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Well, now. Quite a question.
Nobody does apocalyptic dread quite like Johnny, so the obvious thing is to give him something like the Alarm's "The Stand" (with full spaghetti-Western arrangement) or BOC's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"...
But maybe that's too obvious. because Johnny's God is a god of love, as well as a god of justice. And Johnny's delivery has weathered such that fast, hard syllables no longer suit him: a long, sweet melody, turning in his mouth—now that's what will break hearts (as with "I See A Darkness").
To that end, I propose first "The Maker," by Daniel Lanois—perhaps with a vocal cameo by Lanois himself, singing the "Jean-Baptiste" part, just as Aaron Neville duetted with Lanois on the original.
Or (also on the alter-ego tip) Jane Siberry's "Sail Across the Water," a declaration of love and need that manages to sound stately and desperate at the same time. It's an anima/animus thing: with Jane singing (and Brian Eno producing), it sounds like airy romanticism: with Johnny singin' it, it would sound like holy prophecy—you might even want to substitute "Lord" for "love" in those lyrics: same difference. |
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