Paramore found clear inspiration in the Talking Heads for their 2017 album, After Laughter, so David Byrne’s new cover of “Hard Times” seems like it was destined to happen. The cover will be available for purchase tomorrow (April 20th) as part of a joint 12-inch Record Store Day exclusive vinyl, but you can stream it now below.
Byrne’s take on the song retains the tribal drums of the original, but adds a healthy dose of brass that sets it apart alongside his maudlin vocals. The result feels more celebratory than Paramore’s version, in which Hayley Williams’ sarcastic delivery gives away the reality check theme of the lyrics.
“The band told me that their song ‘Hard Times’ was inspired by Talking Heads, so I learned it and recorded my version of their great song with a horn section,” Byrne recently shared on Twitter.
This version of “Hard Times” will be combined with Paramore’s rendition of Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” for the aforementioned joint 12-inch release. As Record Store Day’s 2024 Ambassadors, Paramore are also putting out an exclusive vinyl pressing of their recent remix album, Re: This is Why. Also of note is Talking Heads’ first-ever release of their complete 1977 radio performance for WCOZ.
Paramore’s “Burning Down the House” cover will also be available on A24’s upcoming Talking Heads tribute album, Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense. The band is gearing up to join Taylor Swift on the European leg of the “Eras Tour,” and you can get tickets here.
Be sure to check out our list of the 30 must-have releases for Record Store Day 2024.