PUP asked fans to cover their new single with almost zero instructions. Here’s what happened.

March 1, 2019 Alan Cross 0 Comments 1 min read

In a stroke of crowdsourcing/viral marketing brilliance, Toronto’s PUP offered up a challenge to anyone who chose to accept the mission. “Here are the lyrics and the chord changes to our new single, ‘Free at Last.’ Interpret things as you see fit.”

The hook? PUP hadn’t released their version of the song yet, so no one outside of the band had no idea how the song should sound. Contestants were going into the assignment almost entirely blind.

Exactly 253 people gave it a whirl. The results were…interesting. “Free at Last” was tackled in almost every conceivable genre: ska, grindcore, EDM, even polka versions.

Here, for, example, is the ska version.

Now an electronica attempt.

The aforementioned polka version.

And finally, PUP’s version.

(Via the NME)

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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