Dave Grohl and Greg Kurstin headed to the glitz and glamor of the “Copacabana” for night three of the Hanukkah Sessions. The Foo Fighters frontman and his longtime producer travel back to the disco era with Barry Manilow‘s 1978 song about the New York City hotspot.
The video is a stylistic wash even before the song begins, as studio chatter hears Kurstin invoke Limp Bizkit‘s “Rollin'”. From there, viewers are transported to the height of disco as Grohl channels Manilow with Kurstin handling a funk-tinged key setup. Though Foo Fighters recently explored Bee Gees‘ catalog with the Hail Satin EP under their alter egos Dee Gees with noted success, Manilow represents a unique vocal challenge for the frontman.
With Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, Grohl was able to hit those high notes and capture the brothers’ iconic falsetto. Manilow, on the other hand, has a slightly lower vocal register that Grohl is only able to flirt with, and not without losing wafting hints of his iconic growls. In some ways, it’s charming that Grohl doesn’t shoot for a total replication of Manilow like he did the Gibbs. Other than the lights and pageantry (and the Fred Durst homage) the highlight of the video comes from Kurstin’s keys and effects-laden background vocals.
Related: Foo Fighters Announce 2022 North American Tour
“Barry Pincus – not only one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th (or any) century, but a mega-mensch to boot,” Grohl and Kurstin wrote in the video’s description. “So, like a good neighbor, you deserve a break today. So grab a bucket of chicken and let’s get stuck on….. BARRY MANILOW’S “Copacabana”!
Last year’s inaugural Hannukah Sessions series saw Grohl and Kurstin cover a wide array of Jewish artists including Beastie Boys, Drake, Mountain, Peaches, Bob Dylan, Elastica, The Knack, and The Velvet Underground. So far, this year’s series has featured covers of Lisa Loeb and Ramones.
Watch Dave Grohl and Greg Kurstin cover “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow for the third night of the Hannukah Sessions. Stay tuned to the Foo Fighters’ YouTube channel for future installments.
Dave Grohl, Greg Kurstin – “Copacabana” (Barry Manilow)