Thank Philomena it’s Friday.
It’s Springtime so what better way to mark the end of the Winter season than with a music question. (Alas, still no voucher).
The suggestion for this week’s theme comes courtesy of regular reader SOQ, who wants to know what everyone’s favourite cover version is.
This is SOQ’s choice. He says:
” I have a bee in my bonnet about this young lady at the moment.”
And here is my choice:
Please include video links if possible.
Lines close On Sunday at MIDNIGHT.
Meanwhile…
The Triffids – Wide Open Road
Last week I asked you to name your favourite driving song. Otis Blue won my esteem with this entry.
“Depends on the car, the context and the journey. If it’s just yerself in a Ute in Oz, it’s The Triffids – Wide Open Road.”
Nick says: Thanks to all who entered and props to Otis.
Last week: Win Nick’s Esteem
Pic: Steamboat Vinyl, Limerick
Respect – Aretha Franklin. Originally an Otis Reading song, she took it, improved it and made it her own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0
great tune indeed
Ane Brun – Big in Japan
Cover of the 80s synth-pop masterclass by Alphaville
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMia7HJR2l4
Mumford & Sons – Hurt
Better than both NIN and Johnny Cash in my opinion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jeJohmL-0U
Soft Cell – Where did our love go
Absolute banger of a track, made famous by the Supremes
https://youtu.be/oGXpDhNAO1Y?t=266
I liked that version of Hurt, I was prepared not to and pleasantly surprised
Every breath you take,and every move you make,they are watching you,they are…..
Every single day
And every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you
Puffy and Faith Evans- I’ll Be Missing You
Big Poppa.
https://youtu.be/NKMtZm2YuBE
Scissor Sisters- Comfortably Numb
https://youtu.be/jRk5Gjl_cAg
Pink Floyd fans will shout blasphemer. I think they do a great job reimagining this song. The essence of a good cover
Creedence Clearwater revival – I heard it through the grapevine-
Taking on the (apparently) impossible task of covering the Marvin Gaye’s classic, CCR summons a moment of pure awesomeness. I don’t know if it’s the bass or the snare or the devilish guitar solo but it sounds to me like the mother of all covers. Although the song lasts 11:10 minutes, you’d wish it never ends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixqofv-Oi74
There is only one cover version and it’s Hendrix doing Dylan. In fact every future versions of this song including live Dylan versions is based on this.
https://youtu.be/OzlN0Guvous
How about ..
the sex pistols c’mon everybody
https://youtu.be/Td3r55oyiu0
How did antbody ever think the pistols would hasten the end of civilised living ??
The Who did a great cover of this too.
Eddie Cochran set the bar high to begin with.
Valerie by Amy Winehouse
When compared with the absolute party that is Amy’s version, the Zuton’s original comes off as sweet and mellow but also a little pallid. I can’t hear the opening beat of Amy’s Valerie without wanting sing along, and her voice is just so, so perfectly matched to the beat and style of the song.
(Nick, I won’t include a link if you don’t mind as my comments disappear when I include a link at the moment. Thanks!)
Our politburo has ruled in your favour!
Thanks Nick! Happy weekend to you!
Also, may I offer a suggestion for next week?Karaoke songs. What do you belt out when gee-eyed and in the mood for a sing song?
Ah the good old times.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=565575458014286
Ah, that’s easy.
Bill Murray croaks out Roxy Music’s More Than This in Lost in Translation.
https://youtu.be/vaqbcYGTfLg
Great idea. Next week sorted!
Our Sinéad Lohan covering Dylan’s ‘To Ramona’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHwILs8bdo
a good cover is one you thought was an original. no offence dandy livingstone, but the specials own ‘a message to you rudy’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cntvEDbagAw
Well slap my thigh, you’ve proved your point.
I’d have put the farm on that being an original.
Leonard Cohen’s ‘Bird on a Wire’, given new life by Stina Nordenstam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLgMXiycVOc
Her version of Cohen’s “I Came so Far for Beauty” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD8sPc1Xep8 is actually better.
Great choices.
I loved that CD and raved about it for years.
Here’s my favourite
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAFTdStvhs
Of course “People are strange” is epic as well
Antony Hegarty’s performance of If It Be Your Will at the Came So Far for Beauty live show in The Point some years back was incredible.
https://youtu.be/1MDlMdu2gjw
And of course
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lAqxRA7h0Ds
Oh Jaysus
For me, it has to be ‘From Limerick, a Tribute to Dolores O’Riordan’. I find it it very poignant, coming from the very trailers where the Cranberries themselves occasionally practiced. Such a variety of voices and themes and interpretations. The talent in Limerick is incredible, and I think this beautiful number shows that off perfectly.
Plus my cousins of The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra are in it too :-) I made a mistake and backed Cork for the hurley final. They may talk to me again
https://youtu.be/OBpWKGjUTSQ
Only because it was on the radio earlier but I always had a soft spot for Lick The Tins very sweet cover of Can’t Help Falling in Love.
Some Kind of Wonderful AND The Snapper!
https://youtu.be/7kORTAjFAWM
Not knocking it, but still…
UB40 covered it sooner, slower and better.
https://youtu.be/vUdloUqZa7w
Andy Williams agrees.
https://youtu.be/d9V-zUlrhEE
Aux Champs-Elysées…an adaptation of an English tune Waterloo Road,” by Jason Crests…. obviously the froggos “do it ” better
roll on May I’ll be strutting my stuff in all the dresses and heels I never get to wear here :)
My favourite cover is California Dreaming By The Mamas & Papas. Originally recorded by Barry Maguire, who made a name for himself in the Christian Contemporary scene.
https://youtu.be/N-aK6JnyFmk
Great song, but given the Mamas and the Papas wrote it not sure their cover is really a cover?
Happy Mondays – Step On
https://youtu.be/mFBQ0PH5rM4
Baggy central.
This IS Dublin- on your bike.
o/*
Great cover of the big O
https://youtu.be/P1-_k3qjhw0
Can’t pick between these two.
Just like Time and Dylan above both are deemed to be the definitive version now f the songs now
1. Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah, covering Leonard Cohen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4
2. Johnny Cash- Hurt, covering Trent Reznor and NIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI
In fact all the covers on that ‘American IV’ album are brilliant. Especially Hung my Head, The Man comes around and Personal Jesus. Rick Rubin’s production is savage.
Amazing versions all, but I think ‘Hurt’ nails it, coz it just perfectly sums up Johnnys life.
He’d just died when I first saw it and even though I wasn’t the worlds biggest Johnny Cash fan at the time, I remember tearing up watching it.
Something about the distortion on the piano at the end, , the way it hammers down, just gets me ever single time.
I think it’s the finality of it.
Perfect…
*’Jimi’ above not “time” – bloody autocorrect ;)
+1
It was the footage of June Carter that did for me when I saw this first.
Have ya heard this before?
https://youtu.be/oLqjd01fPpQ
I hadn’t, thanks for sharing.
Awww… my second one disappeared
Anyway it was – Johnny Cash- Hurt, covering Trent Reznor and NIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI
Cash for the win
It’s gotta be, for sure.
Good shout micko
The incomparable Sinead O’ Connors cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”
Sinead is in my thoughts at the moment. I hope she’s getting the support she needs.
https://youtu.be/0-EF60neguk
Another deadly cover that I love is this one.
Especially as it has kick ass kick drum and an awesome video.
It’s like a completely different song
Disturbed – covering Land OF Confusion by Genisis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV4oYkIeGJc
Absolute anthem…
Ah, I going down a rabbit hole here, but weird covers are my thang – Sorry Nick
Just for the sheer weirdness of this one.
Bill Shatner – Rocketman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lul-Y8vSr0I
“HE FOUND A WAY!” ;-)
Ladies and gentleman I give you,
The Velour Fog…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6yfbsu1bbQE
Hehehehe
Good ol Billy West eh? What a legend.
