Few songs scream out ’80s synth-pop classic louder than Depeche Mode‘s “Just Can’t Get Enough.” Sure, you can point to one-hit-wonders like “Relax,” “Tainted Love,” and “Take on me,” but none of those came from legendary bands that followed up with lengthy careers full of massive, global hits.
I’m from that generation that saw Depeche Mode rise to world domination in real time and bowed to their mighty power, so every time I had a chance to see them live, I was there. But to my dismay, they never played this song. Maybe because it sounds childish compared to their later, darker catalog. Maybe because it was written by Vince Clark, who left the band to form Erasure, so they don’t get any royalty checks from it. Regardless, I still love that song because it’s the one that introduced me to the band that three decades later is still among my all-time favorites.
Rafi El, an LA-raised producer of South American roots signed to Brooklyn’s label Dutty Artz, got some buzz earlier this year by doing a tropicalized/translated cover of Dr. Dre‘s “What’s The Difference.” Now he repeats the treatment with this beautiful cover of Depeche’s earliest classic, plus a simple-but-effective video to go with it. I can’t help getting all nostalgic and emotional every time I hear a Latin tribute to Depeche Mode, so this one here made my day. Rafi El’s debut album, to be titled Ay De Mí, scheduled to drop in November, so keep an eye out for this one.
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