The Bird and The Bee, the indie-pop duo recently covered the iconic Van Halen song, “Panama”. The new cover is the first song released by the duo since their album Recreational Love in 2015. Inara George and Greg Kurstin make up the iconic duo and are talented artists taking on the music scene. George has not only been the other half of The Bird and The Bee, but has been a part of several groups including, Merrick, The Living Sisters, and Lode. Kurstin has won seven Grammys for his work with artists like Adele and Sia. Both artists have been collaborating since 2006 and have made incredible music since.  

The song “Panama” was a favorite of the two musicians and Kurtsin shared his opinion on the track, “such an epic, driving, rock jam. Van Halen blends anthemic songs with virtuosic playings like nobody else and David Lee Roth always delivers. Inara and I discovered we were both big fans of Van Halen growing up and had so much fun re-interpreting this one.” The cover is more fun and groovy than the original rock version. Inara George’s voice is gorgeous and enticing.

Their version sounds like an 80’s disco song while the original has traditional rock vibe. It sounds like an entirely new song while still holding on the essence of Van Halen. The keyboard plays a big role in the melody of the song and the drum beat is strong. It is fast-paced and makes you want to dance around for hours. Their re-interpretation is lively and original without drifting too far away from the core of the original “Panama”. They took the song and gave it a new millennial night-club vibe. The new cover of Van Halen’s “Panama” will appeal not only to The Bird and The Bee’s fans but fans of Van Halen as well. This cover bridges the musical gap between generations and has turned an iconic song into an iconic cover.

Photo Credit: Owen Ela