The Curse Of Pablo Picasso

By: DThompson | in: Music |

Does anyone remember Jonathan Richman? And none of you musiciany types count. And, neither do any old farts like me who were around back in the day and are currently huffing and puffing about how great it was back when music was good, the world was young and they could have sex without the aid of expensive pharmaceuticals. I have a theory about that. (About why no one remembers Johnathan Richman, not your Viagra habit, grandpa).

“Pablo Picasso” is probably Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lover’s best known song. I don’t believe it was ever actually a hit, not in the sense that Casey Casem ever had to introduce it on American Top Forty, (but GOD would that have been just so effin’ SWEET!). Even if the song was never given the stamp of official popularity it’s been covered so many times that by default it’s become Richman’s calling card [NOTE: feel free to disagree, as long as you do it agreeably].

Johnathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Pablo Picasso

The first cover of Pablo came in the seventies from Velvet Undergrounder John Cale on his completely forgotten album Helen of Troy, it also shows up on his equally forgotten “hits”album Guts, so at least Mr. Cale liked the song, or his bluesy (in a 70’s sort of way) cover of it.

John Cale - Pablo Picasso

Huh, whatayaknow, Burning Sensations is no longer remembered for their single MTV hit “Belly of the Whale”, and if recalled for anything are usually associated with this Peter Gunn influenced contribution to the Repo Man soundtrack. Why, I do believe I’m seeing a trend here…

Burning Sensations – Pablo Picasso

Ah, but now you say my theory breaks down. “J’acuse!” you cry out, pointing an accusing finger, “EVERYBODY knows who David Bowie is!” Well, yes, we all know who Bowie is, BUT, have you ever heard of his album Reality? Huh? Have you? HUUUUUH? Hey, it’s alright, Reality is only Bowie’s latest album. Why should any of us have heard of it? And the second (rather overproduced in my opinion) song on the album is, you guessed it.

David Bowie - Pablo Picasso

Did Pablo Picasso, mighty artist, painter, El Dorado driver and general non-asshole in New York hear Richman’s song and enlist a Gypsy to put a curse on it? That’s my scientific theory and I’m sticking with it. I offer one last piece of evidence. Here’s a video of Iggy Pop doing an acoustic version of the song from a televised concert in Spain that you never knew he gave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2sRRA2Lv00

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Posted on February 24, 2009

Comments

4 Responses to “The Curse Of Pablo Picasso”

Kendall on February 25th, 2009 9:05 am

I can’t believe that there are this many versions of this song. I’m pretty shocked.

DThompson on February 25th, 2009 9:54 pm

Actually there are at least four other versions.
Blue Peter (The band, not the British television guy) have done a live version. Arms of Kismet covered the song on a Jonathan Richman tribute album. The Television Personalities have recorded a version as well. But who ever heard of any of those guys?
Oh, also I got drunk and sang the song at my dog Pablo’s funeral. Unfortunately there were no microphones present, but I was told by those present that it was very moving.

Josh Hanson on March 1st, 2009 11:03 am

I always think of Roadrunner as THE Modern lovers song, but I don’t know if it’s ever been covered.

Sara Knee on March 3rd, 2009 1:16 pm

Ha, I have to disagree. Modern World or Roadrunner. And Roadrunner was sort of covered by M.I.A. in “Bamboo Banga”.

Anyways all these covers are brilliant. It could be that Jonathan Richman was/is brilliant.