When the young Romanian band Shut Up & Kiss Me performed “California Dreamin’”, old school fans of The Mamas & the Papas had to agree that these kids brought back the spirit of the ‘60s. Listeners loved hearing the nostalgic hit given a fresh take by the talented group. Those big harmonies sure ain’t easy to get right, but Shut Up & Kiss Me delivered the goods with some sublime vocal performances.
The group’s vocal trio of Beatrice Florea, Giulia Sirbu, and Alexandra Parasca did a fantastic job of arranging the vocals for three female leads. All three got to shine with gorgeous vocal parts, and just when you think it can’t get any better, the next verse comes along and knocks your socks off. The Music Man also has to tip his hat to the groovy acoustic arrangement, as it combined with the vocals to make a brilliant tribute to this timeless hit.
When Shut Up & Kiss Me uploaded their cover of “California Dreamin’,” it became their breakout hit on YouTube, where it gained 1.9 million views. Fans were digging their interpretation of the classic hit and added comments such as “One of my favorite oldies. I’m glad young people still value these songs” and “I’m 71 and was 13 in 1965 when I became a fan of the M&P due to this song. It’s not easy to take such a longstanding classic and remake it into something fresh and new as you have. Excellent work.”
Shut Up & Kiss Me sure know how to rock the old favourites with some real style. The band also scored a 1.2 million view upload with their cover of Chuck Berry’s rocker “Johnny B. Goode.” Alexandra and Giulia bring so much enthusiasm to singing this number, and their big smiles and good vibes make the video a real feelgood watch. Needless to say, the girls and the band yet again show off superb harmonies and musicianship on this four-piece performance.
“California Dreamin’” was written by The Mamas & the Papas members John and Michelle Phillips. The group dropped the tune on December 8, 1965, and it quickly became a counterculture anthem as well as a defining song of the California sound. The Mamas & the Papas scored a triple Platinum hit in both the US and UK with “California Dreamin’,” and it became their signature tune. The song has also been widely critically acclaimed, with numerous gongs such as being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001, and placing at number 420 on Rolling Stone’s ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’ list.