The internet-famous funk band Scary Pockets has an intriguing premise: two core members are joined by a “rotating roster of world-class musicians,” posting weekly music covers reimagining hits with a surprising, funky twist.
When the band teamed up with the San Francisco-based singer-songwriter Mario Jose for a cover of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” they tore the disco hit to shreds, restitching its classic elements beneath a brand new light and amassing over 24 million YouTube views in the process!
We all know Gloria’s 1978 original. Rich disco grooves fleshed out by a voice that gives instant goosebumps, blending feel-good beats with an almost melancholic concept of being beaten down and rising like a phoenix from one’s own ashes.
When Scary Pockets and Mario take the hit into their hands, they don’t just slow down the pace to make way for some stunning new melodic twists. They brighten up the track entirely, staggering its grooves for a full-funk feeling, refreshing its staple riffs with brand-new tones and coiling crisp, modern elements around the song’s classic rhythms.
As great as the band are, Mario completely steals the show, twining upbeat R&B melodies into Gloria Gaynor’s iconic lines and nailing some astonishing vocal runs throughout. This isn’t just a cover, it’s a total revamp that sits perfectly in the realms of contemporary pop.
Scary Pockets have a wholesome history. Its two core members, Ryan Lerman (whose repertoire includes session work with John Legend and Michael Bublé) and Jack Conte (who, surprisingly, is also the co-founder and CEO of the monetization platform Patreon) both met in high school, and have sustained their friendship over twenty years. They formed Scary Pockets together in 2017, alongside working on a host of other independent music projects over the decades.
Their “I Will Survive” cover was hardly the first Spooky Pockets clip to go viral. An astonishing total of eighty-eight Spooky Pockets covers have passed the one-million-view milestone over on YouTube, some top clips including a Beyoncé cover featuring Louis Cato, a funk cover of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” featuring Maiya Sykes, and a viral vid entitled, “If James Brown wrote Creep by Radiohead.” Music Man readers can check out that last, astounding rendition in the video above!
While some viewers have been busy seeing the light in this performance, writing in the YouTube comments, “This level of funkiness is considered a lethal weapon in 14 states” and “I was a fan but after hearing this masterpiece, I’m now a whole air conditioner,” one viewer spoke for thousands when they unraveled the impact Mario’s voice had on this cover: “Jesus Christ. This dude is a proper frontman. Everything seems to be so effortless. So much technique. He’s doing a million things as though it’s nothing. Amazing!”
Scary Pockets have taken the world by storm with their innovative reimaginings, and their collaboration with Mario Jose is a testament to their creative prowess. Their unique take on “I Will Survive” has captivated millions, proving they are a formidable force on the music scene! To explore more from this imaginative band and dive deeper into their funky covers, check out the links below.