Feature Series – Part 6
There has been enough written about the “princess of pop,” Britney Spears, since she burst onto the music scene with her first release …Baby One More Time in 1999. To say that she has been through a lot since then is probably the understatement of the year, actually more like decades. You may or may not be happy to know that I am not going to contribute any more on that front. Instead, my focus is on the featured song for this installment, “Lucky” from Spear’s second album Oops!… I Did It Again released in July 2000.The song was recorded in 1999 at Cheiron Studio in Stockholm, Sweden, and was released as the second single from the album in August 2000. It’s listed as teen pop and bubblegum pop, and after listening to it, it is difficult to argue with that classification. The song has been feted as “a heart-rending tale of life at the top of the teen pop tree.” It was “transformed into an anthem for dramatic, moody 12-year-old girls everywhere.” The song was written by co-writers and co-producers Max Martin and Rami Yacoub, with additional co-writing from Alexander Kronlund. One critic called the song “the ultimate bittersweet teenage symphony.” It has also been compared to the song “Where Did It All Go Wrong,” by British rock band Oasis. The song’s chorus: She’s so lucky, she’s a star/ But she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart, thinking/ If there’s nothing missing in my life/ Then why do these tears come at night? tend to confirm the assessments above.
So, how do you cover a song like this? Well, if you are Postmodern Jukebox, you do it in an early 60s/” Hairspray” style featuring Jefferey James, a very soulful baritone as the lead vocal. Add three talented backup singers, Dani Rocca, Kate Colosimo, and Lauren De Marco, and have them backed up by equally talented musicians: Scott Bradlee (piano and arrangement), Mike Cottone (trumpet), Anthony Castanga (guitar), Jared Manzo (bass), and Jasper Twigg (drums). To complete the ambiance for that era, the band are dressed in white dinner jackets and black pants; even the baby grand is white, and the singers are attired in colorful 60s style dresses, and James is sporting a coral dinner jacket and black pants. It is a wonderful representation of the setting and staging, fitting the song and vice versa. Enjoy!
Britney Spears “Lucky” (Official HD Video)
PMJ “Lucky” cover. Early 60s “Hairspray” style, April 2023
Los Angeles 2023
- Next up: Part 7 Dua Lipa “New Rules”
Interesting choice but it’s always good to expand one’s horizons. PMJ’s creative touch once again does wonders for the song. What would Max Martin think of it!
I’d like to think he would approve!
One of the saddest things I’ve seen
Hmmm.
Though I really liked “…Baby One More Time”, I never thought Britney Spears was particularly talented. Still, given her youthful beauty, I understand how and why she became so popular. The version by PMJ is far superior to the original.
Agreed!