Michael Roman and Klaas light up the dancefloor with a vibrant retro revival “Tainted Love”
In an audacious yet respectful homage to one of the most unforgettable numbers of the ’80s, Michael Roman and Klaas couldn’t have captured a midnight dancefloor renewal of “Tainted Love” any better if they tried.
“Tainted Love” is a 21st-century reimagining by an excellent modern producer and vocalist, spinning a classics old standard with high-energy production and all the emotional weight you’d need to turn a timeless gem into something new, and make it unmistakably yours. Where many remakes tend to fall short of the mark, Roman and Klaas power through this with the same melancholic spirit that calyxed the blueprint Soft Cell and turn it into a hi-octane, 2025-approved arena filler.
From the first few bars, it’s evident this version treads a cautious path; the sense-of-yesteryear ache of the original remains, but it’s bolstered with banks of pulsating synths and a beat that’s designed to get people moving. Klaas, renowned for his razor sharp and edgy, electro-techno, here easily comes up with the goods with this well produced track sparkling with all the snap and warmth missing in so many “updated” classics from the past.
In particular, the vocal work of Michael Roman is something else. Without mimicking the haunted delivery of the past, he commands the track as his own. His voice has a fragile edge to it but there’s also a hint of defiance, matching the song’s sentiment of angst and liberation. This new emotional vantage point lifts the track out of reverence and into relevancy.
Whether you’re reliving this song through long-lost memories or hearing it for the first time, this version stands tall. It slips neatly onto playlists designed for a late-night drive, a strobe-lit club or even a quiet moment alone with headphones on. It’s versatile and dynamic, filled with life and vigor.
Some songs never die, they simply morph, as Michael Roman and Klaas prove on their rendition of “Tainted Love.” In the hands of these two, let’s hope this old chestnut will get the second life it so well deserves. This is more than a remix; it’s a resurrection, and it wants to be heard.
