Courtney Barnett has posted her cover of The Velvet Underground and Nico’s legendary 1967 song “I’ll Be Your Mirror,” which will be featured on the upcoming I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground & Nico album. The all-star tribute album, executive produced by Hal Willner, who sadly died of COVID-19 last year, is out on September 24 and includes contributions from Michael Stipe, Matt Berninger (“I’m Waiting For The Man”), Sharon Van Etten with Angel Olsen, Andrew Bird, Lucius, Kurt Vile & The Violators (“Run Run Run”), St. Vincent and Thomas Bartlett, Thurston Moore, Bobby Gillespie, King Princess, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Barnett makes “I’ll Be Your Mirror” her own with crisply plucked, occasionally discordant acoustic guitar and even-keeled tambourine, reimagining the tune in a sing-speak style. In a news statement, Barnett stated, “I love them… [The Velvet Underground & Nico].” “When I listen to and read the lyrics to ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror,’ I realize it’s a great song. Every word of that resonates with me. I just felt like I could dive into this song’s world.”
Earlier in the summer, Matt Berninger shared his rendition of “I’m Waiting For The Man,” which he’d previously covered on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon back in December. Kurt Vile also shared his cover of “Run Run Run” in mid-July.
