listen to The National cover INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart" for Australia brushfire relief comp

The National have covered INXS’ 1987 hit “Never Tear Us Apart” for a new benefit compilation Songs For Australia which is raising money for Australian brushfire relief. Their version doesn’t go for the strings but still brings that romantic drama to the table, and Matt Berninger’s pipes are meant for a song like this. Listen below.

Songs for Australia was curated by Julia Stone — who covers Midnight Oil’s “Beds are Burning” with Thomas Bartlett (listen below) — and features a whole bunch of cool artists covering Australian artists, including Kurt Vile (covering Nick Cave’s “Stranger Than Kindness”), Damien Rice (covering Sia’s “Chandelier”), Martha Wainwright (covering Cave’s “Ship Song), as well as Joan As Police Woman (covering Gotye’s “Heart’s a Mess”), Sam Amidon (covering Gang of Youth’s “Let Me Down Easy”), and more. Pre-orders are available and the album’s out next week.

Speaking of “Beds Are Burning,” Amanda Palmer has covered the song with Missy Higgins and more on her own Australia brushfire compilation.

Meanwhile, The National’s Matt Berninger played the last night, where he duetted with Phoebe Bridgers and covered Mercury Rev.