I used to make fun of Coldplay non-stop ("There was mustard on my hot dog, and it was all yell-low"). Then at some points, the pupils passed the masters, and they were doing a better U2 impression than the actual Dubliners themselves.

"Viva la Vida" is one of this generation's great pop songs. One should never underestimate the power of Eno.

A minor complaint. I never thought Chris Martin was the best choice to sing that song. He does a fine job, but for all of the world-weariness and ennui needed to pull those lyrics off, there could have been someone else.

Martin could be singing "I used to drive an Accord" for as much as he brings to the song. Bowie sounded like he was the man who sold the world, as did Cobain years later. For my money, Tom Petty captured perfectly the voice of "It's Good to be King", and the last few years of Johnny Cash's career, he used his voice to bring gravitas to pop songs. Even Coldplay's hero, Bono spent the 90s as the voice of the seen-it-all pop star.

We'll be stuck with Viva La Vida covers for years to come. Weezer's live version probably being the most well-known.

The most recent version to see the light of day is by the Pet Shop Boys, who in their fine tradition, merged it with their "Domino Dancing" for their Christmas EP.

I think it works. I'm not sure which I prefer, but the PSB's detached pop star delivery works. There's a lot of majesty in the world of Tennant and Lowe.

The studio version has been removed from the YouTubes, so you'll have to check out a live version (with requisite crown).

It is a time honored tradition of the last twenty years, if not longer, that a popular song will inspire "ironic" covers. Pop fluff as played SRSLY by real rock bands.

So, it should be that people love Lady Gaga. The Arctic Monkeys, Weezer, and Daughtry have all taken "Poker Face" and slid it into their canon, if only temporarily.

Still, for those who watch Jonathan Ross or hang out on social newssites, there is no better interpreter than Walken.



You can't beat Walken, but a close second to Mike Patton. Here, a reunited Faith No More make the song sound like one of their own, as they blend it into the beginning of "Chinese Arithmetic".

Things are all abuzz with the Beatles, which is fine with me. 

As punk as I want to be, I can't go all Meatmen on you.  The Beatles made some great music.  If you like Radiohead, the Smiths, U2, REM, Nirvana- any major band of the last 20 years, you gotta admit you at least sorta like the Beatles, because they influenced these bands.

Like some other bands, I get into a Beatles kick every six months to a year, and dig a bunch of their stuff out.  From Rubber Soul to the White Album, I think all of those albums are masterpieces.  I don't generally dig Chuck Klosterman, though he is one of the big names in music journalism, but I was happy to see him postulate (if he's being serious) Magical Mystery Tour was a better album than Sgt. Pepper's.

I don't know that is a conversation I want to have right now, but I always felt Tour got a bad wrap.  I'm sure because of the movie, but I like it better than Pepper's, and at least could argue it is on par.

I could post Beatles covers here all day.  There have been some decent ones.

It's still in my nature to display all the bad: The high crimes and treasons committed in the Beatles' name.

Don't like it?  Well, skip this and debate EW's picks of best and worst songs ("Don't pass me by"?  I love that song.)

VH1 did most of the work, so I will just post their ten worst here.  Shatner.  Goldie Hawn. Russian sailors.  Yeah, they nailed it.

WFMU's Beware of the Blog reasoned that this was the worst crime committed in the name of the Fab Four.  Yeah, it's terrible, but if you remember the 70's, it makes sense. 

Alright, it's pretty damn weird.  With added Patti Labelle, Ritchie Havens and Jesus Christ Superstar dude.  Then suddenly, things go badshiat insane.

Not that it tops Nixon singing "I'm a Loser", but there's not a list of Beatles tributes that is complete without Beatallica.  Actually not bad, though I don't know why I wouldn't listen to one or the other first, before listening to both together.

More down my alley is The Punkles.  Thanks to wqnawacko for that.  Oh, and I probably should mention these guys, too. 

Of course, then there is Laibach.

There are plenty of straight Beatles tribute bands, too-  1964, The Fab Faux,  The Bootleg Beatles, Oasis- that I won't even bother to mention.

There's so much stuff I probably missed that I could probably do several more posts like this, but I gotta stop somewhere.

I have been pumping the Jam's version of "Move on Up" this week.

