We last checked in with the Levi’s Pioneer Sessions a few weeks ago, but it’s kept on rolling along since. We’ve heard She & Him go ‘30s, the Swell Season go disco, Nas go rap royalty, and the Dirty Projectors go Dylan. Well it’s about time to update that list. Four new artists, four new covers. Video and audio for each below.
Jason Mraz offers the most recent submission. He brings a full gospel choir to “Spirit in the Sky,” chosen apparently for its ability to make a friend dance. As good a reason as any I suppose. Before then Columbian electro-pop band brought some south-of-the-border rhythms in a bilingual cover of “Pump Up the Jam,” which fans of a certain will remember from Space Jam. The Shins go all moody-pop on Squeeze’s “Goodbye Girl” while Colbie Caillat belts out Blondie’s “Maria.”
Stream the songs and watch the making-of videos below. Head over to the Levi’s Pioneer Sessions website to download the MP3s for the price of an email. Still to come: The Kills, Passion Pit, John Legend and the Roots, and Raphael Saadiq.
Jason Mraz – Spirit in the Sky (Norman Greenbaum cover)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
[youtube 5DiSYyKn4K8]
Bomba Estereo – Pump Up the Jam (Technotronic cover)
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[youtube oasuctbwEg0]
The Shins – Goodbye Girl (Squeeze cover)
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[youtube hnx9SVHyGaE]
Colbie Caillat – Maria (Blondie cover)
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[youtube eCd9G39BknQ]
