Best Acoustic Covers - July
July, just like June, brought me “only” four acoustic covers, but each one is worth talking about.
Iris - Dean Lewis
The first is the 1998 hit Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, reimagined by Dean Lewis. I can’t hide a bit of frustration here, his last concert in Amsterdam (the biggest of his career) should probably have been cancelled due to an obvious vocal cord issue, but instead he went ahead and delivered what ended up being a pretty rough performance. That said, for those who don’t know, Dean always includes at least one cover in his live shows, moving from Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer to Iris to That’s So True by Gracie Abrams, and this is the first one he’s released on Spotify. This shorter version (no electric guitar solo, of course) is still absolutely worth a listen. It’s stripped back to just voice and guitar, which makes the melody shine even more, and Dean has this uncanny ability to hit the high notes with both power and clarity, giving the song a lift that feels effortless.
I Took A Pill In Ibiza - Pat Burgener
Next is I Took A Pill In Ibiza by Mike Posner, covered by Pat Burgener, a track I was lucky enough to hear in advance at his last concert… also in Amsterdam. You might wonder why the 2016 hit isn’t in my Best Acoustic Guitar Songs playlist despite having over 90 million Spotify streams. The answer’s simple: I can’t stand when the piano takes over and almost buries the guitar, which in the moments it plays alone has such an incredible tone. Pat clearly understands this; his version keeps the acoustic guitar (in his signature open tuning) front and center from start to finish. I also love the tempo, which lands somewhere between the original and the Seeb remix (the one most people know). Nicely done, Pat.
beach baby - Jakob Fiedler
The third cover is beach baby by Bon Iver, one of his most well-known songs, interpreted by Jakob Fiedler. Usually, the acoustic covers I feature strip instruments away from the original, but Jakob actually decided to add something, a piano, and the extra melodic layer works perfectly here. Vocally, it was always going to be tough to match Justin Vernon’s high register, but opting for a lower octave gives the song a warmer, more intimate tone.
The Best - Callie J Wright
And finally, we have yet another cover from Callum J Wright, this time tackling Tina Turner’s 1989 classic The Best. The original is all big 80s production, punchy drums, bright synths, and Tina’s powerhouse vocals front and center. Callum flips it completely on its head, slowing it down into a mellow, stripped-back version for guitar and voice. The result is tender and full of heart, a love song that whispers instead of shouts.
That’s my June selection, just four tracks, but each one can be added to your playlists. Which is your favorite?