One wouldn't normally associate the lush indie folk sound of Father John Misty with the sultry, hardened pop R&B of Rihanna, but the line between those two artists is now a thing of yesterday. On Wednesday (March 30), Father John Misty kicked off his 2016 tour in support of his new album I Love You, Honeybear, and he had one odd choice in his setlist: a cover of Rihanna's latest Anti single "Kiss It Better."
During a performance in Santa Ana, California, Father John Misty offered up his own take on Rihanna's "Kiss It Better," SPIN reports.
Unlike his Taylor Swift "Blank Space" cover from last year, J. Tillman played this song straight, incorporating the soothing, soaring electric guitar of the chorus with heaving drumbeats into his own sound.
Tillman's voice shockingly worked well on this pop smash, and in fan-captured video, he's really in the zone. Could Mr. Misty possibly be the new tour opener for Rihanna? This crazy idea just may work...
Father John Misty is no stranger to bizarre covers. Last year in what seemed like a play to mock Ryan Adams, he covered Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" in the style of Lou Reed. According to Setlist.fm, Father John Misty also covered Patti Smith's "Because the Night" on Wednesday night.
As for "Kiss It Better," the fan-favorite track is set to be the next single from Rihanna's new album Anti. The music video, which RiRi teased earlier this week, is due for release at noon today (March 31). "Kiss It Better" was also serviced to radio stations on Wednesday morning, alongside "Needed Me."
"Kiss It Better" follows the release and promotion of Rihanna's lead Anti single "Work," which is at No. 1 in the United States for the sixth week in a row.
