The five best covers of Pixies song ‘Where Is My Mind?’
Beyond the catchy, guitar-blazing melody that rips through the beginning of Pixies‘ hit ‘Where Is My Mind’ lies a cultish-fated story hoisted by the kind of head-scratching bewilderment that transformed the song into something much more enlightening than just a track. At the crux of this, however, remain the prophetic words of Black Francis: “I have to get away from this fucking crazy fish”.
Without context, it’s anyone’s guess why those particular words hold any semblance of importance. However, these are the lines that primed the beginnings of what would become ‘Where Is My Mind?’, sparked by Francis’ scuba dive in the Caribbean when he was being followed by a fish he couldn’t escape. “[It was] aggressively following me and poking me,” he said.
Beneath the unsettling realisation of being hounded by something that wouldn’t leave him alone was another epiphany about losing sight of yourself amid the broader chaos of life, ever-chasing the answers to regain it to no avail. While this forms the crux of ‘Where Is My Mind?’, its appeal exceeds its basic messaging, reaching into its visceral atmosphere and ability to capture a feeling, experience, and moment in time.
For this reason, among many others, the track is challenging to cover. Not only does it present challenges regarding emotional imitation, it’s also deceptively intricate though simple, making its essence difficult to pinpoint even among the most seasoned players. However, over the years, several have got it down, whether by remaining loyal to its original appeal or by moulding it into something else entirely.
The best covers of ‘Where Is My Mind?’
Placebo
One of the best things about Pixies’ original version of ‘Where Is My Mind?’ is its dreamlike aura. The song somehow guides you before you even know it, reaching into the depths of your soul and challenging your connection with yourself, like a delicate swim that somehow becomes more doomed to the hands of fate before you’ve even caught your breath.
In this haunting reimagination by Placebo, these elements seem heightened somehow. Whether it’s because they reinterpreted its signature components using different instruments or utilising the power of a good, hard-hitting vocal, Placebo’s attempt ensures its ethereal edge remains intact without appearing as merely a poor imitation.
Milky Chance
Of all the words to describe the timeless Pixies classic, “funky” isn’t usually one that immediately comes to mind. However, Milky Chance delivered a somewhat rhythmic version of the melancholic composition, enhancing the bass elements to create something that appears gloriously dizzying.
Begging the track on a more sombre and considered note, it soon adopts a weightier tone, oscillating between delicate finger-picking and subtle yet hard-hitting tensions that simultaneously appease and heighten its sense of unease. It’s a delicate balancing act in the end, but one Milky Chance masters well.
Nada Surf
When done right, ‘Where Is My Mind?’ is one of the few examples of songs that can transport you to a different moment in time. Whether it’s watching Fight Club for the umpteenth time or lazying around a pub in the mid-afternoon, there’s a versatility to it despite its almost surreal nature. While most of the track incorporates the same structures for constant captivation, this exceptional cover by Nada Surf toys with different tempos to create a sense of emotional unease, making the moments of intensity feel even more pronounced.
The best part comes at around two minutes in, when the thumping rhythm slows to an almost halt and it enters a grunge-like, almost Nirvana-esque trance, perfectly accentuated by the words: “With your feet on the air and your head on the ground / Try this trick and spin it, yeah / Your head will collapse, if there’s nothing in it.”
Maxence Cyrin
For similar reasons to The XX’s ‘Intro’, ‘Where Is My Mind?’ immediately exudes a cinematic quality, ideal for those pivotal emotional moments in films or television shows. Similarly, although the lyrics are powerful alone, they also include musical arrangements so powerful they evoke charm on their own, which is why Maxence Cyrin’s piano instrumental struck a chord with so many.
From the opening notes, Cyrin enhances the integral beauty lurking within the track, providing the perfect fodder for those cinematic moments where words aren’t needed. In this stripped-back version, emotionality floods to the forefront, giving it space to breathe while echoing its original notes of searching for something you can’t quite put your finger on.
Sunday Girl
Because the rip-roar of the original riff is one of the most commanding components in Pixies’ ‘Where Is My Mind?’, people often forget the poignancy of the lyrics. However, they’re also some of Francis’ most accomplished, navigating the memory of swimming in the Caribbean within the broader, grander statement of losing sight of yourself.
In this inexplicably moving reimagination by Sunday Girl, the song becomes an intricate foray into the perils of psychological disillusionment, presenting Francis’ original lamentation in an entirely new light. Even as she mutters the repeated words “Where is my mind?”, her words seem completely weightless despite the headiness of the sentiment. It’s inherently romantic yet accentuated beautifully by the accompanying orchestral and piano notes, almost presenting the song as a fleeting memory that could disappear at any moment.
