What's The Song In The New Atomic Blonde Trailer?
There's a lot going on in the new trailer for Atomic Blonde, and we aren't just talking about a freezer door to the head.
The Charlize Theron action flick is set in 1989, so the soundtrack plays a vital role in taking us there. But the trailer also puts a thoroughly 21st century spin on a pair of '80s hits.
It kicks off with a cover of New Order's "Blue Monday" by Los Angeles noise-rock outfit HEALTH. If you've been anywhere near a radio, TV, or computer screen during the past three decades, you've undoubtedly heard the original (first released by New Order as a 12-inch single in 1983), or one of the many covers that have sprouted up over the years. The most popular was a nu-metal version by industrial rockers Orgy that became all the rage on MTV in 1998.
HEALTH's rendition (below) sticks relatively close to the source material, but with a massive amount of computer-aided distortion. The cover was also featured in the initial red band trailer for the flick.
But the centerpiece of the new trailer is a mashup of "Personal Jesus" by British synthpop pioneers Depeche Mode and "Black Skinhead" by Kanye West. It's presumably Dan Chamberlain's "Personal Yeezus" bootleg that went viral a few years ago, but that hasn't been confirmed just yet. That song is on Chamberlain's Now Then.
Depeche Mode released "Personal Jesus" in 1989 as the lead single from their landmark 1990 album Violator. Like "Blue Monday," it's another favorite for artists to cover with everyone from Johnny Cash to Marilyn Manson taking a stab at it. Meanwhile, "Black Skinhead" was the first single from Kanye West's 2013 album Yeezus. Featuring production by French electronic duo Daft Punk, it peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The soundtrack to Atomic Blonde also reportedly includes a bevy of '80s staples like Nena's "99 Luftballoons" and Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry." We'll know for sure when the movie hits theaters July 28.
Meanwhile, listen to HEALTH's take on "Blue Monday" below. Since Chamberlain's "Personal Yeezus" was taken offline long ago, we'll give you the original versions of "Personal Jesus" and "Black Skinhead." Kanye does like his swear words, though, so that one is probably NSFW.