Ben Lee - We're All InThis Together

Thu 13th Apr, 2006 in Music Reviews

We’re All in This Together is the new single from Ben Lee’s latest album, Awake is the New Sleep. What irks me about singles is when you get the same song in four minutely different versions – the “single” version, the “album” version, and two remixes that sound like they were done in five minutes. On this single however, Ben Lee’s gone and gotten three bands to each record their own interpretation of his song, which is a great idea.

The original version by Mr. Lee is simple, catchy and fun. This is the song that sumps up the whole album. It’s got your usual assortment of guitars and drums, with little piano bits spicing up the song. I definitely agree with Mr. Lee when he says And long division just doesn’t matter. Let the calculators do their job. The ending features the addition of a choir that makes you feel the We’re All in This Together message.

Version two is done by Canadian girl-group Pony Up. The song takes on a more relaxed mood with a slower pace and builds up to a climax of some beautiful harmonies at its end. Next up, Australian quintet Holidays On Ice present a version that sounds like it could be the theme song for a children’s tv show like the Teletubbies.

Sydney’s Gelbison present the last version, with a whole array of the usual and not-so-usual instruments making the song sound more worldly. They strengthen the message of the song with the appropriation of Mr. Lee’s original lyrics come on baby to come on people and the addition of we’re calling out to the souls of the world in the ending harmonies of the song.

Whether you’re a fan of Ben Lee or not, pick up this single to hear the interesting variations that can be created from one song.