It’s almost a rite of passage for musicians to cover a Paul McCartney song. Whether it’s playing one of his Beatles hits like “Hey Jude” in a local bar or recording a rendition of one of his solo tracks like “FourFive Seconds” for a YouTube video, countless artists have tried to reinvent a classic from McCartney’s legendary catalog. However, very few artists can say they have been hand-picked by the Beatles legend himself to record a cover of one of his iconic hits.

Twenty-five-year-old “genre-bending” artist Dominic Fike received the honor of being personally selected by McCartney to be featured on the upcoming “III Imagined.” The project, set to be released April 16, consists of reinterpretations, remixes and covers of McCartney’s 2020 album “McCartney III.” Along with Fike, artists like Anderson . Paak, Phoebe Bridgers, Idris Elba, Beck, St. Vincent and more will reimagine their favorite “McCartney III” tracks in their own signature styles on the 12-track album.

After McCartney posted a cryptic video on March 10 which featured 12 dice that quickly flashed the names of his soon-to-be-revealed collaborators, Fike released his rendition of “Kiss of Venus” on March 11. Originally a completely acoustic ballad, Fike transformed the track into a rock-infused, R&B jam. 

In place of the folksy acoustic guitar instrumental of McCartney’s original recording, Fike’s version of “Kiss of Venus” employs a wide range of instruments to recreate McCartney’s catchy melody. The cover begins subtly with smooth, lo-fi keys, but a full band quickly jumps in with ’80s-style drums and an electric guitar. While the vibe of the remastered track’s instrumentals is entirely different from McCartney’s version, it completely embodies Fike’s R&B/hip-hop style and his vocal range. If you have never heard the original version of the song, you won’t think twice about the track being one of Fike’s own creations.

Yet, for McCartney fans, Fike’s “Kiss of Venus” cover maintains the integrity of the original track. While the track is more upbeat and full-bodied, Fike doesn’t alter McCartney’s signature guitar melody, as the same melody runs through both Fike and McCartney’s versions. The end of Fike’s version even includes McCartney’s original folksy guitar, overlaid by pitched-up vocals of the track’s chorus. This outro is a perfect ode to McCartney’s greatness while still managing to seamlessly bend to Fike’s style.

Especially considering the fact that Fike doesn’t necessarily consider himself to belong to a particular genre, his cover of “Kiss of Venus” feels very natural and authentic. He is able to keep a bit of McCartney’s folksy style while adding elements of pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop. At times his voice is softer and more of a low-key R&B style, yet at others, it is rougher and more of a rock-vibe. As the track’s instrumentals transition from a simple melody to a full band, Fike’s voice does the same. His voice is light and delicate in the track’s opening and during its bridge, but when the beat picks up and rock drums and guitar come in, Fike switches up his vocals and begins to stretch out his notes.

Not only is Fike’s rendition of “Kiss of Venus” impressive in itself, but its accompanying music video is just as stunning. The visual shows Fike as a New York City businessman who questions the meaning of life around him and his importance in the world. The video is a creative call to not always believe the words you hear from others. Rather, we should make our own meaning out of life, and like McCartney’s lyrics say, we should ask ourselves, “What’s your take on it?” The music video is able to capture this message through mesmerizing visuals of Fike in New York City in scenes like a busy street, an empty subway car and a newsroom. Paul McCartney even makes an appearance in the video in a stunning shot of him sitting on a park bench overlooking the countryside. Only the top half of his face is revealed as he reads the New York Times and playfully smiles at the camera.

One of the most breathtaking moments of the video comes when Fike is standing in the subway with clippings of newspaper headings flying around him. This shot parallels an earlier shot in the video where the camera focuses on Fike while people pass by all around him. The parallel of these two shots reflects the lyrics, “Go to college, go find your major. Realize your minor in the scheme of everything,” as they show how easy it is for someone to get lost in an endless sea of people.

From the track itself to its music video, Dominic Fike’s rendition of “Kiss of Venus” is a testament to the greatness of Paul McCartney. The retro-futuristic cover proves the breadth of McCartney’s songwriting, as Fike is able to effortlessly transform the words into an authentic track that manages to fit his own style and still stay true to the original. With covers as incredible as this one, it’s no surprise that musicians everywhere are so eager to put their own flair on McCartney classics.