Songicide

I even find myself defending songs I didn't like very much when this happens...

I hate Anything by the Fugees or offsprings of said people. Bloody muderers.

The current 'Are friends Electric' disaster. Stop it now!

The annoying use of 'Every breath you take'by rappers

In fact, anyone who takes a bit of a really good song, then destroys it with rapping/dance beats/MOR singing. I find myself listening to the start of 'Close to you' thinking it's the carpenters & content only to be really annoyed when someone starts up - 'Yo mah bitch 'ho got the down & dirty with mah wang'. That Cliff Richard eh?

Still I always prefer a Bob Dylan/Tim Buckley cover to the original.



Stephen (Who probably shouldn't speak as he has a cover on the forthcoming The Fire Thieves album)

Some Bluegrass sisters performing a jaunty rendition of 'In my time of dying' (Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti...), and Steve Earle murdering 'Willin'', (Little Feat).

And in recent weeks two other Country or Folk destructions of Richard Thompson songs, '1952 Vincent Black Lightning' and 'Bees wing'.

Paul

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And in recent weeks two other Country or Folk destructions of Richard Thompson songs, '1952 Vincent Black Lightning' and 'Bees wing'.

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Paul

Would that be Dick Gaughan and Roy Bailey respectively?

Must say I have never heard the originals so all I can say is I enjoyed both versions above.

I am not a believer in the "only the originator can do it best" school of thought - I mean Bob Dylan is a dire singer- but it is often the case.

cheers

Nigel

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Must say I have never heard the originals so all I can say is I enjoyed both versions above.

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It's worth checking the originals, and in fact Richard Thompson in general.

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I am not a believer in the "only the originator can do it best" school of thought - I mean Bob Dylan is a dire singer- but it is often the case.

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It's definitely not a general rule. The Stranglers certainly didn't murder 'Walk on by' for the instance that comes to mind.

Paul

...oddly enough seem to be very credible by female vocalists too. Judy Collins (Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues) or Joan Baez (lots of Dylan covers) are just two examples I can think of. Heck, one of my favorite tracks from the Sandy Denny retrospective also happens to be a Dylan song.

Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo

If you want to hear some real Murder-I-sation try giving DeJah Voodoo a spin. Really is something special. Hilarious in parts actually quite good sonically in others.

P - who recently returned from a trip to D'Yer Maker bummed out because the only sounds he heard round the pool were Shaggy and UB bloody 40! It could have been worse though I spose - I mean Mick Hooknall doing (literally) Night Nurse would have rrrrrrreally made me lose it big style !

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Originally posted by Dutch:
Herman Brood's version of "My Way" was simply appalling.

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Haven't heard it, but My Way, the song itself, deserves to die.

Remember Sid Vicious?

Ludicrous.

P

P

That ain't marco, he dosn't actually listen to music.

There is a song in the charts at the mo, (in the fringes) was a U2 song. Now I don't really love U2 but they did some crackers of which this was one, but damn in my wine goggled haze I can't remember, anyway they have slowed it right up.

The new Will Young song upsets me too. More so because apart from the fact he sings in tune, he sounds awful.

Funnier still a girl in the kitchen said he had butchered that classic Doors tune!

Ah well, I should be too young to know these things any way.

Nick, is it me or is my spelling better when I am drunk, worth investigating I think.

Oh and you all think I am young, some time back Take on Me was covered by some boy band, and when we mentioned to Sheilas brother about the original artists, he asked who 'ah ha were, suffice to say we were pissed right off.

Julien, I happen to think wycliffes version is rather good, so there

Marylin Mansons "Tainted Love" is good - same feeling but more nowadays (do I say zeitgeist - no I don't) and a couple of years ago (16?) the swans (a belgian combo I believe) made a cover of Joy Division's "Love will tear us apart" which was really good, same feeling but performed with a bl**dy marvellous female voice!
So there are songiresurrections: they are alive
regards
Guido

The worst cover I've heard could be Paul Young singing Both Sides Now. Could he be number one vandal?

But then again, worse still is Phil Collins singing True Colors - but I'm not sure if he sang it before Cindi Lauper or not. Either way Cindi's will always be the definitive version.

I also (boringly?) adore Eva Cassidy's cover of Somewhere over a Rainbow. It's simply stunning.

garyi,

Ah-ha were a pivotal band in my musical development. I may have been young but they were, in fact still are, special - Take on Me and The Sun Always shines on TV were fab. I also adore Crying in the Rain. A1's cover of Take on Me really narked me at first, but it grudgingly grew on me with continued exposure.

I have to say though, generally I like the (youthful) recycling of old songs. Each song should be placed in its own context and I think modern interpretation can be real good fun. Worst offenders are generally of the old fogie variety trying to be young again ala Phil colins, Paul Young etc

Dave

That Light My Fire cover has been annoying me recently, though at least he did try and do something the original didn't. Quite a few of the recent covers by prefab groups don't attempt to do anything different at all, so there's no possible musical reason for them to exist AFAICT.

All of those mentioned so far pale into insignificance beside Vanessa Mae's butchery job on Toccata and Fuge in D Minor. What were those responsible thinking?

Pete.

Pete,

From a purist position I can understand your take on Vanessa Mae, but I disagree with it. There is a place for superficial indulgence, and she falls right into this category (In this category you will also find Bond). Bubblegum music has its own time and place.

It would be fare to say that Vanessa Mae does not intend her work to be savoured by the classical music aficionado. Instead it provides great stepping stone for those who view classical music as stuffy and boring. What's more, it inspires emotions - be it smile, foot tapping etc. It should be judged on these grounds rather than in comparison to its inspiration. Her music may tire in the long run, but nevertheless there are times when I call for its verve. The two require different contexts to be enjoyed. The same is true of Beethoven's 9th and Beethoviana.

I will concede though that I do prefer listening to a traditional interpretation more often than not. But there are times when the pick me up that Vanessa Mae provides is more appropriate. I don’t see the two as rivals for my attention.

Dave