Five Good Covers presents five cross-genre reinterpretations of an oft-covered song.
Gorillaz, formed in 1998 as a virtual band made up of four animated members, has always been non-traditional. Their music is accompanied by a fictional world displayed in music videos and cartoons. During their first tour the band members played behind a screen while videos played for the audience. After the band members found this a bit restricting, their future tours brought the members in front of the crowd but through lighting and other visuals, were kept silhouetted. In some sense the band was ahead of their time. Now, in a world where concerts can’t exist, the Gorillaz seem poised to benefit from creative alternatives to connect with their fans. Thank goodness they are back again with their Song Machine project that is being released as a series of episodes featuring a variety of collaborators.
But for now, let’s go back to 2004 when we all had a chance at feeling good despite some demon days. “Feel Good Inc.” brought the Gorillaz to the masses. It won the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration and made it to best songs of the 2000s lists from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork despite mixed reviews from the same outlets upon its release. These covers range from faithful renditions to mood-changing takes on the mid-aughts hit.
Seramic – Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz cover)
Seramic first got his start without his stage name, as Marcus Foster, writing a song for his friend Robert Pattison’s breakout movie, Twilight. Since then his style has changed from folk to funk, and that is what we hear in this cover. Seramic’s funky version has all of the components we expect from this song: the opening laugh, a steady groove, and a solid rap breakdown. We still hear the mixed-media style sound; however, this version is smoother and has a more mellow ambiance. We’re inspired to feel good and chill rather than feel good and rage.
filous feat. LissA – Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz cover)
filous is a producer and remix aficionado from Austria. Among his popular tracks is his remix of Selena Gomez’s “Same Old Love.” In this cover, he takes a different approach to the Gorillaz hit, changing up the beat and melody of the verses before easing back into the familiar chorus. The rap portions don’t make it to this version, but they would be a bit incongruous within this more dreamscape vibe induced by what sounds like techno-harp transitions between sections of the song.
Celia Pavey – Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz cover)
Sticking to laid back interpretations of this song, here is a folk-ish version with a hint of samba attitude that ditches the heavy hip-hop elements of the original. A hint of high-hat remains to enforce the beat. Pavey, also known as Vera Blue and participant in the Australian version of The Voice, turns the rap lines into melody, complete with some scatting. Her light voice contrasts the deeper voices in the original and gives a fairytale quality rather than the darker anime universe built by the Gorillaz.
Little Simz – Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz cover)
Little Simz is a British rapper whose style fits in nicely with the Gorillaz. Her second album was paired with a comic book and art exhibition, matching the animation approach of the Gorillaz. Little Simz also opened for the band during their Humanz Tour and provided vocals for “Garage Palace.” Here she performs a version of “Feel Good Inc.” that is precise and faithful to the original. The percussion and bass combination provides the driving force throughout. Little Simz maintains the traditional and smooth “windmill” melody in the chorus, providing contrast to the staccato, spoken-word approach to the verses.
We the Kings – Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz cover)
Despite the overly-maniacal laugher in the beginning and throughout, this cover is sincere. We the Kings, of “Check Yes Juliet” fame bring a slight pop-punk tinge to this song. What starts as mostly a faithful cover, takes a turn with a slightly differing percussion in the middle of the tune and a self-reference in the rap portion. Then a more intense rock edge kicks in to close out the song.
This is good stuff–God–l love you guys–l caught this during the pandemic–thanks for the momentary diversion