When it comes to reinventing classic tracks, video gaming ex-Visage guitarist Tregenza likes to take the ‘back to the retro-future’ approach…
Combining his expertise in sound design, animation and spanking every RPG in existence, this Nottingham-based dark master of the media arts has created one of the most enjoyable music videos to ever take 8-bit form.
Haddaway‘s classic early-90s anthem “What Is Love?” gets a modern makeover but with a befittingly nostalgic visual twist… Whereas the original video seemed to be all about pill-popping vampiresses, panto waistcoats and magical strobe light candelabras, this re-imagining sees Tregenza opt for ingenious NES-inspired graphics that also help take us back to that golden age.
Watching Cupid put on his Microsoft Paint-ed wings to learn how “practise makes perfect” the hard and er, haemorrhaging way is hilariously endearing (Reed screwed up big time with this little guy’s job placement!) Adding to the video’s brilliance are cartoon cameos from the ‘Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots‘ and an adorable Freddy Krueger & Jason Voorhees. Yes, adorable.
Tregenza‘s rich and lamenting vocals manage to instil the tone of the original, while crooning deeply over macabre disco beats like the computer-generated glitch-kid of Andy Bell and Antony Hegarty.
And the best part? It all turns out well for Cupid in the end…See for yourselves!
[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynLY8-oWEKM#t=117[/youtube]
To hear more covers from Tregenza, download his wittily-titled ‘Stolen Thunder‘ EP on iTunes: