Boom Box Repair Kit say they want to do for traditional Caribbean music what Gogol Bordello does for Balkan folk, and judging from their riotous new Spanish-language cover of The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated,” they’re off to a good start. Hailing from the Dominican Republic (now based in New York), the band keeps all the energy of the original while bringing in elements of bachata music – and translating most of the lyrics. It’s been a big year for Ramones fans forty years after releasing their debut record, and this cover is a worthy addition to the celebration.
The video is the opposite of sedated, seeing the band generally making mayhem in a park with a host of park-goers drafted to act like idiots in the background – plus a few who were not in on the gag (my favorite part is the bewildered ice cream vendor in the background at about a minute twenty). It’s a twist on the Ramones’ original video, but whereas they never broke their cool, Boom Box Repair Kit happily joins in the fun, complete with rubber chickens, costumes, and toilet paper. Check it out below, and look out for an upcoming EP with covers of Black Sabbath and more.
Check out more Boom Box Repair Kit on their Facebook.
that took a bit to get going, but yes in the end, not bad