St. Patrick’s Day is still a few weeks away, but get into the Irish spirit early with a wistful take on Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” by Dublin quintet The Dirty 9s. They break out the acoustic guitar and piano for this gentle yet effective version of the track originally released by Springsteen on Born in the U.S.A.
“I’m on Fire” is no stranger to covers. Bat for Lashes produced a hushed, gloomy rendition with string embellishments, and Johnny Cash put his distinctive touch on it in 2000. The track’s fairly straightforward structure and simple instrumentals lend it to interpretation, but not every cover captures the tense, moody frustration of Springsteen’s recording. The Dirty 9s drop the driving backbeat and let an acoustic guitar structure their arrangement. Fergal Maloney’s soft, wavering vocals complement the sense of longing. The result is an introspective reimagination of the tense original. Download it below.
MP3: The Dirty 9s – I’m on Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover)
[audio: News0211/22ImonFire.mp3]
Check out more from The Dirty 9s at their website or MySpace.
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