The title of Fake Fruit’s new album Mucho Mistrust is a Blondie reference, but their album feels more like the earliest, scrappiest days of post-punk, all angst, tension and attitude. It also benefits from having been made with a stable lineup of the band that had toured for a year plus before heading into the studio. Read our review here and give it a spin below.
To go along with the album, bandleader Hannah “Ham” D’Amato made us a list of her favorite Spanish covers of songs that were originally recorded in English, including songs by Blondie, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Ronettes, and more. Check out her list and commentary on the songs below.
Fake Fruit’s Hannah “Ham” D’Amato – 10 Favorite Spanish covers
“Llámame” – Blondie
I’ll start with this version of “Call Me” that Blondie did themselves. We all know I love Debbie Harry. Just effortlessly cool, and I like that they took the time to release this cover for Spanish speaking audiences, very meaningful imo.
“¡Oh! Carol” – Karina (Neil Sedaka cover)
This is a cover of “Oh Carol” originally by Neil Sedaka. Although the melody remains intact the translation is completely different. It’s originally written from the male don’t leave me perspective but Karina turns it on its head and is basically telling Carol to hightail it outta there! It’s super empowering and as someone who has had experience with this particular breed of volatile man (*if you leave me, I’ll kill myself* type), having a guardian angel like Karina telling me not to look back, and to just look for my own happiness would’ve meant the world.
“Ana” Polo Y Los Apson (Arthur Alexander cover)
I love DJing oldies and soul, and “Anna” by Arthur Alexander is a classic! Such a catchy melody, try not to smile I dare you.
“Tu Seras Mi Baby” – Les Serfs (Ronettes Cover)
Fake Fruit and friends performed this cover of “Be My Baby” by The Ronnettes for the Valentine’s show I like to put on called Right in the Kisser. We basically just cover love songs spanning all kinds of genres, and I picked out this heinous sequined dress from target with this song in mind knowing it would catch the light while I swished around!
“Juntos Y Felices” – Los Johnny Jets (Turtles Cover)
“Happy Together” by The Turtles is a special song to me because legend has it when my folks fell in love in high school my mom called my dad’s house and left him a voicemail singing this song. Can you imagine being so in love you leave a message on a home phone where 6 people that are not your novio live?! Such an endearing memory.
“Házme una Señal” – Roberto Jordan (Brenton Wood cover)
“Gimme Little Sign” by Brenton Wood is up there in my favorite songs of all time list. This Spanish cover is SO fun to sing along to, it’s the craziest amount of vowels squeezed into one section I’ve ever heard lol!
“Aquí, Allá y Donde Sea” – Los Darts (The Beatles cover)
Who doesn’t love “Here There and Everywhere” by the Beatles? This is such a nice version of the song, they really captured the tenderness of the original track that makes it so pure and sweet.
“Solo Otra Vez” – Los Tres Tristes Tigres (Gilbert O’Sullivan cover)
This is a cover of “Alone Again, Naturally” by Gilbert O’Sullivan not to be mistaken with Celine Dion’s Spanish translation of “All by Myself” also titled “Solo Otra Vez”. What a depressing song, it’s honestly wild how dark the lyrical content is against a backdrop of happy strummy guitars. I had no idea what the song was about for the longest time because it’s distractingly upbeat sounding. The translation makes the song more about wishing for a love to return to restore happiness to his life.
“Solo Dios Sabe” – Charly Garcia Y Pedro Aznar (Beach Boys cover)
I actively tried to not like “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys when I was younger because I thought so many of their other songs were more beautiful or potent emotionally. Now I kinda can’t hear the song without getting a cry ball in the back of my throat, it’s so brilliantly economical in communicating its message; dammit.
“Ahora Te Puedes Marchar” – Luis Miguel (Dusty Springfield cover)
“I Only Want to be With You” originally sung by Dusty Springfield is already a bop, but stage Luis Miguel version turns it up to 11. It smells like Fabuloso and dancing around the kitchen cleaning, and it makes you feel like you’re crushing on someone in a teenage way and your heart is going to explode out of your chest. Love dancing to this one with mi esposo while we’re chef-ing it up in our too small kitchen.
—
Fake Fruit will be on tour this fall with Spllit, including a Brooklyn show at Union Pool on October 12. All dates:
FAKE FRUIT TOUR DATES
Thu. Sept. 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers
Fri. Sept. 27 – San Diego, CA @ Whistle Stop
Sat. Sept. 28 – Phoenix, AZ @ Linger Longer Lounge
Tue. Oct. 1 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
Wed. Oct. 2 – Denton, TX @ Andy’s Bar & Grill
Fri. Oct. 4 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 %
Sat. Oct. 5 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook %
Mon. Oct. 7 – Nashville, TN @ DRKMTTR %
Wed. Oct. 9 – Richmond, VA @ The Camel %
Thu. Oct. 10 – Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong %
Fri. Oct. 11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Foto Club %
Sat. Oct. 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool %
Mon. Oct. 14 – Boston, MA @ Warehouse XI %
Tue. Oct. 15 – Montreal, QC @ L’Esco %
Wed. Oct. 16 – Toronto, ON @ The Baby G %
Fri. Oct. 18 – Chicago, IL @ Hideout &
Sun. Oct. 20 – Cudahy, WI @ X-Ray Arcade
Wed. Oct. 23 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
Sun. Oct. 27 – Portland, OR @ Show Bar
% w/ Spllit
& w/ Rui Gabriel