Coming straight out of the Department of What the Fuck? is a beef that’s erupted between US rockers Portugal. The Man and Perth favourites HAMJAM. We’re not even quite sure just what the hell is going on, so bear with us.
As The Music reports, the bizarre feud is centred on a cover of ‘Tuesday’, iLoveMakonnen’s hit collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake. HAMJAM have been performing a reworked cover of the tune for some time and Portugal apparently really dug it.
During a recent Australian tour, Portugal apparently caught a HAMJAM performance and were so taken by the band’s cover of ‘Tuesday’ they decided to perform their own cover with Kirin J Callinan as guest star.
The cover basically laid dormant until a few days ago when Portugal excavated it, uploaded it to their SoundCloud account, and shared across their social media channels, after being inspired by, of all things, A$AP Rocky.
The fan response was largely mixed, with some pointing out its similarities to HAMJAM’s version. There was enough of a backlash that Portugal. The Man decided to issue a tongue-in-cheek response a couple of days later.
“We recorded a minimalist cover version of the minimalist song “Tuesday” for funsies after watching HAMJAM cover it in Australia. Dongs,” the band wrote on Twitter. “Previously unaware of both covers and underground Grammy winning smash hits.”
HAMJAM took exception to being called “dongs”, if that’s what the band was implying, that is. They’re not quite sure, to be honest. “S0o0o [sic] you admit we’re right… then call us dongs? or are you calling yourselves dongs?” they wrote on Facebook.
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The Perth outfit decided to take their grievance to the studio and composed a diss track aimed at Portugal. The Man, in which they explain their dissatisfaction with the actions of the Alaskan outfit in ominous, buzzing style.
“Go to a fuckin’ show / And bring your other fuckin’ bros / And bring your fuckin’ iPhone / Film a band you don’t even know“, the band recount on the track, which also features WA collective the Char Kway Palz.
Yeah, we never said you wouldn’t be coming out of this with unanswered questions. We’re still not quite sure just what went on between Portugal. The Man and HAMJAM, but you can hear the ‘Tuesday’ cover and HAMJAM’s diss track below.
