Stockholm’s Priest put out this cover of Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun a couple of days ago. A fun and unique interpretation. Though be sure to check the rest of their catalog. I can’t recommend them enough.
Maybe I’m too much of a Soundgarden fan but this was not a good cover. Almost completely one to one transposed into a synth arrangement with some really odd Eurovision style vocals (maybe that’s just how this singer sounds, like they’re reaching for every note and wants to add flair to every word). They even copied the solo, the backing vocals, the rest of the arrangement. I’d have liked something more original sounding.
They are Swedish so Eurovision isn’t to far off, though they usually make more use of vocoding. Typically, covers do tend to be 1 to 1. Not always, but mostly. Though I do wish that they’d used a bit more of their own sound and flair to give it more punch.
The fact that they weren’t doing vocal alteration was one of the first and biggest things that stood out to me. That for them is unusual
You describe the song well, though I consider these all positives. (I’m not familiar with much Soundgarden, but ofc I’ve heard Black Hole Sun a lot and I like the original). The synth adaptation makes it sound slightly more surreal. I interpret the vocal over-exuberance as being slightly ironic, “knowing” like it’s concealing some kind of in-joke, which is just a bit disquieting and thus fitting. I’d have to listen to both songs again and compare the drums, but I like the drumming on this cover.
Anyway you’re right that Priest didn’t completely re-do this song, this is more of a “filter”. I kinda like it, but ofc that’s subjective.
also, thanks for mentioning Eurovision, it’s less than a month away! hype!
also, thanks for mentioning Eurovision, it’s less than a month away! hype!
I know we can’t wait for it! Who is your favourite song so far?
Oh, I don’t start following Eurovision songs until I watch the semifinals live. Some of my most memorable life moments are watching Eurovision acts without any idea of what I’m about to see: Kaarija, Maneskin, Go-A … last year I cheated and checked out Bambie Thug ahead of time bc I’d read they were “dark” but then I regretted it bc that would have been awesome to see without warning.
I’ll probably be commenting on Mastodon live this time around! Looks like there’s already some chatter there.
