Friday's French music break, Cocoon "American boy"

Friday's French music break this week is in English.

Yes go figure. A French group that prefers to sing in the language of Shakespeare to that of Molière.

It's the latest recording from Cocoon and is a remake of American boy, the 2009 Grammy-winning Song of the year by British R&B singer-songwriter Estelle.

Cocoon's Mark Daumail (screenshot from YouTube video of "Empire state of mind")

Sometimes cover versions work because they add something different and can transport a song from one music genre to another.

Othertimes you just have to wonder, "Why the heck did they bother?"

Thankfully Cocoon's version falls into the former category as they pop-up their usually folksy style to come up with a remake that gives quite a different slant to lyrics such as

"I like the way he's speaking his confidence is peaking.
Don't like his baggy jeans but I'm a like what's underneath it"

when sung by a man with Mark Daumail on lead vocals.

It's not the first time (now) six-piece group has tackled a monster international English-language hit and completely reworked it to fit in to their own style.

Search through YouTube and you'll come up with among others, their interpretation of Alicia Keys' "Empire state of mind", Carl Douglas' "Kung fu fighting" and a live version of - believe it or not - "Don't cha" by the Pussycat dolls.

For now though here's their very different take on "American boy".



Oh go on then. If you really want to hear the difference and don't know the original, here it is.



Completely different huh?

If that's given you the taste to see Cocoon live, you can find a listing of the upcoming concerts and festival appearances on their official website.