Tim: This first appeared in Canada over a year ago, but it’s only fairly recently made waves over here. I’ve Shazammed it (that can be a verb, right?) three times in the past fortnight, which means (a) I’ve got a lousy memory for songs and (b) I think it’s more than a bit good.
Tom: I still say Shazam should give a sarcastic comment when someone goes that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=witcrLcD3mU
Tom: “Hang on,” I thought, “haven’t I heard this before?” And of course, yes I have: it’s based on Heart’s classic rock track. And I’ve got to say: the original was better.
Tim: You think? Well, maybe. Doesn’t mean we can’t consider this on its own merits though, and I think that this isn’t unlike Emeli Sandé’s one that we did on Wednesday – despite the rock original it could so easily have been a dreary ballad – she could have sung pretty much what Jump Smokers (I’m not sure that’s what his mum calls him, but never mind) is going on about, and again it would have been fine. Radio play, listen to her beautiful voice, get to number 15 or something, and we’re done.
As before, but no. We bring Jump in, and he does his thing, and—I think this is the first time I’ve ever said this—his rapping makes it better.
Tom: Admittedly there is a lot of new material in here, and the modern production helps it sound rather good to my ears, but none of it’s nearly as good as that original chorus. The rap bit does save it from being a more stodgy cover, I’ll agree.
Tim: It does – it gives it a vibe (didn’t know that was a word I’d ever use) that gives the song so much more, along with the clapping and drum beats, and now we’ve got a number 2 hit on our hands, a dance mix that doesn’t sound like a cheap cash-in and a good follow-up (which somewhat weirdly samples this track) that’ll probably appear this side of the Atlantic in the not-too-distant future.
Tom: Ultimately: it’s a good refresh of a very well-known classic track. But I can’t help feeling that the new stuff is being propped up by the old.