Tame Impala ProfileFresh off his recent Australian arena tour, Tame Impala has returned to triple j studios for Like A Version.
Putting a unique spin on the Seal classic Kiss From a Rose, Kevin Parker led a string of harmonies with a group of phenomenal musicians – Tame Impala’s Dominic Simper, Jay Watson, Cam Avery, Julien Barbagallo, and James Ireland – before the song kicked in.
Blending blissful psychedelic rock elements with the soulful R&B tune, the arrangement honours the original melodically and through its harmonies. The cover is ultra smooth and simply gorgeous, an example of what Tame Impala does best as a live act.
Check out the cover below.
In an interview with triple j, Parker discussed the Like A Version, saying that Kiss From a Rose is a song that he’s “always loved” and a “childhood favourite” after first discovering it on the Batman Forever soundtrack in 1995.
“It was the first CD I ever bought, so I know every song on it. I used to listen to it back-to-back,” Parker explained. Parker added that deciding to cover Kiss From a Rose wasn’t easy, as he and his bandmates all admitted that none of them “have the insane voice” Seal has.
But once they were content with understanding that – “it’s just a bunch of Aussie blokes doing it” – the band found some peace in the song choice. Parker also described the song as “pretty amazing,” “complex,” and “pretty proggy,” despite not having too many chords – a deceptively difficult track.
In addition to their Like a Version and triple j interview, Tame Impala performed their hit single, Dracula. Check out all the videos below.
Tame Impala just wrapped up their Deadbeat Tour in Australian arenas, which comprised 12 shows alongside special guest Ninajirachi.
Reviewing the first show of the tour at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, The Music’s Claire Dunton wrote:
It’s impossible to pick a favourite song, but Let It Happen from start to finish was a blur of sound, cheers and everyone on their feet dancing from the nosebleeds to the front of the stage.
And just when you think it could end there and you be a happy girl, Parker slammed his hand on a button, triggering a burst of confetti from the front of the stage and ceiling, with a sea of rainbow-coloured paper dancing in the laser haze and light show.
Tame Impala and Genesis Owusu lead this year’s ARIA Awards nominations, with eight nominations apiece. The ceremony takes place on Wednesday, 18 November, at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.
