(Trigger warning: Sexual violence)
German band Palast has recorded a synthpop cover of the famous Roy Orbison song, “Oh, Pretty Woman.” And they’ve turned it into a powerful message about a crucial social issue, human trafficking.
The song is dark and moody with somber vocals that really blast off in the second half. The music maintains a cinematic scope thanks primarily to the electronic noises that slice across the synth melodies. It actually reminds me quite a bit of a film score composed by Hans Zimmer.
“Oh, Pretty Woman” is accompanied by a music video that’s a sharp contrast to the Julia Roberts movie named after the original song. It features images of women trapped in cages and being beaten and drugged. The video ends with this message: “Human trafficking is big business. An estimated 24.9 million victims are trapped in modern-day slavery.”
I wasn’t familiar with Palast before I heard this song. They are a duo based in Berlin who released their self-titled debut album in 2017.
