SA house artist gets social media love for Joy Division cover [Video]

A cover of the classic Joy Division track “She’s Lost Control” by South African artist Spoek Mathambo has begun getting social media traction again after being uploaded to YouTube a year ago. Since being uploaded the video has been viewed over 185 000 times.

The video appears to have been revived by Twitter:

“@hex The video for Spoek Mathambo’s “Control” (a cover of Joy Division) is 1 of the best I’ve seen in a long time. youtu.be/UKfwSFI8LhQ” +1

— Paul Cartmel (@PaulCartmel) February 22, 2012

Richard Starkey who edited @SPOEK_MATHAMBO video Control is giving us a masterclass on video editing check out it outyoutu.be/UKfwSFI8LhQ

— LiveMagSA (@LiveMagSA) February 22, 2012

The Guardian describes Mathambo’s style as “darkwave township house”. The cover, which has been simply retitled “Control” is the fourth single to be taken from his album Mshini Wam. The album’s title plays on the lyrics from the song Umshini Wami best known for being sung by South African president Jacob Zuma.

The video, shot entirely in black and white combines scenes from township streets and dilapidated hostels with images reminiscent of Xhosa initiation practices. There is also the kind of front-on dance sequences more usually associated with fellow South African viral sensations Die Antwoord.

“Control” was shot on location in the streets and hostels of Langa, a Cape Town township.