The NAIDOC Week instalment of Triple J‘s Friday stalwart ‘Like a Version‘ has always produced incredibly important, meaningful, and interesting covers, with leading Indigenous artists gracing the studios of Aunty to put decidedly unique spins on tunes that carry significant weight for their communities.
This year’s effort is absolutely no exception, with NT-born, Melbourne-based rapper Birdz visiting guest breakfast announcers Gen Fricker and Dylan Alcott (who, just quietly, have been absolutely crushing it this week on their temp AM gig) to lay down a thoroughly reworked but faithful rendition of Yothu Yindi‘s classic hit ‘Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)‘.
Yothu Yindi, it goes without saying, was one of the nation’s most prominent, important, and trailblazing Indigenous acts. Birdz’ version of the 1991 hit takes the core line and puts his own spin on it, with the young rapper laying down his own verses over the song’s original hook.
It is, as always, extremely good. A very important listen.
Random aside, a quiet and unprompted shout-out to Bananalands, the shop behind that extremely good Black Flag shirt Birdz is sporting. Get squarely around ’em here.
Source: Triple J/YouTube.
