Lucy Dacus Makes Fans ‘Believe’ With Her Cover of Cher’s Classic

It’s no mean feat covering the greats. Countless covers of classics such as ‘Wicked Game’ by Chris Isaak, ‘Paint It, Black’ by the Rolling Stones, or ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac have graced Spotify playlists and tour set lists. 

Few, however, have made a mark like Lucy Dacus’ cover of Cher’s timeless track ‘Believe’.

For those familiar with the original, one recalls the glitzy sound of the late 90s; heavily saturated vocals and Casio sounds galore, as well as Cher’s distinctive androgynous vocals. Dacus on the other hand took a slightly different approach.Staying true to the original, Dacus kept some of the dreamier sounds intact but opted for a more stripped approach. The song leads in with sparse bass and Dacus’ soft vocals. She carries this song especially well given her vocal depth and similarly androgynous tones. 

The chorus is ethereal and strikes a great balance between originality and recognisability. It is clear that Cher serves as an inspiration rather than just a jumping-off point for this cover. As soon as the chorus breaks, one hears layered harmonies, a guitar, and some interesting production elements. The harmonies make a continuous appearance throughout the rest of the track and prove to be immensely beneficial. Not only does it round the song out, but it also highlights some of the more powerful lyrics. 

Dacus’ vocals stand out in the bridge as the instrumental is stripped back to let it shine. In fact, the instruments almost disappear entirely before bringing in some lighter guitar leading into the final chorus. Dacus takes her time with the lead out of the song, allowing for some riffing and for focus to fall on the layers of instrumentation. 

A masterful cover all round, Dacus’ interpretation of Cher’s ‘Believe’ is out on all streaming platforms now. One can only hope that she keeps this in her tour set-list.

Chloe Boehm

@chlojo98

Image: Ebru Yildiz