Still riding high on the success of their current Safe/Pain single, London’s dark ElectroPop trio Strangers have taken some time out from being all bombastic and moody to cover Haddaway’s What Is Love? I don’t think, in my entire life, I have ever heard a band cover a classic track and make it their own as much as Strangers do right here.
It’s bewildering. Any connotation, and pre-conceived ideas, you have of Haddaway’s original, one of the biggest EuroDance hits of the ‘90’s, will completely disappear within seconds of Stranger’s cover starting. It’s like the song was written for them. Stripping the track of it’s staccato EuroPop bassline and Hi-NRG beats, Strangers replace what’s gone with majestic synth chords, brooding military rhythms and atmospheric piano. When they belt out “What is love? Baby, don’t hurt me” as an anthemic lament, you’ll instantly forget the shiny, upbeat, original and totally commit to Strangers moody, emotional vision of the song.
♫ Strangers – What Is Love? (Haddaway Cover)
Safe/Pain by Strangers is out now.
Buy Strangers’ music from:
