So I’m heading to Scandinavia at the end of the month and I’m trying to tease my palate with some tasty Swedish and Finnish pop in preparation. I’ve been nibbling Nicolai Dunger, chomping on Club 8, and partaking in Pelle Carlberg.
One of my favorite albums in 2005 was Veneer by Swedish-born (but of Argentinian parentage) Jose Gonzalez. The track Heartbeats was featured in a marvelously whimsical (or was it whimsically marvelous?) advertisement for Sony, but it wasn’t until recently that I noticed that the song was a cover. Fellow Swedes, brother-sister duo The Knife, recorded the original, a much livelier synth-pop version, as if Madonna fronted the Human League, on their 2004 release Deep Cuts.
- Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats (MySpace)
- The Knife - Heartbeats
Did you like your nibble of Dunger? I had to spit it out. It felt like chewing on aluminum with fillings. But I have developed a taste for José Gonzalez. Does that sound gay?
I’ve been listening to The Knife’s version of “Heartbeats” and I really like it. Both versions are great. The original reminds me of a Cyndi Lauper song and it’s interesting to note that many of her songs lend themselves to folksy covers, too (”True Colors”, I’m thinking of you.). I think it’s time for a heartfelt, folk cover of “She-Bop” or “Goonies (Are Good Enough)”. José? Sam Beam? Oooo, how about Lambchop?