I think I may have expressed confusion over this strange fact in the past, but I continue to find it very odd that the number one go-to song for Indonesia cover bands (which are plentiful, particularly in Jakarta) is "Englishman in New York." The song is a mildly popular Sting song from 1987, and yet literally every single bar band we have seen here in Indonesia has this song in their repertoire. Tim and I stopped putting bets on whether it will be played or not, as it is inevitable. Why is this somewhat obscure, 25-year-old song so popular?* Why?
This clip above is a band playing in a new Irish pub in our neighborhood. And, yes, that is my thumb in the video. I may or may not have had a few beers in me.
* Another song that is on every cover band set list here is Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours," but the popularity of that one with cover bands seems somewhat more straightforward because it is internationally ubiquitous ... it was a #1 radio hit for months and months.
Who doesn't love Sting?!? When in Ireland, they had of love of the song Just the Two of Us, for no apparent reason.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against Sting... I just find it curious. Every. Single. Time. You just have to wait for it.
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