I will never get tired of this.
Billy Strings is known for throwing down some stellar covers throughout his live shows, from Earl Scruggs to Nirvana and Post Malone, his musical catalog is beyond extensive. But was Cher on the list of covers you’d expect from Strings?
Well, get ready to change that answer if you say “No” because in 2019, Strings laid down a cover of Cher’s “Believe,” and it’s pure magic. After hearing the Strings rendition, I think this song was meant to be a bluegrass track.
With an upright bass player, a banjo, and a mandolin, Strings and his quartet put some heat on the 1998 dance hit. Fans in the Georgia Theater were unsure of what Strings was cooking up with the opening chords, but as soon as they caught on after he laid down the first few lines of the lyrics, they lost their minds.
In true Billy Strings fashion, they extend the song to almost 7 minutes, where Strings lets all his bandmates cook during the bridge, jamming out with Strings bringing up the rear. During his solo, his head bangs as he plays, letting his locks flow to the tempo at which he is quickly strumming his acoustic guitar. He then brings it back up, jumping back into the lyrics before perfectly wrapping up the song.
“Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don’t think you’re strong enough, no
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don’t think you’re strong enough, no…”
Strings jumps up and down on the last few notes before thanking the crowd for being with them that night.
Can he add this one back into the setlist? I feel like Strings could do a whole Cher mashup and burn the stage to the ground. You’ll find yourself going back to this one, if you haven’t already seen it.
One Instagram account loves reminding people how long it has been since we got this cover from Strings, and I must admit I am holding out hope he one day stumbles upon the fan page and decides it’s the perfect time to add “Believe” back into the rotation.
It’s gold.
