Yesterday, the world was saddened by the news that low-fi pioneer Daniel Johnston had passed away after suffering a heart attack. He was 58 years old. Johnston’s prolific and wholehearted musical output was influential. A musical paladin to artists such as Kurt Cobain, Beck, The Mountain Goats, Jack Antonoff, Conor Oberst and more. His loss feels palpable.
To celebrate the magical life of Daniel Johnston, and his enduring impact, we’re taking a look at five covers from his catalogue.
Wilco – ‘True Love Will Find You In The End’
“Daniel has managed to create in spite of his mental illness, not because of it. He’s been honest in his portrayal of what he’s been struggling with without overtly drawing attention to it,” Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy said of the late musician in 2017.
In which Wilco inject a breath of alt-country into one of Johnston’s most beloved tracks.
Worried Shoes – Karen O
Johnston’s musical output is often praised for its childlike sincerity — it would almost be criminal to not feature a song from his catalogue in Spike Jonze’s hopeful, melancholy adaption of Where The Wild Things Are.
Lana Del Rey – ‘Some Things Last A Long Time’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYb5CdMiQeQ
Lana Del Rey covered Johnston’s ‘Some Things Last A Long Time’ for the 2015 short documentary, Hi How Are You Daniel Johnston? It’s wistful stuff.
Bright Eyes – ‘Devil Town’
“I think Daniel was pure. I do not use that word lightly but I think it is the reason that so many artists have felt compelled to interpret his songs. He said what we all meant to say before we got ahead of ourselves,” Bright Eyes frontman shared in a tribute to the late folk artist. “An economy of language and depth of spirit which blended into a perfect magical concoction of empathy for our human condition. No small task. There is never going to be another Daniel. But I thank the gods he came around.”
The Bright Eyes cover of ‘Devil Town’ featured on the 2004 Daniel Johnston cover album The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered.
Sparklehorse & Flaming Lips – ‘Go’
Another cut from The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered. A luscious, gently layered version of the track.
