BEST NEW COVERS: AURORA - LIFE ON MARS (DAVID BOWIE COVER)

To say that the late David Bowie was complex is an immense understatement, and probably does a disservice to the whole notion of understatements. He was a musical genius, and by most any definition, a pedophile. To see his work celebrated on the soundtrack on the HBO feminist comedy Girls is also something that generates complex feelings as well.

Having said that, Norwegian singer AURORA’s spacey, minimalistic cover of “Life On Mars” is absolutely spellbinding. Recorded for the third installation for the aforementioned Girls soundtrack, AURORA utilizes only a choppy keyboard and her enchanting vocals. The song has the feel of a bedroom cover, save for the fact that the vocals are towering and powerful, feeling and resonating into the space left by the sparse instrumentation.

Put this one on repeat and get ready for some deep contemplation, man.

AURORA “LIFE ON MARS”

If you haven’t fallen in love with Ms. Aurora Aksnes, please watch this absurdly charming live cut of her cover.

AURORA “LIFE ON MARS” (LIVE)

And of course we’d be remiss not to show you the original:

DAVID BOWIE “LIFE ON MARS”

In parting, I’ll share my personal favorite “Life On Mars” cover, although this AURORA version makes for some competition.

SEU JORGE “LIFE ON MARS” (LIFE AQUATIC)

About Calvin Paradise

Calvin Paradise manages to live a productive life despite a childhood of home schooling and suffering from what some doctors have called the worst case of Groucho Marx's Syndrome in recorded history.