Listen to R. Kelly's remix of 'Trying to Be Cool' by Phoenix

August 14, 2013|By Mikael Wood

After collaborating at this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts… (Loyaute/Glassnote )

Phoenix and R. Kelly are at it again.

Months after the French band brought the R&B star to the stage for a surprise appearance at April's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the two acts have joined forces for a remix of "Trying to Be Cool."

The song, from Phoenix's recent "Bankrupt!" album, was pretty sweet to begin with: a characteristically sleek synth-guitar jam with words from singer Thomas Mars about, well, who knows, really?

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"City and desert coexist, depending on the things you're wearing," he sings in the original, "Wildlife binoculars / Tell me that you want me."

Now, though, "Trying to Be Cool" feels like an invitation to a memorable (if routine) night out on the town.

"I'm-a walk up in the club / I'm-a holler at the honeys," Kelly announces over Phoenix's surging disco-rock groove, "I'm-a have a few laughs, take a few shots and throw a little money."

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Then he proclaims, "Everybody deserves a good time," which is probably where the wildlife binoculars come in.

Listen to "Trying to Be Cool" featuring Kelly below.