Portishead Has Covered My Favourite ABBA Song
Okay, so I like just one ABBA song. Don’t get me wrong, though. I admire the genius of their songwriting and they deserve all the accolades and cash they have. They’re just not my thing–except when it comes to their 1975 hit, “SOS.” It’s a pop song, but it masks something very, very dark–suicidal, even–something that really should have been exploited long ago.
Happily, Hector points out that the song has just been covered by Portishead as a tribute to Jo Cox, the British MP that was senselessly murdered a week ago. She would have turned 42 today.
Let the darkness reign.
For reference, here’s the original.
Have you heard The Headstones cover? I really love it. I read somewhere that it is one of Hugh Dillon’s wife’s favorite songs, that was why he covered it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCFCmy_ZTFA
Live version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZi3pn4H6mg
I think you’re overstating the darkness of this pop song. “I can’t go on” is hardly a declaritave of suicide, just an over-used pop music trope.
The song was actually made for a film, but the video was made in honour of the slain British MP.
This version is fantastic. Always loved Portishead, and this does nothing to change that.