Unless you’re Sterling Archer or Top Gun’s greatest fan, chances are you don’t opt to sing or listen to Kenny Loggins‘ “Danger Zone” all that often. The song has been sitting on the A.V. Club’s Undercover List for quite some time, and Alt. Country band Calexico decided to tackle it.
Lead singer Joey Burns admitted to not knowing any of the lyrics (aside from the chorus) prior to deciding to do the cover. “I didn’t know the lyrics, no. But I had fun learning the lyrics and looking at what I could do to shape ‘em. So I just kind of edited out a bunch of lyrics. Then I wound up having fun figuring out a melody I could sing them with. So we kind of went the O Brother, Where Art Thou route.”
And thank goodness they did. The band miraculously pulls some sort of tenderness out of the cheesy 80s anthem and dresses it up with its own brand of horn infused Americana. Paired with their recent release of the well received Algiers, it is worth shovin’ into overdrive and listening to as much Calexico as you can.
Be sure to listen to Calexico’s newest, “Algiers” over on the official website.
I love Calexico! I’m no fan of Kenny Loggins nor of commercial music but I do love Calexico and they did a great job on this song! Wow. They certainly have improved it by far. They can make anything sound so much better.