Tame Impala vs. Tame Impala & JENNIE | Face Off

In the sixth edition of Face Off (2026), Tame Impala and Tame Impala & JENNIE face off for the best rendition of “Dracula.”

Ah, let the Face Off begin! The sun has set on Head 2 Head (2021 – 2025), but the musical competition has “only just begun”, Karen Carpenter! In Face Off, musicians compete to determine who delivered the best version of a song. In most cases, the musicians are performing the same song or a remix, rearrangement, or variation of the song.  Each performance will be evaluated for vocal or instrumental performance, production, and so on and so forth. After blurbing about each performance, I will briefly deliberate and deliver a verdict about who wins the Face Off.  Draws and ties are acceptable, but in most cases, one band, group, or musician will get the edge. In the sixth edition of Face Off (2026), Tame Impala and Tame Impala & JENNIE face off for the best rendition of “Dracula”. May the best musician win!

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Table of Contents
1. Tame Impala, “Dracula”	2. Tame Impala & JENNIE, “Dracula – JENNIE Remix”
Deliberation	Verdict

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1. Tame Impala, “Dracula”

Deadbeat » Columbia » 2025

Tame Impala, the Grammy-winning alternative project of talented Aussie musician Kevin Parker (b. 1986), returned in 2025 with their first album in five years, Deadbeat.  One of the highlights of Deadbeat was the third track and single, “Dracula”. Parker penned the colorful “Dracula” with songwriter and producer Sarah Aarons. Parker produced it himself.

Earlier on, “Dracula” proves it’s a gem. The production kicks ass and takes names.  The groove takes the cake as the best instrumental moment from the accompaniment.  But, beyond the groove, the keys, synths, and programming are all on point. Specifically, the haunted, Dracula-like sounds (organ flavors) help set the tone and bring the lyrics to life.  Kevin Parker sounds amazing as he sings, bringing the melodies to life and also exhibiting plenty of personality.  The songwriting is memorable. “The shadows, yeah, they keep me pretty like a movie star / Daylight makes me feel like Dracula,” Parker memorably sings at the end of the first verse.  In the second, he drops a bomb: “Now I’m Mr. Charisma, fuckin’ Pablo Escobar.” Word! He follows the line up with another banger: “My friends are saying, ‘Shut up, Kevin, just gеt in the car.’”  Following each verse, Parker unveils the refrain: “In the darkness, I would never leave.” That sounds fitting given the Dracula references.  There is also the centerpiece, the chorus, excerpted earlier, in all of its vampirical glory. Vampires and sun don’t mix! The bridge can’t be denied either: “But please, do you think about what it might mean? / ‘Cause I dream about you in my sleep / That you ever love someone like me, like me (Oh).” Tame Impala put their foot into “Dracula”, which earned them their first top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100.  Regardless of the pop success, this haunted song was one of the best songs of 2025. 

Appears in:

60 Best Songs of 2025 Tame Impala, Dracula: Wacky Wednesday No. 52 (2025)

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2. Tame Impala & JENNIE, “Dracula – JENNIE Remix”

“Dracula – JENNIE Remix” » Columbia » 2026

Woo! Psychedelic rock project Tame Impala dropped one hell of a banger with “Dracula” in 2025.  By my estimation, Kevin Parker, the brainchild of Tame Impala, dropped one of the best songs of the year.  What could make a banger bang even harder? A remix, of course.  Tame Impala taps JENNIE for the “Dracula – JENNIE Remix”, and it’s sweet! Parker penned “Dracula – JENNIE Remix” with JENNIE, Sarah Aarons, and Carly Gibert.  Parker produced it.

“Dracula – JENNIE Remix” maintains the original selling points.  The production STILL kicks ass and takes names.  The groove takes the cake as the best instrumental moment from the accompaniment.  The keys, synths, and programming are all on point, too! During the intro, Kevin Parker and JENNIE both sing, setting the tone for the vampirical experience! Kevin Parker draws first blood in the first verse, like the original.  The contrast comes with JENNIE, who sings the second half of the first verse. She complements Parker superbly (“The shadows, yeah, they keep me pretty like a movie star…”). Parker performs the refrain, with a few ad-libs from JENNIE.  Parker, once more, takes the lead in the second verse, impressing with his “Now I’m Mr. Charisma, fuckin’ Pablo Escobar” lyric. JENNIE performs the third line, while both conclude the verse (“I just wanna be right where you are”). Kevin and JENNIE perform the second refrain and chorus, where they run from the sunlight, Dracula. JENNIE gets her biggest solo moment performing the third verse, which is new. Here, according to JENNIE, is “Lip-stain on the rim, bass is ‘bout to blow / Sinking in my teeth, I buy time.” Gah-day-um! Kevin performs most of the bridge himself before they rejoin forces in the final refrain and chorus, with select moments where they sing separately.  All told, “Dracula – JENNIE Remix” is as fun, if not more fun, than the original.

Appears in:

Striking Bops from February 2026

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Deliberation

Ah, we’ve arrived at the deliberation! To Deliberate is “to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully.” With that definition courtesy of my go-to, Merriam-Webster, briefly break down these two distinct performances with some notes!

1. Tame Impala, “Dracula”

2. Tame Impala & JENNIE, “Dracula – JENNIE Remix”

“Dracula” earned Tame Impala their first top 40 hit, peaking at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Bravo for the pop success! The production kicks ass and takes names.  Kevin Parker sounds amazing as he sings, bringing the melodies to life and also exhibiting plenty of personality. The songwriting is memorable, particularly the second verse (“Now I’m Mr. Charisma, fuckin’ Pablo Escobar / My friends are saying, ‘Shut up, Kevin, just gеt in the car.’”  ), and of course, the vampirical chorus. “Dracula” was one of the best songs of 2025.

Like the original, the production kicks ass and takes names.  It’s an alt banger! Kevin Parker continues to shine on the remix.  His “Fuckin’ Pablo Escobar” lyric stays intact FTW! The addition of South Korean pop artist JENNIE brings a welcome contrast. There is great chemistry between Kevin Parker and JENNIE, who sensationally perform the second refrain and chorus together. The remix adds a third verse, performed exclusively by JENNIE.  This is one of many ways that distinguishes it from the original. The remix is as fun, if not more fun, than the original.

 

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Verdict

After much deliberation, yo boi, The Musical Hype, has reached a verdict. In the case… I mean, in the Face Off between Tame Impala and Tame Impala & JENNIE, Tame Impala & JENNIE comes out on top! What was the difference? JENNIE, of course! Worth noting Tame Impala already did their big one on the original, earning a spooky, top 40 hit. JENNIE’s presence, specifically, her complementing and contrasting vocal contributions, kick “Dracula” up a notch in my humble opinion. Regardless, my boy Kevin Parker comes out on top. And with that said, stay tuned for the next Face Off!

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Tame Impala vs. Tame Impala & JENNIE: Face Off No. 6 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Columbia; fotografoedsonj ed, Marlon Schmeiski from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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