RAC, or the Remix Artist Collective, is a group known for interesting remixes, but on Monday they released a rare cover song. André Anjos, the founder of RAC, released a cover of the Smashing Pumpkins’ “1979,” to celebrate the group’s 10,000th fan on Facebook. “1979,” one of five singles from the Pumpkins’ epic double-album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, was the most radical form of the group at the time, featuring drum samples and looping keyboards. At its heart, though, the song still ran on lead singer Billy Corgan’s nasally vocals and buzzy guitar. RAC washes away these elements, placing the focus back on those basic dance components.
Anjos’ wife, Liz, sings the vocals in a dreamy haze, while the percussive guitar is subsumed by the shimmering of keyboards and the repetitive march of the drum beat. The teenage wasteland feel of the original now stretches like a joyride through adolescence. At the same time, there is so much here that’s familiar to the original that it almost makes you wonder if this was the song Corgan wanted to do but felt was too far a stretch for his rock base to handle. Listen to and download the glittery new version below.
MP3: RAC ft. Liz Anjos – 1979 (Smashing Pumpkins cover)
[audio: News0911/271979.mp3|artists=RAC|titles=1979]
Hear more from RAC at their website and Myspace.
