Covers Revue – Peter Gabriel and Hot Chip cover “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” :: Originally by Vampire Weekend

Often in the Covers Revue, we find more recent artists attempting to cover a classic song by a classic artist. But this week, just like when Johnny Cash covered Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt,” we have a legend covering one of today’s great bands (who’s most recent album may just be one of the top five of the year). With the help of the electronic band Hot Chip, Peter Gabriel puts out a great, mellow cover of Vampire Weekend’s “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.”

In the original, we hear an almost tropical vibe with bongos and a jumpy-bumpy bass accompanied by the catchy, cutesy guitar melody. Lead singer Ezra Koenig’s accented voice fluctuates up and down to go along with the feelings of lust he’s having for this girl in question. The lyrics are simple and even choppy (“As a young girl/Louis Vutton/With your mother/On a sandy lawn/As a sophomore/With reggaeton/And the linens/You’re sittin’ on”), but you know exactly what he’s saying and how he feels (“Is your bed made?/Is your sweater on?/Do you wanna fuck/Like you know I do?”)

With VW giving him a little shout-out in the song (“This feels so unnatural/Peter Gabriel too/Feels so unnatural/Peter Gabriel”), it seems the pop/alternative rock legend felt almost challenged to take this song on. Keeping the electronica portion of the song alive by including Hot Chip, Gabriel also implements his own flavor with Southern hemispheric sounds (South American and African wind flutes), claps and subtle piano. Though he cleans up the language, Gabriel makes himself a great cover of a great song by a great band. He even jokes around and has fun with it by singing the chorus as: “But this feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel too/And it feels so unnatural to sing your own name.” I’m glad to see that Gabriel doesn’t take himself so seriously, all the while still creating a great track.

I know I got on Urge Overkill’s case last week but this is exactly why. There was almost no distinction between those versions of “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon.” But in this case, Gabriel kept VW’s vibe while still making it his own and if you’re familiar at all with the Covers Revue, you know that that’s all it takes to keep me pleased!

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• Album Review – We Are Born by Sia
• Album Review – Ok, Ok by Julius C
• The Enter The Shell Show – Ky’s Special Edition Birthday Show