When you think of the song ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ by Coolio, it’s unlikely the first thing to come into your head is a marching band. In fact, with its instantly recognizable rap, iconic string samples, and spine-tingling choir, it’s difficult to imagine the song being played in any style other than the original one – never mind by brass instruments!
With this in mind, when Dutch YouTube channel Muziekkorpsen uploaded a video that showed marching band DVS Katwijk performing a version of ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ in their traditional style, it’s little wonder that many people were questioning how on earth this could be a successful cover. “Now there’s a song I never expected to be played this way,” said one YouTube viewer, confirming the presence of these doubts.
However, when you watch the video for yourselves, Music Man readers, you will realize that this is not a cover to be sniffed at. Surprisingly, the melodies of ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ sound extremely powerful when played by brass instruments, and it’s little wonder this cover has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube alone in a matter of days.
In fact, as you may have guessed from the quality of their ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ cover, DVS Katwijk have become specialists at covering unlikely songs in a marching band style. The YouTube video below, for instance, shows them performing AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’ in a similarly powerful and rousing style.
For me, however, Music Man readers, my favourite cover that this talented group of musicians has attempted has to be ‘Gangsta’s Rap’ by Coolio. Somehow the unlikeliness of the genre twist makes their cover even more likeable, and I can’t wait to see what other classic tunes they turn their hand to in the future.
DVS Katwijk’s brass-powered take on “Gangsta’s Paradise” is an unexpected triumph, and Muziekkorpsen’s video is well worth a watch. Big thanks to the band and channel for this inventive cover. Want to explore the full performance and sources? Find useful links below.