In a small and cozy music room, Jack Johnson joined viral musician Josh Harmon to collaborate on a recording of Jack’s 2005 hit song ‘Banana Pancakes’. However, this wasn’t going to just be a copy of the original recording in duet form. Instead, they were going to take Jack’s original song and reimagine it in a whole new way. Instead of the simple guitar-based original, they were joined by a number of other musicians ready to add a new flavor to expand upon the song’s sound.
The cover started off in a way that will be familiar to Music Man fans who know the song, with just Jack singing and playing his guitar. Charmingly, Josh used some bubble wrap to add what could have been the crackle of an old record or the sound of distant rainfall. Then, the song transformed as Josh turned to his drum kit and the rest of the band joined in. Many viewers left comments like “Sounds incredible. Trombone actin up” as the trombone solo unexpectedly ended up stealing the show.
I feel like I have heard the original version of this song so many times since its release that I know every detail of it. That meant that listening to this brand-new version of the song felt extra special. It was wonderful to hear a new take on something so familiar and see how two different versions could be equally beautiful. I felt that while the original’s simplicity is what makes it stand out, it was amazing to see how a departure from that could create something just as special.
‘Banana Pancakes’ wasn’t the only one of Jack’s songs that he and Josh worked on together. They also worked on a version of Jack’s 2003 song ‘Hole To Heaven’. Once again, they worked with the same group of musicians to create a brand-new sound for the song. The trombonist again received lots of recognition for his contributions, with listeners saying he elevated the piece. Listeners adored the whole collaboration, though, with one viewer commenting, “This is an amazingly talented collection of people.”
Collaborations like these help us to hear familiar songs in whole new ways. Music Man readers who love Jack Johnson’s music may be drawn to its gentle simplicity, so it can be easy to wonder whether those classic songs could possibly work as well with a whole band. These versions prove that even when an original version of something is beloved, there are always new things to explore that can allow us to appreciate them afresh.