“Heartbeats” Cover by José González

There’s something wonderfully enigmatic when it comes to Swedish artist José González (if only for the dot connecting between his Argentinian/Gothenburg roots). He’s got a knack for recording songs with a melancholy punch, using classical acoustics to create melodies of love and loss. And it’s exactly why his introspective cover of “Heartbeats” makes for the perfect memorial song – particularly for the loss of a spouse or significant other.

“Heartbeats” was initially an electro-pop hit by fellow Swedes “The Knife.” The lyrics begin as follows:

One night to be confused
One night to speed up truth
We had a promise made
Four hands and then away

They’re harsh words to read, but much easier to listen to. Beautiful, even. Gonzalez has taken the words of an agitated, broken heart and drawn them a bath of calming vocals and hypnotic finger-picking. We’re hearing the story of a loss, but it’s a loss softened by the introspection of time. The (abbreviated) lyrics continue:

Credit: weheartit.com

Both under influence
We had divine scent
To know what to say
Mind is a razor blade

To call for hands of above
To lean on
Wouldn’t be good enough
For me, no

Ten days of perfect tunes
The colors red and blue
We had a promise made
We were in love

And that’s where the intelligence of Gonzalez’s cover really comes to fruition. Because where The Knife used its synth-pop style to render a line like “Mind is a razor blade” more raver than reflection, Gonzalez sings the words with so much tenderness that they come to represent a mind in solitude. After the loss of a spouse or significant other, even “hands of above” can seem an insufficient comfort. The song’s chords are responsible for balancing both acceptance and nostalgia, and must mount and fall with a practiced grace. “We were in love,” sings Gonzalez, and from the sound of his voice he still is.

More SevenPonds’ memorial music suggestions:

• “Rue’s Farewell” in “The Hunger Games”
• “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” by Neutral Milk Hotel
• “Orpheo” by Andrew Bird