SEVEN VERSIONS OF THE PERFECT TUNE

So it's RED NOSE DAY. Which means Comic Relief. Which means comedy, a lazy night in, appeals to the heart and donations of money. So what do I have? Uhm, music. Specifically, music about having a heart. Donate.



Heartbeats

The Knife - Heartbeats (Live OneMusic)
José Gonzalez - Heartbeats (Live KEXP)
The Knife & José Gonzalez - Heartbeats (Remix)
Scala Choir & Kolacny Brothers - Heartbeats (The Knife Cover)
The Knife - Heartbeats (Rex The Dog Remix) [Info]
The Knife - Heartbeats (Rocketboy Remix) [Info]
The Knife - Heartbeats (rndnmbrs remix) [Info]

My particular favourite is the anonymous remix. In fact, that's probably my favourite version of the song when taking into consideration the original, the covers and the many remixes. Just so you know. Who knew that by combining the music of both and the vocals of both you could create such a brilliant, call-and-response style, track? Well, they did obviously. And so did many of the other remixers. I also like the choir rendition, and not just in an ironic fashion. I like all things which hint at innocence, and it doesn't get much more innocent than roughly sixty teenage girls singing "ten days of perfect tunes / the colours red and blue / we had a promise made / we were in love". Of course, like a lot of people, José Gonzalez's cover is how I first heard the song - with the minimal guitar playing and the subtle voice reminiscent of Elliott Smith. Yet the original is equally fantastic. Simply put, this is a great song, and by using the foundations of it, it's pretty hard to go wrong, hence the many remixes.

Donate to Comic Relief: here.

Or ring: 08457 910 910

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Coincidentally, who saw The Apprentice (Comic Relief Special)? Hands down, the best piece of television programming this year so far. I even want to go out and buy an Alastair Campbell book or something ("Need not fear, in the future he plans to release a two-million-word book" - Ed). He just seems crafty, and likable. If this really is his two-years old blog, sweet. It's a fucking laugh-and-a-half. Every time you laugh, laugh heartily, and maybe donate. To Comic Relief you understand. Not a former spin-doctor. As likable as he is.

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Over £34M now. Impressive. But don't let it put you off.

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In the end, just over £40M was raised.

Celebration: Heartbeats (Leitworks Remix) / Post: Addendum