Last month’s summer comedy movie releases included the buddy films Ocean’s 8 and Tag. Both flicks share ensemble casts, deep soundtracks, and – most importantly – contain one notable new cover.
Ocean’s, the girl/buddy heist film starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, and Awkwafina was spawned from the George Clooney – and before that, Frank Sinatra – series’ of similar name. The film opened on Nancy Sinatra’s birthday (June 8) with her iconic, Lee Hazelwood-penned 1966 #1 hit “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” featured predominantly in the trailer and the soundtrack. Both trailer and soundtrack include the original and an even more up-tempo cover version by electronic artist Nick West.
West gives a “featuring” credit to singer Merenia for the vocals on this 2009 single release. The duo delivers a modern version of the classic with Merenia channeling Rickie Lee Jones while West’s arrangement focuses on quick percussion and guitar samples from the original.
If you waded through the deep soundtrack of Tag starring Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms, Jon Hamm, Hannibal Buress and Jake Johnson – and then waited for the closing credits – you were treated to a rendition of the eclectic, now-classic, Crash Test Dummies hit “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” delivered by Renner himself.
Time has not been kind to the 1993 Grammy-winning and best-selling original. The song was famously parodied by “Weird Al” Yankovic and has appeared on numerous bad/annoying/worst songs lists. But the joke’s not on them; thirty years after forming, the still-active band is currently gearing up for a short Canadian tour.
Renner’s version was released last month as a single and features the heavily auto-tuned actor singing solo with minimal piano and electronic accompaniment. The version you’ll hear in the theater – as verified in the actual credits – adds Helms, Hamm, Buress, and Johnson for the sing-along. While the film version is humorous to watch, the arrangement keeps the somber tone of the Brad Roberts’ sung original.