The cover I never knew I needed.
Adele’s “Someone Like You” hardly needs an introduction. Arguably one of the greatest pop ballads of all time, the song has been certified everywhere from platinum to diamond in well over a dozen countries. Winning Best Pop Solo Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards, “Someone Like You” has solidified itself as one of the most iconic releases of the century so far.
Being covered by everyone from David Nail to metal band, Ice Nine Kills, the Grammy-winning track has had a plethora of different interpretations since its release in 2011.
Today, Lukas Nelson, Sierra Ferrell and The Travelin’ McCourys have teamed up to put a bluegrass spin on the song.
The cover was first performed by the trio back on May 26th at Delfest in Cumberland, Maryland, and at the time, it seemed like one of those brilliant one-off performances you would hear live and never hear again outside of TikTok and Youtube. However, Nelson and Co. decided to surprise fans with an official studio release.
While discussing Adele and the cover, Nelson said, “Adele to me is on the top echelon of singers and musicians in our generation. And with Sierra, I just love her voice. It’s the most incredible feeling when I hear it and I respect her musicianship so much and who she is as a person. And then The McCourys are just incredible. We just played it one time and then within an hour they had it down. Being with these guys brings out the best in me.”
And it’s clear that Nelson, Ferrell and the McCourys do, in fact, bring out the best in each other with “Someone Like You” being one of the best cover songs of the year. Despite deviating so far from the staunch piano ballad of Adele’s original, their spin on the track is nothing short of incredible. Filled to the brim with fiddle and mandolin, the song is a delight to listen to sonically.
The trio will share the stage once again next Saturday, September 21st, at Farm Aid in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Listen here: