This Dad Band’s Surprise Take on a 90s Anthem Has Everyone Talking

Some covers hit because they sound perfect. This one hits because it feels alive, like a group of friends cracking each other up while still landing every emotional punch. Middle Aged Dad Jam Band takes on “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes and turns a familiar sing along into a mini comedy scene, then a full heart shout into the air.

The result is the kind of performance that makes viewers grin first, then get weirdly moved when the chorus opens up and the whole room seems to lift with it.

Right after the comedy, the song arrives like a wave. The lyrics open on that famous line, “25 years and my life is still trying to get up that great big hill of hope for a destination,” and the cover leans into the ache without getting heavy handed.

The words tumble out in that familiar mix of confusion and honesty:

1. “I realized quickly when I knew I should…”
2. “This world was made up of this brotherhood of men,” followed by the blunt aside, “Oh, whatever that means.”

That throwaway line always stings a little, because it sounds like someone trying to understand life in real time and failing, then laughing so they don’t cry.

The performance keeps the emotional engine running with the song’s most human details. There’s the confession about crying in bed just to get it out, then the admission of feeling a little peculiar. It’s simple, but it’s the kind of simple that tells the truth.

Next comes the morning ritual that every fan recognizes: stepping outside, taking a deep breath, getting real high, and screaming from the top of the lungs, “What’s going on?” The repeated “Hey, hey” turns into a chant, the kind that sounds silly until it suddenly doesn’t.

When the chorus cycles back into trying and praying “for a revolution,” the cover makes that repetition feel like survival. The voice keeps reaching, the band keeps pushing, and the room feels like it’s cheering on anybody who has ever asked that same question into the air.

The trap beat twist and the Nicki Minaj wink

Just when the song feels like it’s fully locked in, the cover swerves into a surprise. A trap style chant breaks through the chorus, “in the trap, be in the trap,” tossing the emotional intensity into a funny, chaotic spotlight.

Later, the performance even calls out the moment with a grin. A Nicki Minaj rap nod happened in the middle, and yes, everyone noticed. The verdict lands with perfect timing: it was cool, then it wasn’t, then it was funny again. That push and pull is the whole charm of this band, sincere one second, teasing the next, and never letting the energy drop.

Who’s behind the performance, and where to watch more

The cover credits Linda Perry for the music and lyrics, then lines up a stacked group. Erinn Hayes leads on vocals, David Wain holds down drums and vocals, and Ken Marino adds puppet duty, which fits the playful tone from the first second.

More names fill out the sound and the fun: Jon Spurney on guitar (and music producer and mixer), Bo Boddie on guitar, Sweet Teddy P. on bass, plus vocals from Jenny Karr, Allie Stamler, and Amy Miles. Production also includes Frank Barrera as technical director and DP, editing by Darren Roark and David Wain, and cameras by Steve Smith and Danny Gardner.

For more from the band, the best starting points are the official hubs and playlists: Middle Aged Dad Jam Band official site, all garage covers playlist, Garage Jam Mashups playlist, Live Show mashups playlist, and more live show clips playlist. Fans can also find gear at the MADJB store and check out the band’s favored accessories via D’Addario Accessories.

Conclusion

Middle Aged Dad Jam Band’s “What’s Up” cover works because it treats nostalgia like a living thing, hilarious and stubborn, then suddenly tender when the chorus hits. The jokes make the feelings safer, and the feelings make the jokes sharper. When the final “What’s going on?” rings out, it leaves the kind of afterglow that sticks, like the room got louder, older, and happier all at once.