We previously featured Magumbo as he tapped into a stadium-ready energy with his 80s rock inspired cover of Lana Del Rey’s Say Yes To Heaven, so when we heard the star was back with a cover of We Belong Together, this time featuring Dopamaid, we couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
We Belong Together was originally performed by Mariah Carey from her album, The Emancipation of Mimi. Magumbo‘s cover opens with the signature glistening energy from the original with ethereal intro vocals from Dopamaid. It expands with the opening lines of the song delivered with a glam-rock edge by Magumbo.
For some background, We Belong Together holds a timeless narrative about being overwhelmed by heartbreak and regret after losing a lover. It’s about vulnerability and admitting that we take relationships for granted.
It’s taps into the realization of how much a partner meant, and we feel incomplete, lonely, and emotionally lost without them. Everyday things, even hearing songs by Bobby Womack and Babyface, remind us of our ex and intensify the pain.
Magumbo‘s glam-rock delivery is naturally full of emotion, adding a unique vibe, and Dopamaid‘s vocals are so sublime that they actually remind us of the original. The way this is a duet now is absolutely brilliant. The pair has absolutely done the song justice for a new generation.
Speaking on the release, Magumbo says, “I thought that has to be stupidly high on a male voice. After hearing how ridiculous it sounded, I just had to go the extra mile and put the Magumbo stamp on the whole song.”
Technically, the cover was rebuilt from the ground up as an 80s-inspired pop production, replacing the original’s contemporary R&B foundation with LinnDrum-style drum programming, warm Juno-esque synth textures, a driving Moog-style bassline, and crisp funk guitar rhythms.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and the final chorus is simply transcendental. We have added We Belong Together featuring Dopamaid to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Magumbo and anticipate future covers and originals!