“Lower….lower…TOO LOW!”
_________________________
Actually, I quite like Shatner, just for his bloody weirdness.
I always listen to this when I feel in a funk and it usually gets me out of it pretty elfin quick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uol6HRMryoo
A Shatner original too – writen with Ben Folds.
I see that and raise you
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ainyK6fXku0
Ah here leave it out
Nirvana
“Where did you sleep last night?”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hEMm7gxBYSc
Nirvana – The Man Who Sold The World
https://youtu.be/fregObNcHC8
I think you had this theme recently Nick?
Anyway here was my choice then and it remains my choice now
Toots and the Maytals
“Take me Home, Country Roads”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lQFKMar4x-w
This is a good one, I think…
…and I think I might get away with it too…
Silly Games by Tricky…
https://youtu.be/nITjYbP1Puk
Janet Kay did the original version, but it was wasn’t subliminal enough.
Mark E Smith’s reimagining of Sister Sledge’s disco classic is truly a thing of wonder.
The Fall – Lost in Music
https://youtu.be/GuKXYeRCUzI
Yes, yes it totally is (so much so I used “totally” and I’m not one bit sorry about that.
I said that exact same thing to Deko Dachau one night in The Chinaman. (Off Ship Street…obviously…)
Two weeks later Stricknien DC did a cover of a song that The Fall covered called Strychnine.
It was a cover version of a cover version, and it was BRILLIANT…
Happier Daze will never come again.
Cash / Hurt, but otherwise Jimi Hendrix / All Along The Watchtower: https://youtu.be/TLV4_xaYynY
Nearly forgot! Nick Cave and The Burps doing Tower of Song :-) https://youtu.be/duv1MxvXYck
I like The Slits cover of “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”
https://youtu.be/IQxvo_9DEqY
I remember Tricky performing The Fields Of Athenry at a gig. It wasn’t great. Here he takes on Public Enemy to better effect.
https://youtu.be/9ZJTM03UByU
Brother to Brother – The Bottle
https://youtu.be/T6_hZ1HtV84
A brave move to take, i reckon.
Have you heard jazz musician Makaya McCraven’s reimagining of Gil’s album I’m New Here?
https://youtu.be/zvp8iKIhTTw
And of course, Gil’s I’m New Here was a brilliant cover of a Bill Callahan/Smog song.
https://youtu.be/eV_astp3BjM
Whaaaat!?
Get out of town….!
Was trying to think if Bill did any good covers himself. I guess BC covering Smog doesn’t count :)
He recorded Cohen’s So Long Marianne in 2019 and his collaboration with Bonnie “Prince” Billy – which you mentioned recently – was an album of covers.
D’oh!
Been meaning to give that a listen.
I checked your link otis, it is playing in the bacground, I will have a look foir
Makaya McCraven later on.
Here ia my top version of feeling good, I wasn’t sure which was the original.
Jean DuShon Feelin Good
https://youtu.be/hagbgxlIqDU
Happy Sarurday
Fine Young Cannibals – suspicious minds
https://youtu.be/KGgSJGZKjUM
Working week
Inner City Blues.
Not the first Marvin work on show tonight.
If you are going to do a cover, do a great one.
Icelandic singer-songwriter Ásgeir tackles Nirvana’s Heart-shaped Box.
https://youtu.be/g-HVwEcA00M
Paul McCarthy said it was mind blowing, John Lennon said it was the best cover ever. Joe Cocker (live) – With a little help from my friends. https://youtu.be/EmwgGyfA7jU
Paul McCarthy was in my class in Primary School.
I don’t remember the other two blokes.
Great shout. Brings back The Wonder Years memories too…
Eddie and The Hot Rods with a quartet of covers – 96 tears, Get out of Denver, Gloria, (I can’t get no) Satisfaction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF_E4R-Lgos
Heads Up and Shout Out to any Heads ”out there” who were born in the 60s.
