Some giants of the indie rock world and several other amazing musicians have come together with the help of the Red Hot Organization and (red) to raise money for AIDS research. Both organizations have used pop culture icons in the past to raise money, but this latest effort may trump anything that’s comes before it. tUnE-yArDs,?uestlove, Angelique Kidjo, Akua Naru, and members from Rubblebucket and Antibalas have come together for a powerhouse collaboration cover of “Lady” by the immortal Fela Kuti.
The track manages to retain the vibrant afro-beat energy of Kuti’s sound while simultaneously turning it on its head. With funk influences from ?uestlove, a commanding vocal performance from Angelique Kidjo, and the biting addition of Akua Naru’s rap section, this track is as good as any cover can get: recalling the original while also catapulting itself into new, fresh territory. It can be hard to find that sweet spot, but with the laundry list of exceptionally talented musicians who worked on this track, the level of success should come as no surprise. Play this now. Play it loud. Then, play it again.