The cultural impact of ‘90s ska punk band Sublime remains strong more than two decades after the release of their last album. Today, Lana Del Rey showcased that influence by releasing a cover of “Doin' Time,” a cut off the group’s 1996 self-titled album. It’s produced by watt and Happy Perez.
Lana stays true to the original track’s sound and lyrics, which are partially drawn from jazz staple “Summertime” by George Gershwin from the opera Porgy & Bess:
Summertime, and the livin’s easy
Bradley’s on the microphone with Ras MG
All the people in the dance will agree
That we’re well-qualified to represent the L.B.C.
“Doin' Time” was released two months after the death of Sublime’s lead singer, Bradley Nowell, who passed away from a heroin overdose. The band broke up shortly afterwards, although continues to tour as Sublime With Rome. Although Sublime is best known for songs like “Santeria” and “What I Got,” “Doin' Time” is actually their only charting hit on the Hot 100.
The group is the subject of an upcoming documentary, following its rise to fame in the 1990s:
Lana’s cover is set to appear in this documentary, rather than on her upcoming album, NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL. “Not a day goes by that I don’t listen to at least one Sublime song,” Lana Del Rey said in a statement. “They epitomized the SoCal vibe and made a genre and sound totally their own.”
Listen to both versions of the song above and catch up on all the lyrics to “Doin' Time” on Genius now.
