Audio Autopsy, 2011: Canada's These Kids Wear Crowns & Their Cover of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"
I sang the TKWC cover at karaoke a few years ago. That was my introduction to a fun-lovin' band from the Land of Maple Syrup I otherwise might never have heard. Who said karaoke was good for nothin'?
I Wanna Sing “I Wanna Dance…”
Sometime in the middle of the second decade of this century (fine, around 2015 or so), I was a nightly intruder at a local karaoke bar. I say intruder, because I quickly realized what a karaoke bar was really for: Getting drunk and croaking painfully into a microphone to a song you’ve heard thousands of times….that week alone!
So, amid the countless “Don’t Stop Believin’”s, “Royals,” and “Livin’ on a Prayer”s, I’d usually pick an obscure song (obscure to those who have suckled at the withered teat of pop radio for years, if not decades) from the unusually massive data base of this particular karaoke company.
One night, completely sober as usual, I saw the title of Whitney Houston’s 1987 worldwide smash, written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam (aka ‘80s duo, Boy Meets Girl), listed in the karaoke songbook, but as done by one of those rare “sentence bands,” like Austin, Texas alt-rockers, …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead (yes, the ellipsis is part of their name. They just released their eleventh album, by the way--the impatiently titled, Bleed Here Now. Gotta think they’re including a bonus promo band-aid).
Only this band was called These Kids Wear Crowns, a sextet formed in 2009 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.
Knowing nothing about them or their arrangement of the song, I jotted down their name, went home, looked up this video, and learned their exhilarating version by the next night, and sang it (without needing to mechanically lower the pitch…he said proudly!):
Not really needing to at the time, I didn’t really do any research into the band, so you and I are along for the same “get-to-know-’em” experience together!
These Kids are Alexander Johnson, lead vocals, Alan Poettcker on bass and vocals, Matt Vink on keys and backing vocals, Joe Porter on guitar and backing vocals, Joshua “Gypsy” McDaniel on guitar and backing vocals, and Josh Mitchinson, drums.
Alex and Alan, as high school friends, wrote songs together. Following a few years apart while Alex recorded some tracks as a rapper, and Alan continued to hone his producing skills, they recorded a never-released EP.
In 2009, the newly-formed TKWC was selected to appear on MuchMusic’s (kind of a Canadian MTV) disBand show (an American Idol-like reality talent show).
They received a thumbs up, and were subsequently signed to Canada’s EMI outpost, known as Capitol Records/EMI, through whom they released a 2010 single, “Break It Up,” which languished in the bottom 50, peaking at #60 on the Canadian singles chart.
Their two Capitol/EMI albums (2011’s Jumpstart, 2015’s Still Having Fun--album via Spotify embedded above) and two singles have never seen US issue. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” appeared on Jumpstart, and as a single, received Gold Record designation in their home country, having topped out at #30 on the Canadian chart (#51 in Australia). The single was produced by GGGarth with the band.
This Gal Joins These Kids For This Song
With an attendant music video, These Kids Wear Crowns recorded “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” with popular Mexican actress/singer, Eiza González (singing in Spanish), now 32.
In her early 20s at the time of the video shoot, she keeps up easily with the lads’ relentless energy, her soprano complementing, as well as soaring above, the Kids’ wall of guitars.
By now, in your second listen to the song, it’s clear These Kids have a gift for arranging, somehow turning an ‘80s dance-floor anthem (likely bereft of any electric string instrument) sung by a female legend into a rousing, guitar-propelled, power pop party rocker that not only will have you hopping up’n’down in your dorm room mosh pit, but is the kind of joyous and unselfconscious 3-minute celebration Billy Joe Armstrong can only dream about.
Plus, the lads had to radically adjust the original pitch to fit their voices, but also manage to pull off their two-part harmonies with ease, and inject the occasional vocal ad-libs to add to the festivities…festivities that include a brilliantly executed bridge (“I’ll heat you, oh”) and a break-down chorus 2/3 through, perfectly built for clapping and hopping along!
I’ve yet to listen to either of their albums to assess their songwriting acumen, but if their originals can match what they did with this cover, we’re both in for a treat!
This is the highlight, for me…These Kids (four of ‘em, anyway), unplugged, live, and on the plaza! They’re in Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia, circa 2012, and their harmonies are spot-on. When was the last time you saw a major-label artist having this much infectious fun playing and singing?
The flip-flop ratio, though, is relatively low (at 25%) here, but mad props for hoppin’ up’n’down in them. I’d snap a tendon doing that. Just below this one is a quick and breezy video interview with “These Kids”!
To enjoy another “Audio Autopsy” on a similarly guitar-forward band unafraid of melody (this one from Northern Ireland), click below to listen to and read about The Starjets’ debut album on Epic Records from 1979!
It includes an exclusive FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE interview with Starjets singer/guitarist, Paul Bowen, who appreciatively contacted me via social media after he saw this article posted last December! 👇
"So, amid the countless “Don’t Stop Believin’”s, “Royals,” and “Livin’ on a Prayer”s, "
Truer words have never been written. I'm not sure I've ever been to a Journey or Bon Jovi-free karaoke night.