I PUT A SPELL ON YOU

Ms. Talia Keys wields something special; Utah’s famed firebrand just knows how to take firm hold of a tune, climb inside that number, inhabit a character, and make that joint her own. Whether a biting song by her hand, or in the case of “I Put A Spell On You”, an inter-generational chestnut dating back nearly seventy years. Though primarily made famous by Bay Area freedom rockers Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins-penned classic traces gritty roots back to 1956, and remains an essential part of the American songbook to this day.
Over the years, this haunting R&B cut has been touched by trailblazers like Nina Simone and Annie Lennox, and later reimagined by British-Egyptian siren Natacha Atlas. A bold choice to cover, Keys at once dials into the vintage, while ushering in a contemporary vibe that nods towards neo-soul. Subtle electric piano makes a plush–yet-understated bed for her Leslie-drenched guitar work; Talia digs into her blues bag with a determined wail, a choice tone that owes a little sauce to jazz giant John Scofield. However, the star of this song is her lead vocal, injected with a confident, raw, intimate vulnerability that makes the listener a spellbound believer in just over three minutes.
B. Getz