erykah badu makes cheating sound sweet on “tempted”

A new wave pop classic gets an injection of jazz and soul on Erykah Badu and Roots keyboardist James Poyser’s cover of Squeeze’s 1981 hit, “Tempted.” The song, originally released in April for Record Store Day as a 45 RPM disc, has finally hit streaming services today (June 3). “Tempted” is the third release from The Roots and engineer, producer, and Squeeze super fan Steve Mandel’s upcoming collaborative Squeeze tribute album, Swindles. Produced by Mandel, the song features vocals from Badu that toe the line between syrupy and wistful while Poyser matches the mood with evocative keys that would make Stevie Wonder smile–the perfect reimagining of a bittersweet song about failing relationship and infidelity. Give “Tempted” a listen and allow yourself to get in your (conflicted) feelings.