I love Steel band covers.
Esso Trinidad Steel Band covering MJ’s ‘I Want You Back’? Check.
Trinidad Steel Band covering The Meters’ ‘Cissy Strut’? Check
Steel Harmony covering Joy Division’s ‘Transmission’? FUCK YEAH.
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We have Germany’s Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band to thank for this excellent Calypso steel drum version of 50 Cent’s ‘P.I.M.P’, a cover that removes all of the song’s grossest elements (all the 50 Cent bits) and leaves us with a steel band Summer jam.
It was originally released in 2008 (and sells for a wedge on Discogs) but it’s been re-released and kicks off the band’s debut album 55 on the New York label Big Crown, which also features covers of Faith Evan’s ‘Love Like This’:
The album is a fun listen:
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
