Feature Image Credit: Cory Marie Podielski
Hayley & the Crushers Crush
into the Primitives’ “Crash”
There is something totally early-2000s MTV about Hayley and the Crushers’ cover of the Primitives’ “Crash.” It is not hard to imagine why, and it is not the song’s fault, per se, as the track predates the era by a decade, but the band clearly leans into the track’s bratty appeal, recalling the spirit of bands like The Donnas. Heavier guitars, a driving rhythm section, and Hayley Cain’s sass and attitude all make the track’s declaration of “Way too fast/Don’t slow down/Gonna crash” sound like a gleeful, spirited face-off to the impending disaster. This is smack-dab on the appeal of the song, its charm.
The Primitives’ original recording does not shy away from juxtaposing pop sensibility with an undercurrent of menace, and the Crushers embrace this contradiction, leaning further into the glitter-punk aesthetic. The repeated “shut your mouth” chorus, combined with a runaway momentum and the infectious “na-na-na” hooks, is all expanded upon in the Crushers’ interpretation, and it all sounds rather terrific. One can almost imagine the track blasting from the radio of a beat-up Chevy Cavalier; like an endearing garage-rock road trip, it is both pop-punk sugar and its chaotic opposite.
The simplicity of the lyrics provides breathing room for the band’s attitude to shine through, and Cain sounds right at home in the role. Musically, the Crushers create a sense of the track crashing from 1988 into the early 2000s: the track retains its sugar rush of the original, but with the added bite and harder guitars that punctuate the band’s performance. The same sense of energetic fun is brought to the fore by the way in which Cain vocalizes the track, her sneer providing a punky contrast to the track’s otherwise bright melody.
This contrast, this juxtaposition of potentially perilous lyrical content with the track’s overall light-heartedness, is the core strength of “Crash” and the reason why the song works so well as a cover. The lyrics serve as a series of cautionary statements regarding crashing: “Way too fast,” “gonna crash,” “watch your step,” but there is a certain catchiness to the warning that makes one unable to not join in on the fun. Instead of attempting to imbue the track with additional gravitas, the Crushers embrace the inherent lightheartedness of the material, contrasting the repeated admonitions with peppy guitar riffs and hooks. The band’s signature “ma-na-na” vocals only further add to the sense of sheer, goofy fun and an air of absurdity that the track exudes.
The video only furthers this sense of fun. Set within a junkyard in Detroit, the Crushers can be seen lip-syncing within a mélange of beat-up cars before the action moves on to an even sillier van. There is slapstick, camp, and more than a little of the sheer farce that defined early 1990s family television; Weekend at Bernie’s, perhaps, but this only further adds to the sense of the video being less a typical TRL performance and more of an absurdist, goofy piece. It is light on its feet and as much a celebration of its own sense of farce as it is the song itself.
It is this same sense of embracing the song’s perceived frivolity that makes this rendition of “Crash” so perfectly suited to the Crushers: they do not attempt to overinflate the track, to make it something that it is not, but instead lean into the inherent fun of the material. More guitars, attitude, and glitter-punk charm are added to the mix, resulting in a track that is loud, catchy and preternaturally silly. The spirit of a certain brand of early-2000s pop-punk is well captured in this rendition, as the band’s signature combination of sleazy, sneering vocals and driving guitars is blended with the punky energy of bands like The Donnas.
This version of the Primitives’ classic is perfect in its ability to capture the band’s sound and appeal: retaining the track’s original sugary hooks and brattiness, while adding the Crushers’ own brand of louder guitars, pop-punk swagger, and glittering chaos. It is a track that feels both nostalgic and new, silly yet somehow musically weighty. For fans of early-2000s pop-punk, whether it be the actual pioneers of the scene like blink-182, or the more radio-friendly acts like Good Charlotte, there is much to enjoy in the success of this cover.
Much ado about the pop-punk heyday of Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, blink-182, and The Donnas, “Crash” is exactly what a single should be: short, sweet, and to the point, capturing the fun of the scene in three minutes of sugar-coated punk, bratty hooks, and one last ill-advised joyride.
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Anthony Mclaude, the enigmatic figure known as Rock & Roll’s Best Kept Secret, delves into the world of music journalism with a raw and unapologetic pen. From established icons to up-and-coming talents, Mclaude fearlessly reviews and reveals the diverse sounds that shape our musical landscape.
Raised in a Christian household by a single mother and grandmother in the 1990s, Mclaude’s journey into the world of rock ‘n’ roll began at a young age. The soulful melodies of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, mixed with the pop sensibilities of Madonna and Alanis Morissette, created a soundtrack that would influence his future path.
A pivotal moment came in 7th grade when Mclaude’s storytelling prowess caught the attention of his teacher, Mrs. DeFeo. Her words of encouragement ignited a fire within him, propelling him towards a future in writing. Fast forward fifteen years, and Mclaude found himself studying journalism at Cumberland County College, honing his skills as a reporter for The Voice.
His dedication and passion for community journalism led him to a position at The People’s Press of Millville, where he made his mark with insightful articles and press releases. Collaborations with publications like Eclectic Shades, Rock At Night, and New Noise Magazine further solidified Mclaude’s reputation as a rising star in the world of music journalism.
With each byline, Mclaude continues to push the boundaries of his craft, capturing the essence of artists and their music with a unique perspective that sets him apart in the industry. As Rock & Roll’s Best Kept Secret, his journey is just beginning, with a future as bright and promising as the music he so passionately writes about.