Since dropping his hit single “Lose Control” in 2023, Teddy Swims has been recognized among the most bone-chillingly powerful singers on the modern pop scene. But what happened when he lent his chart-topping blues-soul voice to a shockingly stripped-back and acoustic cover of Radiohead’s hit, “Creep”?
Music Man readers can check out Teddy’s epic and, at times, hilarious rendition in the viral clip below – it’s already topped 880,000 views to date!
Performing on the Take Your Shoes Off podcast with host Rick Glassman and session musician George Krikes, this cover is about as laid back as it gets. Teddy, jamming on the sofa in a tangerine football jersey, sings Radiohead’s iconic lyrics from memory as George’s rich guitar tones pad his luscious voice.
But when the second verse hits, the cover ludicrously falls apart. Teddy forgets the words to the hit, but George keeps strumming along regardless, as Teddy scrambles for his phone to pull up the lyrics, humming and “mmm”ing as best he can in the thick of the panic.
Thankfully, the second chorus comes around fast – the track recentres and Teddy adds his sass to the song. But the middle-8 that comes next is something else entirely. With Teddy, George, and Rick all warbling Radiohead’s eerie falsetto melodies, Rick goes completely off key, laughing it off, before Teddy unleashes the full power of his vocal runs as a chihuahua watches on, confused.
As the cover decays into an outro of laughter, Teddy’s natural talent and down-to-earth nature shine bright and almost blinding. It’s always stunning to see A-Listers in a home-like setting such as this; no stage lights, glitz, or costume to divert attention from their talent. But, unlike most stars, this is the setting in which Teddy seems most at home. Looking back through the times Teddy’s busked with fans, praised covers from up-and-coming musicians, and acted like an all-round gem in the spotlight, it’s pretty clear that Teddy is one of the most wholesome and lovable stars on the pop scene today, regardless of how much you dig his actual music.
This was hardly the only cover Teddy tackled on the podcast. Teddy’s full, 2-hour 49-minute long episode is available on YouTube, featuring thirteen laid-back covers ranging from Shania Twain to The Lion King soundtrack; but we’ll save you the hassle, and pick out one of the best moments from Teddy’s episode – when he covered Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love.” Check out this stunning rendition in the video above!
Fans have fallen in love with Teddy’s viral “Creep” cover, with top commenters noticing, “Pretty rare to have both an amazing vocalist and a superb guitarist in a chill setting like this,” “You, sir, have a voice that defies natural description. What a gift it is that you share it with us,” and, comically, “How the hell do you improve on a song only knowing 25% of the lyrics?”