There’s a Reggae/Punk documentary coming up in March in the IFI
Rebel Dread… It’s about Don Letts and it’s about ALL of us. The Hippies, the Monks and the funky funks..
… And the Punks and the Dreads.
https://youtu.be/lF-EVsh-Gsw
And as far as I know the BIG Don will be in town when it opens, but I wasn’t supposed to tell you that so keep it to yourself.
Anyone up for a sultry southern gothic take on a Nina Simone classic?
Bobbie Gentry – Feelin’ Good
https://youtu.be/pd6H796tPiE
Kate Bush – My Lagan Love
https://youtu.be/9ESyqbDQW3g
https://youtu.be/teBV0EoJJY8
The Carpenters, calling occupants of inter planetary craft.
Cowboy Junkies – Sweet Jane
https://youtu.be/Fa9nN3G2CSg
Willie Nelson teams up with Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to cover Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure.
https://youtu.be/MEU-7uga_4A
The Cure’s version of Purple Haze – a lesson in how to completely re-interpret a classic song without losing its inherent qualities.
https://youtu.be/cLGlDQRYJ9M
Soft Cell done a Hendrix Medley including that too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzjPyI1c3oY
Here’s my own cover of Silver Jews/David Berman’s Trains Across the Sea from a couple of years back.
https://youtu.be/w_NF7K6ps7Q
That’s class. Great feel to it.
very cool
Indigo Girls cover of Mark Knopfler’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Indigo Girls – Romeo and Juliet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fiXkvsKpdk
That youtube version is not very good – far too much distortion.
This is what it should sound like:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-oMFT1mbUY
The fantastic Tanya Donelly with a great cover of Heart of Gold:
https://youtu.be/TLivV38yorI
It’s almost midnight…
The Grannies n Grandads are asleep…
Let’s put this ‘competition’ to bed.
Only LOSERS don’t enter.
WINNERS never sleep.
There’s absolutely NOTHING to win beyond embarrassment, but hey….
It’s fun…
I missed you, Memes et al… :)
Enter.
Enter often.
Talk to the bouncers for me, eh?
Why would I? I have to uphold the reputation I have – I can’t compromise that which is already tenable :(
Although, when I was a child I used to sing Gloria in eggshellsthisday’oooo at Mass – does that count as a cover version?
If you wanna hear a cover listen to Christina Aguilera tackle that one
https://youtu.be/Pi7u6NudbZ8
…I’m not sure I’d say that Aguilera tackled it, more like she wrestled it to the ground and then suffocated it. ;-)
And only because nobody else has mentioned it.
This Mortal Coil – Song to the Siren
https://youtu.be/HFWKJ2FUiAQ
Written by Bowie for her but released first by him on his album, Hunky Dory. In both versions, like Ziggy, Mick Ronson plays guitar.
Dana Gillespie – Andy Warhol
https://youtu.be/b11Jw8ddigI
And speaking of Andy…
A Bob Dylan cover from the album 13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests.
Dean & Britta – I’ll Keep It with Mine
https://youtu.be/RTsAB3PAE5Q
This is brilliant, Mick Ronson takes it to another level on his guitar parts. Bowie at the BBC back in the day covering the VU
https://youtu.be/IOJ4GH88cn4
When I went to see his show in Bowiefest a few years ago Gerry Leonard said the only question Bowie asked when he was being appointed as musical director for the stage shows was “Can Gerry rock?”!!
Taken from the brilliant Life’s Rich Pageant album and released as a single, though rarely heard. The scratchy spoken intro is attributed to a Japanese pull-string Godzilla doll.Translated loosely from the Japanese, it says, “This is a special news report. Godzilla has been sighted in Tokyo Bay. The attack on it by the Self-Defense Force has been useless. He is heading towards the city. Aaaaaaaaagh….”
REM – Superman
https://youtu.be/IxQS6lfn0yU
Rod Stewart – Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIrmWfKJuQ
The Damned – Eloise
https://youtu.be/l1ASrJ2tWAM
The Damned manage to turn this epic piece of sixties cheese into a Gothic opera. Turn it up to 11.
Spanky Wilson’s take on Bill Withers
When I’m Kissing my Love
https://youtu.be/IEVnlH2RoNI
Spanky does a great cover of Sunshine of your love too, if you are so inlined to have a look.
Loads of references to Hurt, which should probably win. I have yet to see anyone propose this track. Frankly I am shocked
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
https://youtu.be/CppOyay3UsM
great call, Gloria Jones would be hapy with that too I reckon
Three in a row from Bill Withers
Sivuca – Ain’t no sunshine
https://youtu.be/OQVX4GFDj48
The underrated 1979 movie Being There utilised this track perfectly to capture the meeting of two worlds.
This number is a stone cold groove…
Deodato • Also Sprach Zarathustra(Richard Strauss)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qJK3eUP5Hvg
Being There is a classic. The 70s really was a great decade for cinema. Network, Scorsese etc
It certainly was… Some great titles.
I’ll have to dig out my copy of Colossus: The Forbin Project and give it a spin.
grace jones – use me
that is the one to make up three bill withers tunes
thought i put it up earlier, oops
https://youtu.be/jT1WxEeUSEM
In Kilkenny (not South Park)
It is reported…
https://youtu.be/vnl3Cs21-b8
Bryan Ferry Carrickfergus
The Bluebeaters – Teenage kicks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya2vC49lLsM
QQ – Teenage kicks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86GDJ6ThMxk
De Dannan – Hey Jude
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoALjPwozfE
(You’ll have to sing it yourself)
Brings a tear to me eye and makes me want to take me hat off.
(If I had a hat.)
If you don’t win I’ll start a fight.
Nice one Bro.
Agreed. A total masterpiece.
Eileen Ivers – Pachelbel’s frolics (covering Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL6THuNstt8
Tina Arena – Les trois cloches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVdlT3NEbOE
Mireille Mathieu – Bravo tu as gagné (covering Abba’s ‘The winner takes it all’)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NYk7XnIHok
William Shatner and Joe Jackson – Common people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI3UfxyIdgs
Kamel Messaoudi – Ghir khalini nrouh (covering Jacques Brel’s ‘Ne me quitte pas’)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgmcpoSK6ys
Let’s be honest, Nick and everybody else….
This topic is far too wide to confine it to ONE contest..
There’s too much fantastic stuff getting posted and it would be a criminal offense to NOT run it again..
https://youtu.be/N3A8uNG3GH4
I don’t know why I didn’t think of this two daze ago…
(Remove your children or wear your headphones.
DON’T play it in public…
It isn’t REM.)
https://youtu.be/aNfU_RMbUCA
willie mitchell – take five, before I grapple with what needs to be done today,happy sunday
https://youtu.be/-AS0nk4kCSk
#nickkellycovers https://youtu.be/_gP1efm4EnM
Commencing countdown, engines on.
The Clash – Police & Thieves (covering Junior Murvin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KVFn2uSAjk
Cuss Cuss – Lloyd Robinson’s original then covers by Lloyd Robinson and Horace Andy, Lloyd Robinson (again) and Horace Andy (again):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxk2_Lv6GPg
UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – I got you, babe (covering Sonny & Cher)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxRok_IS4E
Gráinne Holland – An drúcht geal ceo (covering ‘The Foggy Dew’)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYtyrpsTfeg
Ronnie Spector – Back to Black (covering Amy Winehouse)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0qqGrHjLZE
Ronnie Spector – It’s a heartache (covering Bonnie Tyler)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=585nuoCoZWU
Natacha Atlas – I put a spell on you (covering Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WyJhtM7T0s
Concrete Blonde – Everybody knows (covering Leonard Cohen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=367C7L5A4BQ
Laoibhse Ní Nualláin + – Amhrán na gCupán (covering ‘When I’m gone’)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz63M3v11nE