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Song of the Week - Covers Edition

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By: Charbarred | in: Music |

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Every other week each of our writers shares the song that made his/her week just a little bit brighter. This time we are choosing our favorite covers. We’re also happy to have Ryan of the RSL blog on this one.

Charbarred [add to friends]
Walking on Sunshine by Jay Walk Snail (Katrina and the Waves)
I love it when an artist redefines an old meaningless pop tune and gives it some depth. Here, the tune seems almost sad. The build up is great reminding me of Spiritualized but without the pretention. In the end it’s even more uplifting than the original.

Lee H Lee H [add to friends]
When Doves Cry by The Be Good Tanyas (Prince)
There have been many covers of this song. Some good (Patti Smith) and some bad (Ginuwine). What makes this one fall in to the former category is that instead of going the way of the song, they make the song come to them. By making it their own The Be Good Tanyas do what most band fail miserably at.

D Thompson [add to friends]
Mambo Sun by The Bongos (T-Rex)
Last week I put up T Rex covering Summertime Blues, so this week here’s New Jersey’s The Bongos covering T Rex’s Mambo Sun.

Danielle Danielle [add to friends]
I’m on Fire by Bat for Lashes (Bruce Springsteen)
As cheesy as this sounds this song always makes me think of a contrast - with whoever is singing it (Bruce Springsteen and others) - because just by the title “I’m on Fire” before hearing the song I tend to think of an all out head banging, rocked out song (especially by Springsteen) but it’s the exact opposite. And the “fire” especially in this Bat for Lashes version I somehow translate into the awesome instrumentation around her as she’s singing - the organ, desert guitar, ballet school piano, harpsichord - in perfect unison with her voice. I guess what I’m saying is it surprises me and I like contrasts and being surprised. But I also would love to hear her do a rocked out version too!

Ryan Ryan [add to friends]
Moonage Daydream by Of Montreal (David Bowie)
I have selected to share with you today an utterly incredible version of Moonage Daydream - a David Bowie song performed by Kevin Barnes’ band - Of Montreal. Just in case you weren’t hip to the band let me in on a secret: Of Montreal is a top ten band touring in 2007. Period. If you haven’t seen them play live - get over your reservations *(I did) and pay the cover price. It is most certainly worth it. The live performance, which is opened with Kevin introducing the band to the crowd, was recorded live in San Antonio in January of this year.

Kendall [add to friends]
Hurt by Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails)
I don’t care if you are a Nine Inch Nails fan, or if you love Johnny Cash. This is a creepy cover. NIN’s version was a somewhat sickly beautiful piece. Somehow when Johnny Cash got a hold of it, it seemed to almost feel like the foreshadowing of death. Maybe that’s a coincidence, no one can be sure. This cover has turned to my all-time favorite cover, and I may even like it better than the original.

Mozzer Mozzer [add to friends]
Vapour Trail by Trespassers William (Ride)
Trespassers William takes on Ride’s most popular and definitive song of shoegazer era. They slow it down considerably, and make an already sorrowful composition even sadder. Perfect for those moments alone or a long drive home.

rustycat.jpg RustyCat [add to friends]
Brown Sugar by Ryan Adams feat. Beth Orton (Rolling Stones)
You’re going to get a kick out of this cover. One of the best covers I ever heard. Uncut magazine in the UK ordered a cover from Ryan Adams, and the story is that they just they went in to the studio recorded this in a matter of hours and left.



Lior Lior

Accross The Universe by Fiona Apple (The Beatles)
I fell in love with Fionna Apple when I first heard (and watched the video) to “Criminal”. To this day, I think that was a well deserved hit.. and she’s still sort of a babe, right? Although a little tedious in tempo, I think Fionna sounds great doing Across the Universe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gLWTtlMwo4

So what’s your song of the week?


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Posted on September 28, 2007

Comments

9 Responses to “Song of the Week - Covers Edition”

  1. Music » Song of the Week - Covers Edition on September 28th, 2007 4:18 am

    […] EZRA CARAEFF wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptEvery other week each of our writers shares the song that made his/her week just a little bit brighter. This time we are choosing our favorite covers. We’re also happy to have Ryan of the RSL blog on this one. … […]


  2. Charbarred on October 11th, 2007 12:45 am

    Wonderful submissions. From the ones I didn’t know already The Be Good Tanyas was awesome and so was Of Montreal. I didn’t know that Vapour Trail was a cover, always thought it was their song.


  3. Mozzer on October 11th, 2007 12:46 am

    Ride’s Vapour Trail will always hold special place in my heart; so many fond memories. You can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0tOjAESwSY


  4. OKCutie on October 11th, 2007 12:46 am

    Really enjoyed and I like the sun, Kool ty


  5. Mozzer on October 11th, 2007 12:46 am

    Interesting take on Doves Cry and Walking on Sunshine. I loved “I’m on Fire”, primarily because I’m such a Bat for Lashes fanboy. Of Montreal is freakin awesome! …I’ve said this before regarding “Hurt”–Cash masterfully made it his own. Mambo Sun and Brown Sugar were good, but I’m almost ashamed to admit that I’m unfamiliar with the originals. And Fiona, oh Fiona, my heart’s aflutter…


  6. DThompson on October 11th, 2007 12:47 am

    Just for you mozz, I performed an exhaustive 30 second search on You Tube and found a “Video” featuring T Rex’s original recording of Mambo Sun. It’s the first vid in Videos at the moment, check it out if you’re so inclined!


  7. Baron on October 11th, 2007 12:47 am

    “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by GNR come to mind. Both Dylan songs! Jodeci’s rendition of Stevie Wonders’ “Lately” is also an amazing cover. The live version of course.


  8. DThompson on October 11th, 2007 12:47 am

    I might add that I’m terribly disappointed that I only just today thought of Big Black’s version of the Cheap Trick classic ‘He’s A Whore’.


  9. fthead9 on October 11th, 2007 12:48 am

    I agree with the comment on Knockin on Heaven’s Door by G ‘n R, great song. That said my all time favorite covers are evenly split between Sinead O’Conner’s version of Elton John’s “Sacrifice”, her version of Prince’s “Nothing Compares to U”, and Nine Inch Nails covers of Adam and the Ants “Physical” and Joy Division’s “Dead Souls”. All four are brilliant completely remaking the songs into their own.


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