Stone Meets Rolling Stone

Joss Stone has earned quite a reputation as an interpreter, putting her soulful stamp on songs by Aretha Franklin and the White Stripes on her debut, 2003's The Soul Sessions. Her latest cover endeavor finds the seventeen-year-old remaking Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Alfie," famously recorded in 1967 by Dionne Warwick.

"When I go to England, I'm going to put a day aside and go and do it," says the British singer, who is currently on tour. "Mick Jagger is singing backup and Dave Stewart is [producing]. It's going to be cool."

Stone's version will appear on the soundtrack to a remake of the 1966 film, Alfie. Jagger and Stewart are supervising the recording and also composed three original songs and an original score. The original film starred Michael Caine as a ladykiller; Jude Law now takes over the role. The film is set for release on October 22nd.

Mind, Body and Soul, Stone's first collection of original material, is due September 28th. For it, she enlisted guest stars of her own: Angie Stone plays piano, the Roots' ?uestlove plays drums and Nile Rodgers plays guitar.

Stone has also lent her vocals to Canadian hip-hop group Dead Celebrity Status. "They came to one of my gigs in Toronto and said they liked my stuff," Stone says. "Anyone that I like as a person, I'll sing on their record. I love singing for other people."

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

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