It's hard to improve on the original (which lest you forget, can be heard here.), but I really like the Jam's version.

Enjoy it here.

Kelly Clarkson's music is generally pretty awful, but I don't really have anything bad to say about her. She gave Mike Watt a paycheck, and well, the internet is generally pretty harsh when it comes to her looks.

So, while I don't want to pile on, "I do not hook up" is easy to run down. I know she doesn't pretend to be Dylan or anything, but c'mon, there aren't too many worse lyrics to be found this side of Fergie.

Still, even though I have always great taste in music, it is unrealistic to think 12 year old girls are going to like the same music as me. There's not too many Andrew Bird and LCD Soundsystem fans in America's junior highs.

The question of course is whether I would like the above stated song were it not delivered as vacuous pop, but say it was delivered from an earnest, sentimental Springsteen/ Mike Ness Hard Working American point of view.

Yeah, maybe I would like it.

The Gaslight Anthem gives that idea a go, and yeah, it generally works well.  Your results may vary.

James Brown (not that one) makes a living of aping Elvis Presley (that one) as The King.

To be fair, any musician that has been around three decades or more has got the youth-guest-star makeover treatment. I call it being Supernaturalized after the Santana album- but obviouslyall of the big stars have had it done to them - Johnny Cash, Al Green, Frank Sinatra. Elton John, BB KIng, and many others.

Likely if Elvis Presley was alive, he would be performing duets with Duffy, David Cook, and Taylor Swift. Elvis was never one for writing his music, and like Rod Stewart would probably stick to the most popular hits. Though, one would hope that Elvis would be as hungry as he appeared on the 68 Comeback special.

Brown, an ex-Irish postman, takes that conceit of The King- Elivs as imagined if he were lean, sober, and back at it- covering Skynyrd, T Rex, Nirvana and Bob Marley in the style of well, The King.

I know, I know. I figured this would be just laughably horrible. The King has chops, though. I can't say this is anything I would listen to on any kind of regular basis, but for what he wants to do, it works. This isn't Richard Cheese parody, but played straight by a guy who's voice is a dead ringer for Presley.

Of course, this starts to go down Danzig territory, but hey, I'll leave that up to you to decide if that's a bad thing.

Of all the rock archetypes, my favorite is the Sensitive Artist.

While everyone else is out on Friday night, the sensitive artist (and I should know) is at home in bed with chamomile tea and The Complete Works of John Keats, whilst crying himself to sleep dreaming of lost love.

My shelves are filled with the works of the sensitive artist.

There's Morrissey (of course), Stuart Murdoch, Stephin Merritt, Guy Chadwick, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith...

Oh.. and Glenn Danzig.




Has no one thought of this first?  Brilliance!

David Pajo has a pretty impressive resume - Zwan, Tortoise, Royal Trux, King Kong, Slint- and now he has done the unthinkable- turning Misfits tunes into lo-fi acoustic songs on the Scream With Me EP.

The Misfits were such a great band, and given their uniqueness, it's no surprise there are so many Misfits tribute bands out there.  I suppose you could make an argument that even the Misfits (sans Glenn) are a Misfits tribute band.

Metallica got a lot of mileage out of Misfits covers and "Violent World" got about as popular as indie tribute albums get (bringing in Therapy, Prong, Sick of it All and No FX).

Still, there is something about the Misfits, that's not it good enough to just be a Misfits tribute band.  You have to take it to the next level.

So here are my five favorite Misfits cover bands (or at the very least, favorite cover band concepts)

The Misfats - Quite simply the best band idea ever.  Sure Danzig seems to like to take his shirt off a lot, so why not these out-of-shape average joes.  20 Pies?  I turned into a Lardass?  Sadly, the Misfats seem to be all but broken up, but great ideas like this, well they transcend time.

The Bitchfits - The Bitchfits take the testosterone heavy- Misfits concept and give it a feminine 'grrl power' twist.  Bonus: They're really good

The Crimson Ghosts - The Ghosts take two of my most favorite things- the Misfits and Surf Music- two great tastes that sound great together.

Glenn or Glennda - Take the Misfits and mix with Ed Wood.  I had to include them based on that alone.  The idea is the Misfits with a crossdressing Danzig.. or something- get it!?!?!?  Extra points for their Myspace which proclaims "Hold me closer, Tiny Danzig"

Devilounge- For the last 15 years, I (along with a couple of you) have been saying Glenn is going to end in Vegas.  Now, you don't have to imagine.  Plenty of punk attitude and bossanova. 

Having tried to sell a few copies of Alan Moore's third installment of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (you don't have to buy it, like Johnny Thunders said "You can be stupid if you want") earlier this week, I thought I should at least tip you off to knowing more about "Mack the Knife."

You don't run into too many songs that feature a murderer/thief/arsonist/womanizer that aren't either alt-country or written by Nick Cave.  Strangely, Mack is a standard though, and it's lyrics pass by unnoticed.

Of course, it's Bobby Darrin's #1 hit everybody knows, but anyone who is anyone who wants to prove they are a showman has performed it- Louis, Ella, Sinatra, Bing, Anka, Robbie, Buble, and it will be performed for decades to come.  It is according to Simon Cowell, "the best song everwritten' and has been reworked from everyone from Reuben Blades to the Young Gods to Sonny Rollins.  It has been perfomed by Roger Daltrey and Sting on stage.  A song so infectious, that McDonald's adopted it for their own as a promotional tool.

Macheath has been around for a long time, but "Mack the Knife" goes back to Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weill's version of the Threepenny Opera.  A lot of my favorite artists are huge Weill fans, people like Marc Almond, David Bowie, Lou Reed and Tom Waits, just to start; and I can appreciate the influence.  The influence still is alive and well in bands like the Tiger Lillies, Emillie Autumn,  and Dresden Dolls, whether their fans realize it or not.

Here are my five favorite versions (that aren't Darin):

Lotte Lenya: the way it was intended.  Youtube also has a version sung by Brecht which would be the original.  I think these songs are great- and if they don't make you want to put on face paint, grab an accordian, and start a dark cabaret band, nothing will.

The Doors - Jim Morrison took Brecht/Weill's Alabama Song and really made it his own.  On some of the live performances, he does the same to "Mack the Knife", as it leads into the Doors hit.

Nick Cave- the lyrics of Mack the Knife wouldn't have been out of place on Murder Ballads, but before that album was released, Nick had recorded a cover for the September Songs Weill tribute.  Nick hams it up, but it's still a great version.

Brian Setzer Orchestra - there are plenty of versions that don't stray much from the Darrin version.  Of those, my favorite is this one, which makes sense given that Brian has done more than anyone to bring Big band to the punk kids.  The Gary Oldman footage is cool, too.

Lyle Lovett - This is a great version in which Lyle takes the original and brings a new spin on it.  Excellent cover that appeared in the movie Quiz Show.

Here's a slight return to Bad Cover Version, and a possible foreshadowing for the weekend?

For my money, there's probably not a sadder song than Coil's cover of Tainted Love.

To be certain, there is probably not a much scarier song than the original Hellraiser theme, which was performed by Coil, and turned down by Clive Barker as being too scary.

So, I should not be surprised that Coil took the theme to "Are you Being Served?", that silly (but very funny) British comedy, and made it into a beautiful haunting, truly moving tune.

In short, they took this and made this:

I have something slightly different planned in the next few weeks, but you'll have to wait.  Let's look at what happened last time:

Results from BCV027: For the Man who sold the World, a surprise tie between Lulu and the Dame himself, David Bowie.

The song: 1962's novelty hit from Bobby "Borris" Pickett- "The Monster Mash". What is it that makes people hate this song? Oh, it could be you will hear it roughly 3,248 times the upcoming week. The song went all the way to #1, and upon reissue, went Top 10 eleven years after it was released.

Pickett has since done everything possible to make the song live on. A Christmas version (1962), a rap version (1985) and a global warming version (2005).

Monster Mash is allegedly (per Pickett) the worst song Elvis ever heard.

Let's Get it on!

Your contenders:

Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Cryptkickers - link
Boris Karloff - link
Vincent Price- link
Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - link
The Beach Boys - link (starts at approx 4:00)
Bad Manners -link
The Misfits -link

My expert analysis -

You know I really don't mind the original version. Sure it gets played alot, but hell, it's a fun song to hear now and again.

You can't not like Karloff and Price's version. The original song was obviously meant as an homage to Karloff. The fact Karloff sang the song is cool. I grew up with Vincent Price movies and have to say that I think is version is excellent, just as having Vincent say anything is excellent.

I have always been able to take or leave Bad Manners, and here I must say their version is passable, but nothing I would listen to over and over.

The (post-Danzig) Misfits version sounds like a terrible idea. I have to admit that when I first heard they were doing this song, I cringed. I can't think of anything cheesier. However, it oddly works. They take it and punk it up. This song almost gets my vote, but stay tuned.

The Beach Boys in 64 were as good as any pop band ever. I like their version. It could have been surfed up a bit more, but it works. Also, Mike Love looks to be inventing the punk frontman in that video.

However, for me, the best of all these is the Bonzos (with added Eric Idle). It has that garage rock sound that wouldn't sound out of place on Nuggets, fronted by a singer with ice-cold vocals. It's a catchy tune, and halfway through, it gets even better. Frankenstein would approve.

Your turn.

Poll #1286312
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 2

Best Monster Mash

Results from BCV026: The Yardbirds were the original and still the champs, as their "Heart Full of Soul" beat Rush and Chris Isaak.

Bad Cover Version 27 is on!

The song: David Bowie's title track from his1970 album "The Man Who Sold the World". Lulu took it to the #3 spot on the UK charts. Nirvana took it to #39 on the US charts in the 90s.

According to wikipedia, In the wake of this cover, Bowie bemoaned the fact that when he performed the number himself he would encounter "kids that come up afterwards and say, 'It's cool you're doing a Nirvana song.' And I think, 'Fuck you, you little tosser!

The contenders

(from London, England via Outer Space) David Bowie - The Labyrinth actor apparently also recorded an album or two.



(From Glasgow, Scotland) Lulu - Yes, To Sir With Love Lulu. Apparently, it's a British thing.




(from Aberdeen, Washington ) Nirvana - Best known as Krist Novoselic's pre- Sweet 75 band




My expert analysis - I don't mind the Lulu version, but this is really a fight between two Heavyweights.

Coldplay are on the radio currently with a song in which Chris Martin claims to have once ruled the world. It's a great pop song, but Chris hardly sounds credible as the landlord of a 2-story apartment complex.

Bowie and Cobain sold it.

Bowie could sell a role better than anyone in rock hostory. He is Ziggy Stardust, the Thin White Duke, the man who fell to Earth, Major Tom, the Jean Genie, and here, the man who sold the world. You believe every word he says. It doesn't hurt that the music is otherworldly, too.

Cobain is as equally if not more world-weary sounding than Bowie. Here is a prophetic song in which Cobain does own the world and is about to sell it. The song is extra heavy now after the fact, but it was admittedly heavy even at the time.

If I am forced to pick, I vote Bowie, but both versions are excellent. In fact, to take a what is an amazing song and make it your own is pretty rare, so if you are looking for a true tribute to the skill of Nirvana, that may be it.

Poll #1260966 Man Who Sold the World
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5

Best version

Last week's results: In a surprise upset, the Sex Pistols was the best cover version of "Substitute".

The Song- The Graham Gouldman-penned "Heart Full Of Soul". A 1965 hit for the Yardbirds. A #9 hit in the US and #2 in the UK

The Contenders:

(From London, England) The Yardbirds - The Minnesota Twins or Oakland A's of the British rock scene. Which is to say, their members (Clapton, Beck, Page) went to bigger and better things elsewhere.



(From Stockton, California) Chris Isaak - the star of Showtime's aptly-titled The Chris Isaak Show



(From Toronto, Ontario, Canada) Rush - Only the greatest band ever, man...



My Expert Opinion - Well, if anyone actually has a Heart Full of Soul, it's Chris Isaak. He certainly would beat out Keith Relf in that category.

Yet, there's something about the original that just can't be topped. While I love Isaak, I gotta hand it to the original.

I like the Rush version alot, but I still prefer the original, so I guess it's just one of those songs that will never be topped.

Poll #1254498 Heart Full Of Soul
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 4

Best version

Last week's results: Industrial stalwarts Laibach and Norwegian rockabilly trio the Twang Gang tied for best version of "The Final Countdown"

This week, it's that anthem for the guys from the wrong side of the tracks- Let's Get It On!

The Song- Substitute The Who's 1966 song written by Pete Townshend went to #5 in the UK. Wikipedia says The concept for the song was supposedly originally inspired by Townshend’s idea The Who were a “substitute” for the Rolling Stones(Townshend had been particularly impressed by The Stones' hit "Satisfaction" and was determined to come up with a memorable riff in response), though it was later described as a comment about the blurring between image and reality

The Contenders:

(From West London) The Who - Obscure London four piece who managed to score a hit with the theme for CSI. Britpop with an obvious influence from the Jam, Stereophonics, and Supergrass.

(From London) The Sex Pistols - They like noise. It's their choice. It's what they want to do.



(From New York City) The Ramones - After having sons Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, CJ, Tommy, Marky, and Richie, Mama Ramone just wanted a daughter.

 

Clip is here

My Expert Opinion - The Who were an incredible band. It is impossible to imagine Punk, Heavy Metal, Britpop, American alternative, and hard rock in general without the influence of the Who. Even if they had broken up in 1969, they would still have went down as one of the great singles band of all time. Yes, what I am saying is if they never recorded Tommy, Live at Leeds, Who's Next, Quadrophenia, and "Who are you", they would still have been legends.

The trouble here though for me is that "Substitute" is one of my least favorite Who tracks. Maybe, it's been overplayed, but for some reason, I reach for the skip button when it comes on.

It is blasphemy to like the Sex Pistols' version better than the original, but I think that it gets my vote. Is there anyone who can sing those lyrics as convincing as Johnny Rotten?  It's not the Pistols' finest hour, but the song is fitting.

As it had already been covered by the Pistols, did we really need a Ramones version? Besides though the Ramones are in their element covering 50's songs, they don't sound right covering songs from the 60's ("Time has come today" anyone?)

Still, the video with Lux Interior, Lemmy, and Sean from White Zombie is a must-see.

So, it's the Pistols version for me. They mean it, maaaaan.... What do you think?

Poll #1243495 Bad cover version 024: Final Countdown
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5

Best version of Final Countdown

My friend and comrade-in-blog DefFrog had a little series he called "Bad Cover Version" in which he posted a famous song and it's cover, he then would dispens his hard justice Wapner-style and pick a winner.

I was always a tad jealous because I didn't come up with the idea first, but my jealousy always took aside to the fact that it was always a great series of posts.

With the advent of youtube there is a wealth of material out there. defFrog always picked well-known songs, in which case, more often than not, the original is better than the cover.

I always figured if I did the series, I would have went with lesser-known covers. As been remarked before, I am a fan of a good cover song.

So, it appears, defFrog is ready to take a hiatus from the series. He even mentioned me as a possible successor. Well, I have to say that yes, I would like to take over the series, and to be honest, I have a pro-cover agenda to push. Damn agenda bloggers.

Anyway, expect this weekly or so. I am doing it my way now.

Let's Get It On!

The Song: The Final Countdown #8 in the US, #1 in the UK written by Europe singer Joey Tempest. In the UK, it reached #1 in between songs by Berlin and the Housemartins. The song was originally released in February 1986. The lyrics were inspired by Bowie's "Space Oddity".

( Four bands enter the arena.. Only one leaves )

My expert analysis- I can't hate the original. It is so ridiculously over-the-top, with its 'can only have been the 80s' keyboard and 'We're headed to Veee-nus" lyrics. Swedish people are silly. I can't remember the last time I heard "Carrie" on the radio - let alone "Cherokee" or "Rock the Night"- yet "Final Countdown" is a staple. I have to give them serious consideration.

"Final Countdown 2000" is just the original with a dance beat, so I would probably discount it as a serious contender.

I also have to give serious consideration to the festival losers. They have real staying power, and as they say, they really took it to the next level.

My initial instinct though is to give it to Laibach. It seems the perfect song for Laibach to cover. For a band that does ridiculous over-the-top covers, there is no better song to lampoon honor.

At the end of the day, though, i don't think I would want to listen to the Laibach song too often. I have to give credit to the Twang gang (who I am not familiar with) for doing something different, and making a great song out of it. They make it into a tune of heartbreak and betrayal like only someone like Johnny Cash or Chris Isaak could.

They get my vote, but don't let me tell you what to think.