Thursdays and Covers

[MP3] Hot Chip & Peter Gabriel – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

I never thought the day would come where Peter Gabriel would be featured on IGIF in a capacity that doesn’t poke fun at the former Genesis frontman. Oddly enough, though, when Gabriel teamed up with Hot Chip to cover Vampire Weekend’s “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” he poked plenty of fun at himself. The line in the original version of the song containing “and it feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel too” is followed by Gabriel himself singing “and it feels so unnatural, to sing your own name!” Classic, ole Peter’s cool.. he’s hip, he’s with it!

[MP3] Imogen Heap – Thriller

Leave it to Imogen Heap to take one of the most successful pop songs of all time and completely rework it. Everything synthetic and shiny about Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was traded in for nothing more than a piano and Heap’s strong vocals. Aside from nearly everyone with a pulse knowing the tune, it’s somewhat strange to hear the tempo slowed forcing one to really listen to the lyrics and not only Michael’s melodic singing.

[MP3] Brandi Carlile – Mad World

I’ve been loving the musical works of Brandi Carlile since late 2005 when her debut album mysteriously came into my possession. It’s a fortunate thing too, for Carlile has a voice that’s like velvet wrapped in silk then dipped in a powerful intoxicant. A few weeks ago, Carlile was playing a gig in Portland and unveiled an absurdly awesome cover of Tears for Fears’ track “Mad World”. Of course that tune gained the most notoriety via Gary Jules and Donnie Darko, but Carlile’s rendition adds a layer of depth and emotion that is beyond stunning.