In honor of this past week’s review of She & Him’s Volume Two, I decided to stick with the theme for the Covers Revue. Why, you may ask? Because, dammit, this song is my favorite off the album! I wanted to talk about it so bad in the album review but when I found out that it was a cover, I decided to save it for today!
“Gonna Get Along Without You Now” was written by Milton Kellem and has such a distinct sound to it. From the rubber band plucking to the bursting horns, this track is high-energy! Brewer’s voice is loud and proud and the horns in the bridge make you think of that Big Band playing on that crackling phonograph in your grandma’s black-and-white living room.
In She & Him’s version of “Gonna Get Along Without You Now,” the duo’s country influence shines through. This song is completely different from the version Brewer sang in the 50’s. Though the modern version is slower, the tempo is still upbeat. It’s filled with acoustic guitars and soft snares. Lead Singer Zooey Deschanel’s addition of “Uh-huh/Mhm” is a cute touch on this tongue-in-cheek anthem for anyone who’s going through a break-up.
The lyrics are full of a sour grapes attitude, which I love. Break-up songs are usually filled with anger or bitterness; this song is full of those, but the tone is a lot more different. It makes you want to smile or chuckle instead of crying your eyes out when thinking about that one guy/girl who crushed your heart into tiny itty bitty pieces.
I LOVE this cover! Brewer and Kellem’s original is super cool too but I love She & Him’s twist. The country feel went with the rest of the album but at the same time, has the strength to stand on it’s own.