David Byrne has released a recording of his cover of Olivia Rodrigo‘s “Driver’s License” in anticipation of the 5th anniversary of Rodrigo’s debut album in June. Continue reading »
Jan 122026
Dec 182025
“This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” is a fairly unique song in Talking Heads’ catalogue, especially their early ’80s catalogue. They ostensibly switched instruments to perform it, though the legend overstates this a little bit: bassist Tina Weymouth switched to guitar, guitarist Jerry Harrison, who is also a keyboard player, played bass on a keyboard, and lead singer/guitarist David Byrne played keyboards but also played guitar. Drummer Chris Frantz still played the drums. So take the “switching instruments” with a grain of salt. But it also contains one of Byrne’s most earnest lyrics and is the rare Talking Heads love song (even if Byrne claims it’s made up of non sequiturs). It stands out on Speaking in Tongues and it has become their second most streamed song ever, despite not making the Top 40 when it was released as a single. Continue reading »
Sep 302025
Benson Boone — When We Were Young (Adele cover)
Benson Boone gets clowned on, but dude can sing (and, yes, backflip). “When We Were Young” is not exactly an easy song to nail. But, at a tour stop in Columbus, he did just that—one of many covers he’s been doing on the road.
BRAINSTORM — The Boys Of Summer (Don Henley cover)
Every summer comes, inevitably, more “Boys of Summer” covers. This metal-ish version comes from German power-metal vets BRAINSTORM (all caps so you know they’re serious). Singer Andy B. Franck says: “Even though ‘The Boys Of Summer’ deals with rather nostalgic themes of ‘summer love’ and the memory of a past relationship, for me – at the time a 13-year-old – it was, beyond the metal anthems of the 80s, a great song that I associated with summer, girls and the corresponding feeling for many, many years…Even today, this song still evokes great memories for me, and since it’s also a song about questioning the past, this track fits perfectly into our times.” Continue reading »
Jul 312025
Benson Boone — Seventeen Going Under (Sam Fender cover)
chappell roan performing a cover of ‘barracuda’ by heart at primavera sound barcelona pic.twitter.com/SX3RVmP9m5
— best of chappell roan (@bestofchappell) June 7, 2025
Bruce Springsteen — Poor Side Of Town (Johnny Rivers cover)
Jul 302025
“Road to Nowhere” was one of Talking Heads’ last sizable hits – their last hit to get certified for sales in the UK even if it didn’t chart on the Hot 100. It comes from their sixth album, their left turn into Americana-influenced music, and it open with a gospel choir, which was fairly unusual for both them and pop music in the ’80s.
Rogê is a Brazilian singer and guitarist, formerly of bossa nova group Doces Cariocas. He plays a variety of Brazilian popular music styles including samba rock. Continue reading »
Jul 142025
Talking Heads were never punk in any strict sense of the term. Sometimes you’ll see the term “art punk” used to describe them but they were almost always more “art” than “punk.” “New wave” was created to describe groups like the Heads, who were clearly informed by the energy and attitude of punk but didn’t conform to the conventions of the genre. Still, there’s a lot in common between early punk and early new wave bands. Continue reading »