mixtape maestro (2.0)

Robyn knows out to deliver a strong electro-pop ballad (As proof, just check previous entries/ massively acclaimed career highlights “Be Mine!” and “With Every Heartbeat”, or her latest excellent take on heartache-on-the-dancefloor emotional devastation in current single “Dancing On My Own”), so having the Swedish pop tart helm an 8-bit-stylized makeover of Alicia Keys’ ’09 tearjerker epic “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart” seems like it would be a near-magical aural experience.

Unfortunately, we’re left wishing that we would of had the chance to hear her version first, because despite Robyn pulling off a likable enough vocal performance (even her giggle-assisted flubs come off charming), it’s kinda difficult fully getting into this Live Lounge-birthed rendition when its chintzy, DIY-pop instrumentation can’t quite compete with the high-stakes ’80′s R&B dramatics masterfully brought forth in the original (arguably one of Keys’ Top 5 best ever creations).

Catch it, and her beautiful Live Lounge performance of “Dancing On My Own”, below.

Stream Robyn’s new album, Body Talk Pt. 1, here.

DL: “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (‘Live Lounge’ Alicia Keys Cover)” (alt)

DL: “Dancing On My Own (‘Live Lounge’ Performance)” (alt)

Alicia Keys‘ last single “Doesn’t Mean Anything” delivered all the Grammy-baiting things we’ve come to expect from the singer in terms of poised showmanship and inspirational pop majesty, but it was also kinda boring (and a bit too similar to her last album’s lead single “No One” in it’s plodding piano foundation), so it’s nice to see her quickly moving on with the release of a follow-up jam that at least doesn’t immediately come across as your Typical Alicia Keys Ballad.

Heavily shadowed in this ominous ’80′s R&B slow jam haze that employs some of Bonnie Tyler’s old lightning sound effects and, at times, threatens to swallow the singer whole into it’s dense black hole sway, “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart” stands as one of Alicia’s most musically enthralling cuts to date. At it’s core, a grand lyric about the post-break-up blues (“Have you ever tried sleeping with a broken heart,” she asks, before quickly adding the devastating “Well you could try sleeping in my bed”) and the self-help strengthening one must go through to break free of it’s debilitating shackles (“Tonight, I’m gonna find a way to make it without you”).

The song’s most appreciated touch? Alicia taking a much-appreciated break from all that top-of-her-lungs belting she’s relied too heavily on on recent material, and opting to bring most of “Try”‘s tear-stained narrative to life in a whispery, smoky vocal that sounds like she’s been up all night trying to gather the inner-courage needed to finally move on past the shattered romance.

Catch the video below, followed by TWO remixes of the tune, one with Brooklyn rapper Maino (“Hi Hater”) solidly tackling the heartbreaker role (“Pushing for commitment/ I’m running from commitment/ Scared to open up/ And you wonder why I’m distant…”) and another featuring…um, Mase (off his new mixtape, I Do The Impossible).

Alicia’s The Element of Freedom arrives December 11th.

DL: “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Maino Remix)” (alt)

DL: “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Mase Remix)” (alt)