The slow piano cover of an old hit is a 21st century cliché. Ever since Michael Andrews and Gary Jules covered Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” at the beginning of the century for the Donnie Darko soundtrack, the slow piano cover has spread. First slowly and then like wildfire, to the point where now there are thousands on YouTube and numerous movie and TV trailers and soundtracks make use of them. So it’s a bit of a dangerous game now for anyone attempting one: will it stand out among the legion of these covers?
The Scottish trio CHVRCHES are, of course,…
The slow piano cover of an old hit is a 21st century cliché. Ever since Michael Andrews and Gary Jules covered Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” at the beginning of the century for the Donnie Darko soundtrack, the slow piano cover has spread. First slowly and then like wildfire, to the point where now there are thousands on YouTube and numerous movie and TV trailers and soundtracks make use of them. So it’s a bit of a dangerous game now for anyone attempting one: will it stand out among the legion of these covers?
The Scottish trio CHVRCHES are, of course, more of a synth-pop band rather than one associated with piano-based music. But Robert Palmer‘s biggest hit – and one of the most iconic music videos of the ’80s – is one of those upbeat hits from another era that was, I guess, just waiting for this treatment. And there’s a new season of the Hulu show* Tell Me Lies*. Stars align.
As befits the slow piano cover, CHVRCHES drop the drum-only opening and the famous guitar and keyboard riff. Instead it’s just lead vocalist Lauren Mayberry. But in a twist, Mayberry is not actually singing the lyrics particularly slowly, rather it’s the piano that moves slowly. She’s soon joined by some subtle accompaniment including an occasional low pulse and some effects on the piano (or another keyboard).
By 40 seconds, more instruments come in and increase the energy of the track and the cover is transformed into something more original than your average track in this genre. About a minute later almost everything drops out and Mayberry has a break where she’s almost singing a capella before a near-wall-of-sound joins her for the famous coda where the refrain is repeated over and over. There’s a brief almost guitar solo, too.
So CHVRCHES’ version of “Addicted to Love” sets us up for the slow piano cover but actually delivers something much more energetic. It’s a fun play on this overdone style of cover and it’s also a worthy cover of the original song, bringing the vocal intensity the song requires in a completely different setting.
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