The Black Keys, I Forgot To Be Your Lover | COVERS

In the 8^th edition of COVERS (2024), The Black Keys delivers a compelling rendition of “I Forgot To Be Your Lover,” originally performed by William Bell.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 8^th edition of COVERS (2024), The Black Keys delivers a compelling rendition of “I Forgot To Be Your Lover”, originally performed by William Bell. 

“Oh, I forgot to be your lover,” Dan Auerbach sings in the chorus of “I Forgot To Be Your Lover”, continuing, “And I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” While Auerbach made love missteps, him and Patrick Carney –  The Black Keys – didn’t make missteps covering a 1968 William Bell soul gem.  Bell penned one of the biggest hits of his career alongside Booker T. Jones. Focusing on the cover, The Black Keys version appears as the 7^th track on their 2024 LP, Ohio Players.

“Have I taken the time to share with you

All the burdens that love will bear?

Have I done all the little simple things to show you

Just how much I care?”

The Black Keys shine on “I Forgot To Be Your Lover.” Like the original, the duration is brief, clocking in under two-and-a-half minutes.  Interestingly, The Black Keys’ rendition runs a few seconds longer.  The collective superbly recreates the sound of the 1960s cut, retaining the vintage nature – memorable cues and riffs.  The instrumentation is sweet, specifically the guitars (Auerbach and Thomas Brenneck), organ (Kelly Finnigan), and strings (Matt Combs). Beyond the instrumental backdrop, Auerbach delivers a solid vocal performance.  Throughout the course of the record, he’s soulful without forcing things.  This natural but nuanced vocal pays dividends.  No, The Black Keys don’t reinvent the wheel on “I Forgot To Be Your Lover”, but their rendition is worthy of spins.

The Black Keys // Ohio Players // The Black Keys / Nonesuch // 2024

The Black Keys, I Forgot To Be Your Lover: Covers No. 8 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; The Black Keys / Nonesuch; Andrea Piacquadio, cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Matteo Milan from Pexels; MR1313, OpenClipart-Vectors, Vicki Hamilton from Pixabay]