It was on your radio all of the time. Your mom danced to it in public places. Foster The People‘s “Pumped Up Kicks” was, for better or worse, inescapable last summer. We saw countless covers of the all-too-catchy-tune here at Cover Me last summer and some even creeped into fall of 2011. Just when you thought you had moved on to the next summer jam (still waiting for hundreds of “Call Me Maybe” covers) Usher decided to play what can only be deemed a karaoke version of “Pumped Up Kicks.”
Usher’s enthusiasm is genuine, but he does not bring anything new to the table, aside from his bass that none of us knew he could play. We all know Usher for his soulful voice and ability to step, but he didn’t bring either of these strengths to the cover. If anything, this cover is enjoyable because of the infectious excitement Usher and his band has. If you are a fan of the original, this one doesn’t veer far.
Usher – Pumped Up Kicks (Foster the People cover)
Check out Usher’s recently released album ‘Looking 4 Myself’ on his official website.
