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Meshell Ndegeocello, Cat Power Give Human League’s ‘Don’t You Want Me’ a Reggae Rework
Meshell Ndegeocello and Cat Power have released a reggae-influenced reworking of the Human League’s 1981 synth-pop hit ‘Don’t You Want Me’. The new version replaces the original’s tense electronic sound with warm horns and a relaxed groove, offering a more reflective take on its troubled relationship narrative.
The song is the second preview from Ndegeocello’s forthcoming collaborative covers album, Synonym, due on 2 October through Blue Note Records. The record features artists including Cynthia Erivo, Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile and Lianne La Havas, and reunites Ndegeocello with producer David Gamson; its songs span several decades and genres.
In short
- Ndegeocello and Cat Power remake ‘Don’t You Want Me’ as reggae.
- The track previews Ndegeocello’s album Synonym, due 2 October.
- Synonym pairs classic songs with a wide range of collaborators.
Explained simply
The Human League are a British band whose 1981 song “Don’t You Want Me” became a major synth-pop hit. Sung as a conversation between two former partners, it tells a story of a relationship breaking down and became one of the best-known British pop songs of its era.
Meshell Ndegeocello is an American musician and producer known for work spanning soul, funk and jazz. Cat Power is the stage name of American singer-songwriter Chan Marshall. Reworking a familiar song in reggae style changes its musical setting while keeping its story at the centre.
The recording is part of Synonym, a covers album bringing together musicians from different generations and genres. Covers can introduce older songs to new listeners and show how their meaning or mood can shift when other artists reinterpret them.
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