Demi Lovato & Q-Tip revamp Elton John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”

Will Lavin

Don’t go messing with Elton John songs?

The first track to be taken from the upcoming Elton John project, Revamp, Demi Lovato and Q-Tip flip the icon’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, which, featuring Kiki Dee, topped the UK Singles Chart in 1976 for six weeks.

Now, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this. While I’m not opposed to re-workings and remixes, especially when the original artist is on board, but this one feels a little off to me. I think I know why but it feels blasphemous even suggesting it.

Okay, here goes:

It’s Q-Tip!

Wow, that took a lot to admit that. I love A Tribe Called Quest. Hell, I love and respect Q-Tip, he’s a genius, unquestionably. It’s just very rare he makes a dud. And it’s not even that this track is a dud because Demi sounds great on it, and the production (which is actually Q-Tip’s) is really interesting and has a hypnotic quality to it in parts, but Tip’s vocals are interrupting my listening pleasure. What is he doing? Is he singing? I’m confused.

To be honest, it doesn’t even sound like him. Had I not been told then I wouldn’t have guessed it was him from the off. It sounds like he’s forcing something. But why? One minute he sounds like he’s trying out for a D’Angelo tribute band but failing, miserably, and the next it feels like he’s writing a reference track for Aloe Blacc and attempting to mirror his vocal tone, but again, failing miserably.

Anyway, the video is fantastic! Flamboyant, colourful and full of life, it plays like a modern day soul train, embracing people from all walks of life with all types of fashion on display. Directed by Hector Dockrill, it’s inspired by cult documentary Paris Is Burning. It’s a beautifully realised glimpse into the stylish world of London and Paris’ voguing scene, featuring the members of various collectives, including the iconic House of Mugler.

Bringing together a carefully curated selection of the world’s biggest and best artists, Revamp arrives April 6th and sees Elton John and co-writer Bernie Taupin’s best loved songs reinterpreted by some of contemporary music’s most vital talents.

The album spans a breathtaking array of styles, shining a light on Elton’s unparalleled influence across popular music of all genres, ranging from Hip Hop/soul (Q-Tip, Mary J Blige, Logic) to rock (The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age) to Pop (Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, P!nk).

The full track listing is as follows: