SOTD #192 // Lulu And The Lampshades: 'Cups (You’re Gonna Miss Me)'

Fans of bonkers folk-pop music rejoice, for todays Song Of The Day is the fabulous ‘Cups (You’re Gonna Miss Me)’ by Lulu And The Lampshades. The song’s distinctive drum line sold it for us, performed on actual cups and to a rhythm vocalist Luisa was taught at a percussion class.

Apparently inspired by the call and response singing in spiritual and gospel music, it’s so sparsely arranged there’s barely anything other than vocals and percussion. The subtitle of the song comes from the traditional folk song ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone’ by The Carter Family from which Luisa lovingly lifted the chorus. The verses are her own work however, showing a great talent for making the new sit alongside the old perfectly.

The word ‘viral’ is so often overused in promotional spiel these days, but with over half a million hits on YouTube we probably don’t have much choice in labelling it so. We’ll also throw the words ‘kooky’ and ‘twee’ out there for good measure, seeing as it’s bound to come up at some point. Have a gander at the moving images below for proof that this lot are worth getting excited about.

‘Cups’ features on the band’s Cold Water EP, released 14 February 2011 on Moshi Moshi.

Lulu And The Lampshades: ‘Cups (You’re Gonna Miss Me)’