B-Side Guys

Mike and Mandy’s approach to covering Bobby Capo’s 1947 composition reveals how theatrical training can inform musical interpretation in unexpected ways. Rather than treating “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” as nostalgic exercise or simple genre experiment, the Los Angeles duo uses their Shakespeare background to excavate the song’s inherent dramatic tension and relationship psychology.

Their discovery of the track through different pathways—Mike via CAKE’s 1990s version, Mandy through a recent salsa rendition—creates interpretive layers that inform their trip-hop reimagining. The dubby production choices serve the song’s central theme of romantic uncertainty without overwhelming its essential character, understanding that effective covers require respect for source material rather than complete reinvention.

The connection to their previous single “Cocoon” receiving attention in Latin countries adds cultural context that prevents their version from feeling like appropriation. Instead of mining Latin music for aesthetic purposes, Mike and Mandy acknowledge specific audience engagement and use this cover to honor those connections while exploring new sonic territory.

Their theatrical sensibilities shine through how they treat the song as “2 1/2 minute scene about a relationship dynamic.” This perspective transforms what could be routine cover version into character study, where the repeated “perhaps” becomes dramatic device rather than simple lyrical hook. The trip-hop elements support this theatrical reading by creating atmospheric space for emotional uncertainty to breathe.

The duo’s mention of their music appearing on Eastern European restaurant playlists suggests artists who understand how their work functions in different contexts. Their willingness to explore that “moody, chill vibe” indicates creative curiosity about how their sound translates across cultural and commercial settings.

“Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” succeeds by treating classic material as living theater rather than museum piece. Mike and Mandy demonstrate that effective covers emerge from genuine engagement with source material rather than surface-level genre experimentation.