Chosen by Monk

The Uber Rock Approved stampWell, we may be only a few weeks into 2021 but already it is looking as if it as going be as much of a shitstorm of a year, if not more so, than its predecessor, with the Government apparently losing the war with the pan(dem)ic and fighting back with renewed, and even more stringent, lockdowns in place the length and breadth of the Über Kingdom (and beyond). But, with seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel, despite the promises of vaccines offering some form of over-vaunted “miracle cure”, at least 2021 is sharing something more positive in common with 2020, in that it already has produced some terrific new music, with the promise of plenty more to come, if the if the inbox here at ÜRHQ is anything to go by…

Despite being just a comparatively few days into the new rock ‘n’ roll year, there has been a healthy slew of new music pinging itself our way, and the number of submissions we received for our ‘Video Of The Week’ award was startlingly impressive, especially with the levels of creativity displayed in the adverse circumstances we continue to find ourselves. After viewing all of the entries, and we do watch each and every one of the 100+ submissions which we receive every week, at the end of the day (or night, depending on where you are in the Überverse), there could be only one winner…

And this week’s comes from those madcap Norwegian folk metallers Trollfest, who once again have emerged from their darkened cave on the shores of the North Sea to present us with, shall we say, their rather unique interpretation of the lovers’ rock classic, ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’.

Originally a #1 hit for the Jamaican folk-jazz singer Bobby McFerrin back in 1988, Trollfest have initially stayed true to the song’s original scat style, but quickly give it their own maniacal death metal twist. The accompanying video is equally insane, with a ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ meets ‘The Joker’ meets Rob Zombie interpretation which works on every level and will have you falling off your chair (but, please, make sure there is a nice big comfy cushion underneath – health and safety and all that!):

‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ is one of three covers included on Trollfest’s forthcoming new four-track EP, ‘Happy Heroes’, the others being ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams, which the band describe as “quite possibly the cheeriest song known to man”, and Aqua‘s bubblegum pop smash ’Cartoon Heroes’.

Well, there you go. That’s our latest ‘Video Of The Week’ winner in what promises to be another traumatic year for the music business. But, as ever, we at ÜRHQ will continue to do our best to shine a light into your darker corners by bringing the brightest new rock ‘n’ roll sounds to lighten your mood and uplift your soul. So, until next week, #StayAtHome, #KeepTheMusicAlive, #CrankItUp and #StayTheFuckSafe…

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