"STARBOY" by The Veer Union brings back the well-loved, original "STARBOY" by The Weeknd, but in rock rather than its R&B and electropop original. This reconceptualization creates a new form of excitement for a song that's more than half a decade old.
Remembering The Weeknd's "STARBOY"
"STARBOY" by The Weeknd hit number two in Billboard's Hot 100 back in 2016, with the album reaching number one. Every track made Billboard's Hot 100. Anyone who wasn't living under a rock would've heard "STARBOY" at one point, even if it were just in grocery and retail stores at the time. The lyric, "Look what you've done" most definitely became an earworm for those of us who were listening to local radio stations at this time. There's no denying The Weeknd's talent.
The Veer Union
The Veer Union, like The Weeknd, is Canadian. These alternative and hard rock artists started the band almost 20 years ago in 2004. They've produced multiple albums with their latest album being "MANIFESTATIONS" last year. The cover for "STARBOY" is one out of four singles that have been released this year. The selection of "STARBOY" is definitely a compliment to how influential The Weeknd has been in his music career so far.
Highs
The lyric we all remember, "Look what you've done" is performed very similarly, ending with a high note, in The Veer Union's version of "STARBOY." This is great because it's one of the catchiest parts of the song. It shows respect for the original piece in this way. The lyrics don't appear to be altered, which some covers tend to do. This was simply a genre change.
"STARBOY" transferred to rock beautifully. Produced by the band's vocalist, Crispin Earl, and obviously still composed by Doc McKinney, the song lands extremely well and I could see it being loved by fans of The Weeknd, not just rock fans. There's a tasteful amount of dirty vocals for an R&B cover, and they tend to be layered and drawn out into the background once the line is finished.
Lows
The release of this cover would've likely been more popular if it had been released closer to the release of the original "STARBOY." Almost a full week from its release, it only has 3,927 views on YouTube. The band did do some Instagram advertising for "STARBOY," but there could've been more mention. The surprise didn't work in their favor, if we're basing that off of views.
Rating
The Veer Union's cover of "STARBOY" has received a 9 out of 10 review from me. There was enough of a rock spin on the song while remaining rooted in the original song, which I felt was impactful. Give this catchy cover a listen on your chosen streaming platform.
