love for the first time.
“Sometimes I wished I could freeze these moments. But life keeps going on and on, we all get old, and we can’t hold on to everything. Every time we lose something or somebody we love is a lesson to help us see the meaning of life. Years after, the pain would fade away. By then, all we have left would be some bright gleaming glossy pearls in our hearts.”
He added: “Not only have we grown old, but also grown up. Reminiscence would be the best & only way to take ourselves back to those good old days. In the end, we let go, and live better right here, right now.
“We were young, but we ain’t ever getting older.”
“We Were Young” includes Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” “Company,” “Cold Water” (by Major Lazer), and “Let Me Love You” (by DJ Snake); Drake’s “One Dance” and “Too Good”; Mendes’ “Treat You Better” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (with Camila Cabello); The Weeknd’s “IN The Night” and “Starboy”; and Cara’s “Here”
Wu has done at least three previous year-end mashups.
Canadian talent will also no doubt be included on the annual mashup from DJ Earworm (aka California-based Jordan Roseman), who has produced one for each of the last nine years. He tweeted recently that the "United State of Pop" mix for 2016 will be out soon.