Mark Davis/Getty Images/Mary Kang for The Fader
This past weekend marked the release of a new Sims 4 expansion pack, and with it, a brand new soundtrack. The franchise has a storied history of recruiting real world artists to record versions of their biggest hits for the in-game radio stations. The most prominent difference in these renditions is that each of the songs are translated into Simlish, the garbled, nonsensical language spoken by the Sims.
For the latest entry in the series, The Sims 4: Island Living, Snail Mail re-recorded her heart-pulvarizing Lush single "Pristine" as "Rizbeen." In tandem with the track's arrival, we've rounded up the 13 greatest Simlish covers from the past fifteen years, including cuts from Kelis, Car Seat Headrest, and Katy Perry. Check them all out below,
Snail Mail, "Pristine"
Because your Sims have always needed something to listen to while their crushes are out WooHooing someone else.
The Black Eyed Peas, "Shut Up"
The Black Eyed Peas marked one the first major acts to record in Simlish. They provided nine(!) songs for the BEP'd-Beat radio station on The Urbz: Sims in the City, but the initial awkwardness of the venture truly radiates in their version of "Shut Up."
Paramore, "Pressure"
"Pressure" appeared on the console version of The Sims 2 way back in 2005, meaning the Sims were on the Paramore wave long before Riot even dropped.
Pussycat Dolls, "Don't Cha"
I'm so sorry, but yes, this absolutely did happen. 2006, man.
Lily Allen, "Smile"
EA actually made an entire music video for the Simlish version of Lily Allen's breakout hit, which is just as good as the song's actual clip (if not better).
Mike Posner, "Cooler Than Me"
Long before Mike Posner took a pill in Ibiza, he hit the rosebud in Sunset Valley.
Soulja Boy, "Speakers Going Hammer"
No commentary could possibly do this justice.
My Chemical Romance, "Na Na Na"
Most of the comments on this YouTube link express astonishment that Gerard Way allegedly turned down an appearance on the Twilight soundtrack yet agreed to re-record "Na Na Na" in total gibberish. But honestly? Respect.
Kelis, "Brave"
Everyone else may have slept on Kelis's 2010 electro-odyssey Flesh Tone, but the Sims didn't. Taste!
Katy Perry, "Last Friday Night"
Not only does Katy Perry have two Simlish covers in the franchise (this and "Hot N Cold") she also has an entire DLC pack for The Sims 3 titled "Katy Perry's Sweet Treats", because yes, there was a time in history where people would pay real coins for digital cupcake bras.
Carly Rae Jepsen, "Run Away With Me"
That sax solo hits in any language, period.
Car Seat Headrest, "Not What I Needed"
Will Toledo waxing poetic in Simlish actually sounds barely different than in English, and I'm here for it.
Superorganism, "Everybody Wants To Be Famous"
Superorganism and the Sims is just one of those collaborations that makes perfect sense, in an oddball pop Frankenstein type of way.
