Lil Peep vs. Good Charlotte | Head 2 Head

In the 5^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Lil Peep and Good Charlotte contend for the best rendition of “Awful Things.”  

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song, comparing their respective performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 5^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Lil Peep and Good Charlotte contend for the best rendition of “Awful Things”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Lil Peep, “Awful Things” (Ft. Lil Tracy)

💿 Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1 • 🏷 Lil Peep / AUTNMY • 📅 2017 

“Bother me, tell me awful things / You know I love it when you do that / Helps me get through this without you.” “Awful Things” served as a highlight from Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1, the brief, debut album by Lil Peep (Gustav Åhr).  Sadly, this was the only album Lil Peep released during his lifetime. Åhr died of an overdose three months after its release in 2017, aged 21. Despite a life cut far too short, the music he was making – emo-tinged, rock-infused rap/hip-hop – was interesting, including the song at hands.  In the third track from COWYS, Pt. 1, Åhr gets an assist from his fellow GothBoiClique member, Lil Tracy.

“Awful Things,” like much of Lil Peep’s music straddles the line of rock and hip-hop. Here, the hip-hop is heaviest via hard-hitting, anchoring drums.  Lil Peep gets the most memorable part of the song, the sung chorus (excerpted above), incorporating incredible energy.  It continues as follows: “Bother me, tell me awful things / You know I love it when you move that on me / Love it when you do that one me.” Åhr is undoubtedly the star, including his performance in the first verse (“You like attention, I find it obvious / She makes it obvious for me”) but he doesn’t do all the heavy lifting himself. Tracy, serves up his own intriguing vibe in the second verse, with ample of emo vibes: 

“Speeding away, the city in the rearview

Heart racing whenever I’m near you

GothBoi jumpin’ off stage

Carry me away, carry me away

Burn me down till there’s nothing left

I would scream your name with my last breath.”

All told, “Awful Things” speaks to the legacy of the late, SoundCloud era rapper. Interestingly, given its emo characteristics, it isn’t far-fetched that an emo band (Good Charlotte) covered the song. 

Appears in 🔻:

• Lil Peep, Awful Things: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 5 (2024)

2. Good Charlotte, “Awful Things”

🎵 “Awful Things” • 🏷 MDDN • 📅 2017

Lil Peep (Gustav Åhr) died too young – just 21 years old with a promising career ahead of him. The incredibly energetic “Awful Things” marked one of his best songs. In memoriam, Maryland pop-punk band Good Charlotte recorded a cover of this beloved gem, in all its emo glory with superb results. Joel Madden and company released this cover a month after Åhr’s untimely passing.  

The success of this cover should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Good Charlotte.  Also, it should come as no surprise to anyone who followed Lil Peep.  Stylistically, this is a match, which is part of the reason why on paper, it makes perfect sense for the band to tackle this song. The younger Lil Peep packed a punch as he sang, and Joel matches his intensity. Musically, Good Charlotte opts for a slightly brighter sound, with the drum programming replaced with drums. In GC’s hands, the music and overall sound has more finesse compared to the original. Even so, no angst or passion is sacrificed. All in all, Good Charlotte fitting honor the deceased rapper on “Awful Things.”

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

So, who did “Awful Things” the best? Was it the original by rapper, Lil Peep, assisted by Lil Tracy, or the coverers, Good Charlotte, who memorialize the deceased rapper?  Give Good Charlotte credit for their stirring rendition which preserves the sanctity of the original while also playing to their strengths as a band.  They don’t merely copycat, and, as mentioned earlier, get a brighter sound.  Still, I’m rolling with the original which found Gustav Åhr at his best.  R.I.P. Lil Peep!

Lil Peep vs. Good Charlotte: Head 2 Head No. 5 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; AUTNMY, Lil Peep, MDDN; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]