“Lovesong” is The Cure’s biggest American hit and, as a result, so it’s possibly their most iconic song to casual fans. (It was a comparably minor hit in The Cure’s home country, so Brits might be a little surprised to hear this.) The song is typical Cure: an iconic bassline but otherwise pretty minimal accompaniment in the verses with a lush orchestral sound in the verses. It’s one of Robert Smith’s most emotionally direct and upbeat songs, which likely goes a ways to explaining its popularity.
A.A. Williams is a trained pianist and cellist who was off to a promising start to her professional career, with a buzzed-about EP in 2019, before the pandemic derailed everything. She’s still been able to release her debut album this year, and has been spending her pandemic time recording covers, like many musicians. We covered her “Songs in Isolation” series back in April.
In Williams’ hands, “Lovesong” is transformed into a mournful, longing plaint. Williams has slowed the song to a crawl and has replaced The Cure’s elaborate instrumentation with her solitary piano (removing many of the hooks as a result). Whereas Smith is singing a pledge to his soon-to-be wife for their wedding, Williams’ version of the lyrics is for all of us who have been separated from a loved one due to this terrible pandemic.
It isn’t any longer a surprise when avowed adherents of one tradition tackle another, and folk singers tackling the pop charts is one of the staples of current expectation. And it can be a mixed blessing. 
