Wilson Pickett, “Hey Jude” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 124^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Hey Jude” by legendary soul musician, Wilson Pickett.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 124^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Hey Jude”, performed by 🎙 Wilson Pickett.

Theme & Lyrics ✍

Expectedly, many musicians have covered 🎙 The Beatles. The band has no shortage of classics and surefire hits.  The thing is, there are only a few instances where the reinterpretation of the iconic British collective has a strong case of besting the original. 🎵 “Hey Jude” is one of the band’s best – epic to the n^th degree (“Hey, Jude, don’t make it bad / Take a sad song and make it better”).  Had no one else recorded it ever again, the original version would be sufficient.  Of course, then came soul icon 🎙 Wilson Pickett with his gritty, powerful pipes, delivering “Hey Jude” like we’ve NEVER heard before. Pickett’s cover, which appeared on his 1969 album, 💿 Hey Jude, impacted the pop charts, peaking at no. 23.

Wilson Pickett puts every ounce of himself in his soulful rendition of “Hey Jude” – perhaps that is an understatement. From the onset, Pickett breathes new life into a song that kicked some serious butt already.  The backdrop embraces soul, his wheelhouse, with its use of organ, ripe guitar, a robust bass line, and punchy horns.  All of this provides the inspiration for the once-and-a-lifetime singer to serve up an authentic, ultra-inspired take of this 🎼 ✍ John Lennon and Paul McCartney gem.  Pickett is most true to self during the breakdown section, which, was one of the best moments of the original too.  Wilson goes wild, flaunting that signature wail that made so many of his own songs great, not to mention showcased a bigger-than-life personality.

Final Thoughts 💭

The Beatles are untouchable – we know this.  That said, Wilson Pickett showed the world how you absolutely slay when covering a big hit – specifically one of the band’s number one hits.  No disrespect to The Beatles but, they did not sing it quite the same way Pickett did.

🎙 Wilson Pickett • 💿 Hey Jude • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1969

Wilson Pickett, “Hey Jude”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 124 (2022) [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]