On this week’s Covers Revue, we have another oldie-but-goodie covering another oldie-but-goodie, with Herman’s Hermits covering Sam Cooke’s “(What A) Wonderful World.”
The great Sam Cooke was a great soul, gospel and R&B singer, so of course his version of “Wonderful World” is laced with those influences. His version has a pace that isn’t very fast but it is definitely and upbeat song. The use of the acoustic guitar make this song a bit poppy but Cooke’s voice and the use of his back-up singers definitely give you a soulful feel as well. Lyrics reflecting a student who doesn’t “know much about history” but who does know that “I love you” and “if you love me, too/What a wonderful world this would be” make this a cute love song. Overall, this song reeks of cuteness while at the same time, still has that air of sex-appeal from Cooke’s voice.
Herman’s Hermits, an English band known for their first hit “I’m Into Something Good” (written by the great Carole King, of course), did a fairly okay job of covering Cooke’s classic. The Hermits rode the British Invasion wave so their version of “Wonderful World” reeks of poppy goodness. An electric guitar dances around the pauses of lyrics and the drum beat is upbeat. The melody and everything about the bridge totally makes you envision these guys in their thick-rimmed glasses on some grainy black-and-white performance. Not straying too far from Cooke’s original formula but giving it that Brit Pop flare, Herman’s Hermits hit and don’t miss with this cover.
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