Covers Revue, Vol. 28 – Starsmith feat. Ellie Goulding cover "Sleepyhead" :: Originally by Passion Pit

All it took was a Valentine’s Day gift to make Passion Pit 2009’s up-and-coming darlings. Yes, you’ve heard (read: read) me talk about them numerous times here on EnterTheShell.com in the form of album reviews (here and here), concert reviews and even a couple of random posts from Mailo and I.

Their debut single “Sleepyhead” has been a massive hit in the indie world. Though you probably haven’t heard them on Top 40 radio stations (and if I’m wrong, my apologies. I hate the radio and try to steer clear of it at all times), you’ve probably heard them on commercials or being whored out by companies or websites or what have you. If anything is an indication, it’s the fact that if you look for Passion Pit remixes online, you’ll probably find a BOAT LOAD of them.

Passion Pit’s infectious dance and pop style is sure to be a hit in any household, to any person. “Sleepyhead” starts off with a high falsetto saying who knows what but the little chimes, claps and scratches all over the place already make you feel like your floating on a cloud! The deep bass brings you down a little to even things out, but lead singer Michael Angelakos’ falsetto accompanied only by the chimes and extreme falsetto make you feel like you’re rolling around in a sea of cotton! The whirring effects in the chorus pump you up but the verse brings you back down again in no time. “Sleepyhead” is a definite roller coaster, but you will definitely love the ride! And I promise you won’t puke afterward.

Like I said, go to Hype Machine and look up “Passion Pit remix” and you’ll come across a plethora (a plethora?) of choices. Though Starsmith’s version featuring Ellie Goulding is credited as a “remix,” I consider their take on “Sleepyhead” a cover. Primarily because the music itself is not Passion Pit’s. It’s a product of remixologist Finlay Dow-Smith (aka Starsmith). I love what he’s created in this cover. The delay effects and more of a guitar-esque feeling tone the song down. The piano is toned down a great deal as well and you’re left to focus on the voice of Ellie Goulding.

Goulding takes on the task of creating that extremely high falsetto that Passion Pit created in their version, but she makes it her own. The echo effects suit her well and the way her soft, almost brittle voice harmonizes with Smith’s is a great thing to hear. They’re so different but it sounds so cool together because his voice is a lot more syrupy. The electronic effects sound elementary at times, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. I mean that sometimes it sounds like toys are making these sounds, which is cool! Or one of those cheapy keyboards you buy at Toys ‘R Us.

From the bazillion versions of Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead” that are floating around the interwebs, this is definitely the most original. There are tons of remixes but this one I deem a cover, and a great one at that!