Sitting comfortably on the sofa, Josh Turner and Carson McKee had a guitar and a banjo ready to play. The familiar setup might have led people to expect a traditional folk or bluegrass cover from the pair. Instead, they were going to use the instruments to craft an entirely unexpected cover of ABBA’s pop hit ‘Mamma Mia.’ Playing pop music may not be the most common usage for the banjo, but Music Man fans who listen will be amazed by how well the creative concept works.
The musicians skillfully traded rhythmic and melodic parts through the cover, crafting an impressive rendition of the song. The use of these acoustic instruments brought a softer, gentler sound to the song, even while still capturing the upbeat energy of the original. The banjo made it sound a little like something you might hear at a barn dance. The cover even turned some viewers into brand new banjo fans, with one commenting, “I apologize for anything bad I’ve ever said about the banjo.”
One of the greatest elements of the video for me was seeing how much joy the two musicians had as they played together. It felt like not only did their music bring me joy, but their enjoyment in playing was infectious, making the viewing experience all the more enjoyable. Seeing them nodding their heads along to the beat, smiling as they played, made it very clear that these two had found their calling when it comes to playing music, and that their love of the art form runs deep.
Posted on Josh Turner’s YouTube channel, the cover was one amongst many, although it stands apart as one of Josh’s only attempts at a true pop song, as most of his covers are of folk and rock songs. Music Man fans will be pleased to hear that the ABBA cover is not the only time Carson McKee has joined Josh on his channel. The two joined together for another guitar and banjo cover, this time of The Beatles’ ‘Martha My Dear,’ creatively turning McCartney’s jaunty piano into a plucky banjo part.
Josh’s channel of unique covers has drawn in millions of views, capturing the attention of music fans across the globe. His creations have a unique position in the vast world of online covers. Josh takes on many familiar and beloved songs from music history, especially from the ’60s and ’70s. At the same time, he approaches them from an entirely new place as he strives to give the songs a new sound, breathing new life into them and making them fresh and surprising for listeners to return to over and over.