It started in a bedroom. Seriously. George Reid was just a guy with a laptop and a deep love for "purple dubstep" and IDM, while Aluna Francis had this voice that sounded like a glitchy, soulful transmission from 20 minutes into the future. They called themselves AlunaGeorge. When they dropped You Know You Like It back in 2012, it wasn't some massive, earth-shattering explosion. It was more like a slow burn in the UK underground—the kind of track that cool kids played in the car until it eventually landed in a Tesco commercial.
But then a French producer named William Grigahcine, better known as DJ Snake, got his hands on it.
The rest is literally history. He didn't just remix it; he basically rebuilt the song's DNA. He took Aluna’s "I’m no fool" mantra and wrapped it in a weird, pitch-shifted vocal chop that shouldn't have worked. It was 2013 when the remix first hit SoundCloud. It was late 2014 when it officially became a "collaboration." By 2015, you couldn't walk into a mall, a club, or a gym without hearing that signature tropical-trap squeal.
The Weird Alchemy of the DJ Snake Remix
Most remixes are just a "club edit" with a louder kick drum. This was different. DJ Snake reportedly spent only about four hours on the track, working from his studio in Paris while AlunaGeorge were in London. They never even sat in the same room to make it. It was all handled via email.
Honestly, that’s kind of the magic of that era of electronic music.
The remix turned You Know You Like It into a sleeper hit that defied every rule of the Billboard charts. It peaked at number 13 on the Hot 100 and stayed there for what felt like an eternity. Why? Because it hit that sweet spot between R&B and the emerging "trap-pop" sound. It wasn't as aggressive as DJ Snake’s earlier hit Turn Down For What, and it wasn't as bubblegum as the stuff on Top 40 radio.
Breaking Down the Sound
If you listen to the original version from the Body Music album, it’s sparse. It’s got this UK Garage swing and a lot of negative space.
- The Original: Minimal, moody, very "London at 2 AM."
- The Remix: Bouncy, aggressive, and features that "vocal lead" technique that basically defined the mid-2010s.
That vocal lead—taking Aluna's voice and turning it into a synthesizer melody—is what made it stick. You’ve heard it a million times since, but back then, it was fresh. It was the sound of the Coachella main stage.
That Bizarre Monkey Music Video
Can we talk about the monkey?
If you search for the music video today, you aren't going to find Aluna dancing in a warehouse. Well, you will in the original video, but the one with 100 million plus views features a humanoid chimpanzee. He’s a drug dealer. He’s depressed. He stalks his ex on Instagram and eventually gets beaten up at a strip club.
It's... a lot.
At the time, people were confused. Reddit threads were full of people asking, "Is he a metaphor for the primal nature of heartbreak?" or "Is he just a guy in a suit?" One fan theory even suggested he was a descendant of the apes from Planet of the Apes.
The reality? It was just a bold creative choice to stand out in a sea of generic EDM videos filled with models and neon lights. It made the song feel grittier. It gave You Know You Like It a narrative that felt way darker than the upbeat production suggested.
Why the Song Still Matters in 2026
It's been over a decade. In the world of fast-moving pop, ten years is a lifetime. Yet, You Know You Like It still shows up in Spotify "Pool Party" playlists and TikTok transitions.
The song represents a specific bridge in music history. It was the moment when "Alternative R&B" met "EDM." Without this track, we might not have the same career trajectories for artists like MØ or even the later work of Major Lazer. It proved that a song could have two lives: one as a niche indie-pop gem and another as a global platinum-certified monster.
The Chart Legacy
- RIAA Certification: 2x Platinum (and still climbing).
- Peak Position: Number 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay.
- Shazam Stats: It was the most Shazamed song in the U.S. for five straight weeks in 2015.
Aluna herself has spoken about how she felt about the remix taking over. In an AMA years ago, she mentioned they weren't "ego maniacs" about it. They were happy to see the song get a "new lease on life." It's rare for an artist to be that chill when a remix eclipses their original vision, but when the result is that good, it's hard to argue.
How to Appreciate the Track Today
If you’re revisiting the song, don't just stick to the radio edit. To really get why this mattered, you have to look at the context.
- Listen to the original "Body Music" version first. Notice the subtlety.
- Then play the DJ Snake version. Notice how he keeps the soul but adds the "stomp."
- Check out the Wilfred Giroux remix. It's a deep house cut that shows just how versatile Aluna's vocals really are.
The track works because of the tension. Aluna sings about not being a follower and not being a fool, while the beat is designed to make you lose your mind on a dance floor. It’s a song about independence wrapped in a package of pure, unadulterated pop bliss. Basically, it’s the perfect anthem for anyone who wants to dance while still keeping their guard up.
Next Steps for the Listener: To truly understand the "Future Pop" movement this song ignited, go back and listen to the full AlunaGeorge album Body Music. It’s a masterclass in minimal production that still sounds remarkably modern. After that, compare the DJ Snake remix to his later work like Lean On to see how he refined the "vocal chop" formula he perfected here.
