Claes Rosen (Sweden) – If This World Were Mine (single/cover)
We occasionally feature covers and I was more than happy to include this one, a remake of the iconic Marvin Gaye track ‘If This World Were Mine’ by Claes Rosen.
Gaye, the ‘Prince of Soul’ and doyen of Motown, is a true icon in the business, being responsible, amongst many other things (would that be inter aliae or inter alia alia in Latin?) for probably the first ever concept, and protest, and ecologically-focused album, ‘What’s going on’, in 1971.
Gaye’s recording of ‘If This World Were Mine’ was a duo with Tammi Terrell from their album ‘United’ in 1967 but Gaye is credited as a solo writer. Surprisingly it was only the B-side on the single ‘If I could build my whole world around you’.
Claes Rosén is a Swedish artist and music producer, both solo and as part of the duo L-Wiz, exploring genres ranging from melodic house and nu-disco to UK garage and bass-heavy dubstep.
That concerned me a little after listening to the original because it could easily by spoiled by too much techno.
But before I come to a verdict, a little story. This remake started life as a bootleg uploaded to YouTube seven years ago, amassing over 36 million views and connecting many listeners. In 2021, Claes was approached by the family of Marvin Gaye with a serious offer for the track which he declined, in favour of keeping ownership of the track.
Then it sat around going nowhere for 10 years until one day he picked it up and everything miraculously fell into place.
Now it is finally released via EMI Sweden after several years of clearance battles and with re-recorded vocals.
So what’s the verdict?
It has been fairly heavily rewritten, with Tammi’s part expunged (perhaps Mrs Rosen was busy that afternoon?) and replaced by an extended instrumental bridge that also soaks up the bridge on the original, and stretched by more than a minute.
The string arrangements on Marvin’s song also disappeared in favour of a heavy bass and percussion element.
But if you’re expecting me to say I don’t like it you are wrong. Claes easily retains the vocal class (pardon the weak pun) of his predecessor; it’s smooth, soulful and in the groove, man.
Had it been the original release plenty of folk would be asking “who is this guy”? They’ll probably be doing that anyway.
(Note there is also an extended mix running to over six minutes that is even more soulful).
Find him on:
Website: https://claesrosen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaesRosenOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claes_rosen/
Sophie-Lou (Denmark) – I will love you till I die (debut single)
Sometimes this job can completely blindside you and I just love it when that happens. And it could well happen to you right now. It’s hard to believe this grandiose masterpiece is a debut single.
Sophie-Lou (Sofie Emilie Maintz Thorsen) tells a story of “losing one of the most important people in my life” (we don’t know if that’s a lost love or a lost relative) and then falling in love, prompting that weird juxtaposition that afflicts most people at one time or another of grief versus joy, with both vying for our utmost attention.
Hence ‘I will love you till I die’ turns out to be a declaration of love to her new partner, friends, and family, all in one go.
But what a song. It ambles along for a minute or so as a melancholic ballad to simple acoustic guitar chords – the sad part of the equation I suppose – and then suddenly explodes into an overwhelming cacophony of multiple choral voices and distorted guitars – the joy of love.
Apparently a special binaural microphone was used to replicate the way the human ear hears and the difference is evident even through the cheap 10-bob flea market earphones that I use. I could easily compare it to 10cc’s ‘I’m not in love’ or perhaps Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for the quality of that multi-tracked vocal recording although some readers might not know what I’m talking about.
The overall effect is impressive and of course this isn’t the work of someone who’s just walked in off the street with a song written in a bedroom on the back of an envelope.
She draws on a wide-ranging musical background and is a lifelong explorer of contrasts, which is how she is able to identify and bring to life the contrasts in this song. She grew up surrounded by jazz and spent 14 years performing with the Danish National Girls’ Choir.
She has also composed classical choral works, while carving out her own sonic world through ambient and electronic music.
Quite a mix when you think about it. And it all comes to a head here. Brace yourself then listen.
A quick mention to the ‘backroom staff’ here:
The single is produced by sophie-lou, mixed by Nanna Schannong), and mastered by Alma Hede.
And yes, more music is ‘on the way’.
Find her on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/___sophielou____/
