I’ve been on an odd kick, the last coupla days—looking up anachronistic-styled song covers. That is, songs reworked in a style from an earlier era than they were originally written and performed…though not the other way around, which would be far too common.
So far, I’ve scrounged up—
•Call Me Maybe—Postmodern Jukebox (Late-era ragtime.) Their Motown “Sk8r Boi”, among others, was also oddly charming.
•We Have All the Time in the World—The Puppini Sisters (1940s style)
•Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner—Naomi Bedford (Folk/Country). Shiny. Although technically I guess it’s a genre that’s survived enough to still be considered “contemporary,” but what the heck.
•Purple Haze—The Hampton String Quartet (Classical) “Blackbird” and “The Battle of Evermore” were other contending covers from the same group.
That’s just what was at the top of my mind, from my own collection or from a cursory search. 'Anyone else have anything to suggest? I’m all ears.
The London Symphony Orchestra recorded A Classic Case, an album of Jethro Tull in classical style. Here’s a live version of “Aqualung” with Ian Anderson on flute.
I can’t find a video of the Asylum Street Spankers doing “Closer”, but here’s the audio. (Lyrics NSFW.)
They do a few other covers (“Dance This Mess Around”, “Think About Your Troubles”, etc.), but other than the instrumentation most of them are pretty faithful.
There’s always Weird Al Yankovic’s polka medleys.
Not so much anachronistic as just plain silly, the “Farm Beetles” did several Beatles songs in country/bluegrass style, such as “Hilter Skilter.”
