Hot Chip: She Wolf (Shakira cover)

Although I'm completely jealous of her body and the way she works it on stage, I wouldn't call myself a fan of Shakira. I'm almost certain "Underneath Your Clothes" put me off of the Columbian singer for good. Besides that hit, most of her songs have been mediocre in pop terms, and when I first heard "She Wolf," I almost hated it.

What I don't hate at all is Hot Chip's cover of the song. Not only are they a prominent electronica band who deserves the praise, but they do an incredibly good job on covers. (For example: Their cover of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing.) The intro in Shakira's version is a bit awkward for me and but it is more tolerable than the chorus. (Don't even get me started on her "howling" in the recording.) With Hot Chip, they immediately pull my attention in with the first beat they pump out. Unfortunately, they insert some howling as well.

Take a listen to their cover below. I've also included Shakira's version which pales in comparison.

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Hot Chip Music Video: I Feel Better

So I have no idea how I missed out on this Hot Chip video which was released in early March, but I have to say... it's one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen in my life. Hot Chip is often known to have an automatic cool European factor to them and also have released videos more like this one. However, the bizarre storyline which accompanies the song "I Feel Better" (off of their latest album, One Life Stand) trumps everything else for me.

In an alternative universe somewhere, there is a boy band singing Hot Chip songs, deranged sorcerers join them on stage only to kill them off and then, a floating head comes and shoots fire out of its mouth. It all sounds silly, but it's supposed to be and they completely succeeded with this comedic approach that has nothing to do with their song. It was directed by the insane English comedian and actor Peter Serafinowicz, after all.

Watch it below! It's ridiculously funny.

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Hot Chip: Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)

Hot Chip was one of the breakout electronic groups in 2004 with thier album, Coming On Strong, but they had been around long before that with remixes and EPs. They've recently announced that they will be releasing their fourth studio album, One Life Stand, and it's supposedly a wild blend of everything from soul music to modern R&B to house and more.

I came across their cover of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" a couple of weeks ago and I still love it. It maintains Gaye's cool soul vibe but also echos a trippy electronic sound with vocals that sound like they're buffering during playback.

Take a listen to it below, grab the mp3, and make sure to check out their new album once it's officially released on February 8th, 2010.

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