mixtape maestro (2.0)

Looking to soundtrack many a romantic event this month (or, more likely, try to pump some new money in what has become a struggling franchise), Starbucks has dropped the second installment of their Sweetheart Valentine’s Day covers compilation collection featuring an enticing track listing that promises to be a lot more satisfying in the long run than one of their mighty expensive espresso concoctions.

Found in the middle of the “oh-so-hip” set (which includes Death Cab For Cutie tackling The Cure, Katy Perry offering an impressive cover of Sam Sparro and Rogue Wave taking a stab at some Yeah Yeah Yeahs) is an acoustic remake of a-ha’s deathlessly enjoyable “Take On Me”, as handled by New Pornographers/ Zumpano frontman and solo indie rocker A.C. Newman.

Yeah, the original track’s perky, 80′s bubblegum charms has now been replaced with some darker-toned “serious artist” pomp, but it’s hard to complain with the way Newman’s stripped-down strum-along beautifully re-captures “Take On Me”‘s lovely melody, higher-than-high chorus notes and that signature synth riff (here performed in STRINGS form!!).

DL: “Take On Me (a-ha cover)” (alt)

Below, peep the tracklisting for Sweetheart (which you can cop HERE) as well as the still-hilarious “literal version” of the a-ha video:

Death Cab for Cutie – ‘Lovesong’ (Cure cover)
Katy Perry – ‘Black and Gold’ (Sam Sparro cover)
DeVotchKa – ‘Hot Burrito #1 (I’m Your Toy)’ (Flying Burrito Brothers cover)
Department of Eagles – ‘Love Me’ (Elvis Presley cover)
Jessica Lea Mayfield – ‘Words of Love’ (Buddy Holly cover)
Ben Bridwell – ‘Your Love Is Forever’ (George Harrison cover)
Kate Tucker – ‘I’m on Fire’ (Bruce Springsteen cover)
Rogue Wave – ‘Maps’ (Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover)
A.C. Newman – ‘Take on Me’ (a-ha cover)
Jem – ‘Yellow’ (Coldplay cover)
Richard Hawley – ‘Early Morning Rain’ (Gordon Lightfoot cover)
Daniel Martin Moore – ‘I Hear Music’ (Billie Holiday cover)
She & Him – ‘I Put a Spell on You’ (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins cover)
Lila Downs – ‘My One and Only Love’ (Frank Sinatra cover)