Wu-Tang to cover a Beatles song on new album

Posted on August 15, 2007 
Filed Under News, The Beatles

Wu-Tang pendant with George HarrisonRZA revealed in a recent conversation with Rolling Stone that the Wu-Tang Clan will tackle “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by the Beatles on their forthcoming longplayer, 8 Diagrams. They have enlisted none other than Dhani Harrison – the 29-year-old son of the song’s composer George Harrison – to play acoustic on the track.

“He’s the biggest Wu-Tang fan in the world,” RZA enthused. “He knew all the kung fu shit! That’s deep! I told him I would be honoured if he played his father’s song.”

While they were at it, the Clan also dragged John Frusciante along for the ride. The Chili Pepper plays lead on the Wu rendition, which is simply called “Gently Weeps” and isn’t a cover in the straight sense. Instead it features the Clan rapping over the cover version recorded with Dhani and John, acting out a heroin dealer/heroin user saga. Method Man portrays the victim, while Ghostface turns in “one of the best lyrics I’m ever heard him say” (according to RZA) as the dealer.

It wouldn’t be the first time that this song has been used in a rap tune. It featured in 2004 the Grey Album where DJ Danger Mouse used an a cappella version of Jay-Z’s The Black Album and coupled it with instrumentals created from unauthorised samples from The Beatles (more commonly known as The White Album). The Jay-Z track that he sampled “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was “What More Can I Say”.

8 Diagrams, meanwhile, now has a release date of November 13 on SRC (both this and the whole Beatles thing having been confirmed by the Wu publicist).

Comments

8 Responses to “Wu-Tang to cover a Beatles song on new album”

  1. Phil on July 27th, 2008 3:13 pm

    Yeah can’t wait to hear the Beatles stuff too.

    Phil
    http://www.fab4beatles.co.uk

  2. Beatles Memorabilia on August 4th, 2008 6:33 am

    This sounds awesome, defo gonna have to check it out. Im a big fan of the Tang and WMGGW is one of my favourite beatles tracks

    Cheers

    http://www.rarebeatlesmemorabilia.com/ :P

  3. Discount Fishing Rods on December 8th, 2008 3:47 pm

    I think Wu-tang has fallen off in the past 8 years, the only member that is still making good songs is ghostface killah – the grey album by jayz and dangermouse was phenomenal though, i seriously doubt the rza can compete with dangermouse production wise

  4. John Frusciante on December 9th, 2008 8:31 am

    With a talented guitarist like John Frusciante on board you can’t go wrong. But i guess this never made into the top, at least i have never heard of it. Ad it is starting to quite while since this news were announced.

  5. Success Coach on February 13th, 2009 11:29 am

    This song was on their last album, which was actually pretty good.

    The song was great IMO. It didnt technically sample the beatles, obviously sample issues would be toohard to deal with. It had Frusciante playing a version of the song that one of the Beatle’s offspring had made.

    the track also included Erykah Badu. Great concept, and a great track

  6. Jingles on February 27th, 2009 6:53 am

    I never listen beatless music or songs. now m getting a chance for this . thanks

  7. St. George real estate on March 24th, 2009 6:19 pm

    They found Harrison’s son, so thats going to be easy to publish and generate buzz. Im not crazy about rap, but if they put Frusciante in the mix, it cant be that bad after all. I wonder what Harrison’s sons voice sounds like?!

  8. MMA Bart on June 5th, 2009 4:06 pm

    Wu-Tang Clan? What’s not to like? I’ve loved their music as a fighters theme when he walks into the ring … I’m not sure this one would qualify though.

Leave a Reply