We think it’s safe to say that singer-songwriter Jarrod Lawson has a mind for the classics these days. Around this time last year, he unveiled a studio cover of The Isley Brothers’ slinky soul classic “Footsteps In The Dark.” That single got plenty of love mainly because it stayed fairly faithful to the original while still imbuing it with Jarrod’s own remarkable talent. For his next cover, he tries a different tack with an imaginative take on Prince’s Purple Rain standout “I Would Die 4 U.”
His version of “I Would Die 4 U” isn’t as straightforward as his take on The Isleys, but it does capture the spirit of the song. Rather than push a drum machine to its limits, the song’s signature hi-hats are live and their pace is slowed, tamping down the song’s urgency but allowing space for Jarrod to infuse a bit more sentimentality into the affair.
There are also elements added here that personalize the song to him. The tempo switch necessitates that Jarrod elongate his notes rather than imitate the clipped phrasing employed by Prince. He also offers another jazzy synthesizer solo here, giving the song extra space to breathe and swell to its climax as Jarrod and his collaborators take the song to church before it all fades to a close.
Woman or man, lover or friend, Jarrod Lawson makes sure that his take on “I Would Die 4 U” is worthy of a listen. Give his cover a spin when you press play right here.
