International pop superstar Taylor Swift has just given the ultimate compliment to Australia’s own Vance Joy by covering his Hottest 100 winning Riptide.
Swift, who performed the cover for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, said that Riptide leapt out at her as an obvious choice. “This is just one of my favourite songs that has come out all year,” gushed Swift, “so I think that for me it was a no-brainer.”
Swift said she “wanted to change up the arrangement a little” and was intrigued to “hear what it would sound like if a girl sang it”. Undoubtedly (over)Joy(ed) would take no offence to the justice Swift did to his breakthrough track.
Live Lounge host Fearne Cotton tweeted to Joy after the show, calling the rendition “sublime” and “next-level”. We wouldn’t go that far, but Swift’s basic rendering of the tune does allow the song itself to shine. She fuses her own vocal style into the mix too, but there’s still something decidedly Aussie about it all. That’s probably a good sign that Riptide is more than just a simple pop song that fluked its way into our hearts.
Swift was on-hand to promote her upcoming fifth studio album 1989 due out in Australia on Tuesday, 28th October. You can check out the cover below, and then watch Joy’s unplugged take recorded for Music Feeds. ‘Cause nothing’s better than the real thing. Sorry, Swifty.
Watch: Taylor Swift cover Vance Joy’s Riptide
http://youtu.be/-0c7J5gmJf4
Watch: Vance Joy – Riptide (Unplugged At Music Feeds Studio)
http://youtu.be/YQmyQqbQlFA
Well @vancejoy get ready to be mind blown! @taylorswift13 just covered your Riptide on my show and it's was sublime! I mean… Next level!
— fearne cotton (@Fearnecotton) October 9, 2014
