“Sunflower” – one of the biggest songs of Post Malone’s career – is approaching its seventh birthday this year. But when the New York-born star brought his hit back to the studio for a brand new, live rendition last year, fans didn’t expect Post’s acoustic performance to go this hard, amassing 4.25 million views on the viral clip in just three months!
“Sunflower” was a sensation on its release. The official music video has topped 2.5 billion views on YouTube, racking up an incredible 16 million likes. But Post’s 2024 rendition is the polar opposite of the original radio-pop hit, which was centered in light EDM beats and synth-based sounds. You can listen to both versions in the videos below!
Post Malone begins his acoustic set with a drag from his cigarette before the instant sound of summer spreads from his band, his upbeat country rendition of “Sunflower” sounding as fresh as a brand-new single. His vivid vocal delivery is star-striking as he strums his acoustic guitar, flitting seamlessly between rap and melody, each raspy lyric served with the vibrant personality and star power of a punk-rock frontman.
Live violin riffs from 71-year-old Texan fiddler Larry Franklin flow between verses, leaving Post Malone gobsmacked and smiling wide with every riff. A slide guitar fills the instrumental gaps while female backing vocalists pad Post’s lead lines; a far cry from Post’s original single, but totally refreshing proof of his unexpected musical versatility.
But the success of this track isn’t entirely down to Post Malone. In 2018, “Sunflower” soundtracked the animated film, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” soon becoming Post’s third US #1 single after 2017’s “Rockstar” with 21 Savage and 2018’s “Psycho” featuring Ty Dolla Sign. The year after the film turned the track into a pop phenomenon, “Sunflower” was released again on Post Malone’s third album, “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” which also claimed the top position on the US charts.
As the final chorus draws into silence, Post Malone tears the house down when he exclaims out of the blue, “Well, f***, Larry, you didn’t have to f****** do ‘em like that, man!” only for Larry to reply, “I played everything I knew… that’s all I know.” After another shout of “Oh my God!”, Post Malone explains, “If you didn’t know, Larry Franklin is my favourite fiddle player in the entire universe.” Music Man readers might want to skip back to the violin solos to watch the magic again!
Post Malone continues to captivate audiences with his evolving artistry, and his acoustic rendition of “Sunflower” is a testament to his versatility and creativity. If you’re eager to explore more of his groundbreaking work, the videos below offer an exciting glimpse into his musical journey.