Cover Versions - Part 2

[angelophile]

Following on from my previous post, I continue my exploration of what's weird and what's wonderful in the world of cover versions. I think there's gold in them thar mountains, despite the last post not getting any comments. I LOVE this stuff, so I guess that's all that matters, right?!

Beneath the cut, covers of Lady Gaga by Faith No More, Japanese Carpenters, French Bowie and much more.

Faith No More – Poker Face (Lady Gaga cover)

I mentioned this one a few weeks ago, but file it under "never gets old". Just brilliant. I'm always amused by gratuitous swearing and this cover hit the right note there.

Saint Etienne – Stranger in Paradise (Tony Bennett cover)

The shoe gazers take the 1955 lounge classic and make it even more melodic and, well, loungey somehow.

Shane McGowan and Friends – I Put A Spell on You (Screamin' Jay Hawkins cover)

A raucous, shambolic drunk of a cover, with McGowan joined by Nick Cave, Chrissie Hynde, Bobby Gillespie, Glen Matlock, Paloma Faith, Eliza Doolittle and Laura White on vocals and The Clash's Mick Jones on guitar. Oh, and Johnny Depp on guitar too. Yes, that Johnny Depp.

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Theme from Shaft (Isaac Hayes cover)

Shaft interpreted as only a slightly portly Englishman in a tuxedo and his friends can interpret it, with a... er... slightly original take of the lyrics.

Dubstar – St. Swithin's Day (Billy Bragg cover)

It takes some balls to cover a Billy Bragg track, because he's pretty much unique, but back in 95 Sarah Blackwood's dreampop band Dubstar gave it a damn good try. Lyrically one of my all time favorite tunes.

Hayseed Dixie – Walk This Way (Aerosmith and Run DMC cover)

Hayseed Dixie almost need a post of their own. They're a bunch of good ol' boys who specialize in doing tongue-in-cheek cover versions in a bluegrass style. This is just a sample.

Goldfinger – 99 Red Balloons (Nina cover)

This ska/punk band's got a lot of covers to their name, but this I one I genuinely enjoy. Catchy tune, rocked up and when the funky guitar kicks in I can't help but smile.

Yann Tiersen and Neil Hannon - Life on Mars (David Bowie cover)

Taken from one of the French musician and composer's live albums, this is his collaboration with Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy, which strips down Bowie's original to bare minimum and throws in some tubular bells. Weird and haunting.

Shonen Knife – Top of the World (The Carpenters cover)

Japan's Shonen Knife tackles The Carpenter's bright and cheesy number and make it even more so. I can't help but grin every time I hear this one.

Placebo – Big Mouth Strikes Again (The Smiths cover)

I love Brian Molko's voice, I love the lyrics of this song (I don't get anyone who complains The Smiths are always maudlin. I find this song hilarious.) There was no way I wasn't going to love this cover.

Alanis Morissette – My Humps (Black Eyed Peas cover)

See, Alanis really does understand irony, after all.

Nina Simone – Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (Bob Dylan cover)

Ending on a high, f me one of the greatest, most beautiful and also definitive cover versions, in that it takes the original song, changes the tone entirely and turns it into something new. Sublime.

Comments

[kingrockwell]

People consider the Smiths maudlin because of Morrisey's droning whine of a voice. If it weren't for him, I could be indifferent to them, perhaps even tolerant.
Molko makes the song go down easier, but that's because I actually like Placebo.

Nina Simone's always a good idea, of course.