Sondre Lerche is a Norwegian singer-songwriter who is no stranger to the world of cover songs. Lerche has been releasing cover songs for well over a decade now, including a series where at the end of every year he releases a cover of one of that year’s big pop hits. With covers of Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Drake, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga tunes, he’s created quite a name for himself in this niche alone. This year, he tackled the Miley Cyrus smash “Flowers.”
The jumping-off point for this cover is groovy and head-bop-worthy, with a vintage combination of lively percussion, a running bassline, and an electronic clap on the 2 and 4. When he comes in with “We were good, we were gold…” he sing-talks plainly. As we make our way to the chorus, his voice crescendos into full-on singing. The unexpected chorus is reminiscent of the 80s with the FX-laden background vocals and pulsing synths.
Here’s what Lerche said about the release:
I’ve felt out of touch with hits this year. The few that caught my ear were perfect songs (Kill Bill, Vampire) that I would feel uncomfortable and unmotivated performing myself. And while Kylie’s grand Padam phenomenon was top of my wish list, it simply wasn’t big enough on a global scale. At least this was the consensus when Matias and I sat down 24 hours ago, to review our options and make a choice. I try to think about how to most constructively add to any conversation or situation I step into. It feels increasingly challenging these days, and sometimes you just fail. As it turns out, the big hit that Matias and I felt we could most constructively assist this year was Flowers by Miley Cyrus.
Seeing as this year also marks the tenth anniversary of our ritual, plus the fact that the first big hit Matias and I covered together for Christmas ten years ago, was Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus, it all seemed to make sense. Also, with the recent release of my Understudy album, which contains the first decade of these annual covers, this year’s addition to the tradition marks the beginning of the next decade of our joyful ritual. I hope it brings you joy. Thanks for listening, following, and keeping in touch, always. I am looking forward to spending time on new songs and music in 2024.
For more great covers of Miley Cyrus, be sure to check out this link.
