Vintage Reggae Cafг© - Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People - Reggae Version -

The true brilliance (and chilling irony) of this cover lies in the juxtaposition of its breezy sound with its harrowing lyrics.

There’s something uniquely disarming about the series. Known for transforming gritty pop anthems into smooth, sun-drenched rocksteady tracks, the series has a knack for making even the most intense songs feel like a lazy afternoon at a beach bar. But perhaps no track in their catalog highlights this "Trojan Horse" effect better than their cover of Foster The People’s "Pumped Up Kicks" . The Sound of the Vintage Reggae Café The true brilliance (and chilling irony) of this

The song is written from the point of view of Robert , an isolated youth with "homicidal thoughts" who is planning revenge against his more affluent peers. But perhaps no track in their catalog highlights

The title refers to the expensive Reebok Pump shoes that were status symbols in the late '80s and early '90s. Robert, an outcast, targets the kids who have the wealth and social standing he lacks. Robert, an outcast, targets the kids who have

While Mark Foster originally wrote the song as a "fuck you" to hipsters that they would still want to dance to, the takes this irony a step further. By stripping away the indie-rock urgency and replacing it with an "irie" sunset vibe, the cover forces you to confront the lyrics in a new way. It mirrors the way society often ignores the warning signs of mental illness because the "surface" looks pleasant or normal.