There’s something incredibly special about what Scott Bradlee accomplishes with his Postmodern Jukebox covers. We’ve made it abundantly clear in the past that we love each and every song they perform, but every once in a while, we’re absolutely floored with what they produce.
Their latest video is a cover of Soundgarden’s 1994 hit “Black Hole Sun,” sung in a vintage stage show style by the incredibly talented Haley Reinhart. You may remember Reinhart from her American Idol days, or from the other Postmodern Jukebox songs she’s performed, including one alongside the one and only “Sad Clown With The Golden Voice.” The original Soundgarden tune is hauntingly beautiful in so many ways that make it perfect for retooled into different styles. The slow and mostly spoken-word verses of the original, along with the slower still and almost droning tone of the chorus, make it a song lodged in the deepest pits of our memories. The fact that “Black Hole Sun” is so indelibly marked in our in our minds allows us to relax to this beautiful swingy/big band version. The song is so familiar that it’s easy to flow along with every bit of PMJ’s rendition reveling in Reinhart’s voice as she playfully handles the otherwise monotone counterparts of the original.
This might go down as one of our favorite songs that Postmodern Jukebox has ever done, as it’s both recognizable and something totally new. Covers are always more fun when they reveal themselves to be simultaneously unique and an homage to the source material. It’s so well done that if we didn’t know any better we’d think Soundgarden were the ones who actually had covered PMJ.
What’s your favorite PMJ song? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Featured Image: Postmodern Jukebox
