Orange & Lemons gives The Carpenters’ “Close To You” a modern, indie pop twist

The award-winning Filipino band will also embark on a global tour across five cities in Asia and North America

Indie pop quartet Orange & Lemons marks the season of romance with a fresh take on The Carpenters’ timeless classic “Close To You.”

Released just in time for Valentine’s Day, the band’s cover brings a modern twist to the iconic track while preserving the original’s emotional essence.

The remake of “Close To You” features subtle upgrades and embellishments from their usual live version.

Clem Castro, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band, recalls the origins of the cover, which dates back to 1999 when the Bulacan-based band was preparing the material for their debut album, Love In the Land of Rubber Shoes & Dirty Ice Cream. He explains, “I was inspired to create a cover version for live gigs and challenged ourselves to integrate our own sound. It has been a staple since then on our set list. On top of that, I am a huge fan of Burt Bacharach.”

Relive the legendary Lloydie-Bea onscreen romance on TFC Online

Fans of the onscreen couple, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, across Asia, Australia, and the Pacific are treated to their binge-worthy romantic films on Lloydie & Bea Once More exclusively on TFC Online.

The “love team” went live on social media to the delight of their followers who clearly have missed seeing them together. They threw lines anew as if it were the real thing. Viewers couldn’t help but rekindle that little flicker of hope that perhaps this time it actually was. To their amusement (or despair) it was revealed to be an experimental project days after.