This might just be my favorite-ever installment of “The VDub Sessions.”

For one thing, you’ve got Tulsa’s strongest male singer, and for another, you’ve got him covering one of the GOATs (greatest of all-time). What more do you need? Here’s Ben Kilgore singing Otis Redding’s immortal “These Arms of Mine”:



Y’know, this kinda begs the question: Do you prefer Mr. Kilgore’s earnest-to-goodness Redding cover to Kanye West and Jay-Z’s recent tribute-sample track, “Otis”? I certainly do. But you decide for yourself.

I can’t think of a more tired concept for a hip-hop music video than a couple of pop stars riding around in an expensive car with a handful of models. But somehow, director Spike Jonze does exactly that and winds up with a classic. He’s come a long way since getting high in high school.

For starters, ’Ye and Jigga strip down a Maybach to look more like a luxury Jeep Wrangler, and then they start playing with fire. Literally. Watch for yourself. And keep an eye out for a brief Tom Haverford cameo. I wonder if they shot it in the City of Pawnee?



Anyhoo, expect a review of “Watch the Throne” early next week. And for more Otis Redding-related videos, check out yesterday’s video of Ben Kilgore covering “These Arms of Mine” for “The VDub Sessions.”

Big success across time periods here. Swedish act Peter Bjorn and John’s cover of “Try a Little Tenderness” somehow makes me think that Otis Redding’s being covered by an energetic, ’50s doo-wop singer like Frankie Valli, but one with solid guitar chops. And nice dance moves to boot.

I think Peter Morén summed it up best, however, before the performance: “There’s a lot of emotion, y’know?”



And it looks like The A.V. Club readers rightfully decided to reward the band for commendably performing such an intimidating song. They’re right up there near the top, just behind They Might Be Giants’ unforgettable, office-assisted version of Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping.”