One of the hits from Aaliyah‘s last album, before her untimely passing, is her classic song “Rock The Boat”. Like a lot of her music, it’s sexy, yet soulful, and you can still dance to it. Sam Sparro recently covered and reworked her song, and the results are fantastic. The last time we heard Sam Sparro’s soulful vocals was off his Quantum Physical, Vol.1 EP back in 2013, as well as his feature on Plastic Plates “Stay In love” from last summer.
Sparro is well-known for his pop/electro/dance songs. His version of “Rock The Boat” manages to add new flavor to an already great song, including more synths coupled with lush arrangements to complement his voice. I love the percussion patterns in the breakdown, they slightly remind me of Timbaland’s production. Lastly, kudos to Sparro for going for a more R&B rework instead of opting for deep house as many have done with remixes.
You can stream Sam Sparro’s rework of Aaliyah’s “Rock The Boat” below: