He covered "Lua" by Bright Eyes, undoubtedly one of the greatest songs ever written. I was relatively skeptical upon hearing about this cover, but I decided to give it a shot. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I didn't think it'd be anything more than a plain, boring cover of the tune. I was so wrong.The he in question is William Beckett, formerly of The Academy Is… BBC Radio called Beckett a mix of Adam Lazzara (Taking Back Sunday) and Prince, I called him a Renaissance man when I interviewed earlier this year, and singing one of the classic indie tracks of the 21st century might not be stretch, but it sure begs for context.
Beckett really put his own spin on it, and I still fell in love with it. The original is perfect and comparing it to a cover done by anyone is like trying to connect Birdy with Asking Alexandria- you just don't do it. Considering this cover an entirely separate entity from Oberst's, however, would not even be doing Beckett's justice. He's come the closest to perfecting it than I've ever heard. He nails the feel of it, captivating the listener in a soft way, making it feel like a hug, then pulling you in, just like the original does. William's voice has that quality as it is, but mixed with the warmth of the guitar and the pattern and the simplicity of it all amplifies it in a way that really no one else has captured.
Conor Oberst is a genius, and this song is the epitome of flawless music. The way he sings it, live and recorded, is consistent and never loses its punch. It's subtle but evident, calm yet raging. Beckett, though not to the same degree, matches this on a much lesser scale. The original is a tentative, laid-back approach, whilst Will is more stark and honest. Both express the true meaning and message in the song, making his cover absolutely beautiful.
Well done.