Giving a handful of popular songs an Elvis makeover suggests The Baseballs don't want to impress us with their originality; instead, their strength is to add fun and cheekiness to their music.
Founded in Berlin in 2007, three-piece outfit The Baseballs have become popular for their 50s style rock 'n' roll covers of recent hits such as Umbrella by Rihanna and Hot N Cold by Katy Perry. Their debut album Strike begins with the Rihanna track, which was a huge hit for them in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Whether you like the original or not, you won't have to compare the two, as this cover sounds like an entirely different song. The electronic elements of the catchy original are all but replaced in this new arrangement, and in their stead are three voices reminiscent of The King, Presley. Usher's Love in This Club follows, and this rendition makes it suitable not only for the dance floor, but for chilling out on a balmy afternoon.
To have taken hip hop, pop and even indie originals and restyled them with a retro vibe is in itself an achievement. To have done it successfully is almost miraculous.
Whether or not you're familiar with rock 'n' roll, you'll be amazed by the effective covers.