Maanyung is a singer and songwriter currently based in Australia, and his debut with the radio station Triple J’s covers series Like a Version is making waves. Maanyung decided to cover Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” from the Barbie movie in order to honor the feminine. During an insider interview, the artist stated: “The women in our culture, they’re the storytellers, they’re the knowledge holders, they’re the creators, so I really think that (this) song itself is so fitting.”
Translating a Billie Eilish song into the aboriginal language Gumbaynggirr, was a process. Maayung continued: “With the translation with the song…there were some sentences that we reduced, or there were words that meant two things [by overall] it translated pretty smoothly”.
The cover begins with soft piano and showcased the artist’s raw, trebley voice. As “What Was I Made For” carries on, gentle violins and cellos are added into the backdrop. Something about the breathy rawness of the vocal performance in this ancient language left me feeling deeply affected and tender. Watch it below.
For more great Billie Eilish covers, be sure to check out this link! https://www.covermesongs.com/tag/billie-eilish