# Peculiar versions of songs and other musical works **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180 "2015-08-18T15:13:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/1 "2015-08-18T15:13:53Z")
Delving around YouTube, I have stumbled upon a few interesting adaptations of diverse songs. I thought “hey, this is cool”, and decided to share (and perhaps you can also share some suggestions of your own) 🙂 I find those adaptations interesting because, on the surface of it, they seem completely absurd. Let us begin with an Austrian choir singing (a cappella, of course) a version of… “Engel”, by, of all people, Rammstein (!) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XTik9exI_8k/hqdefault.jpg "Engel (Rammstein)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTik9exI_8k) And then let’s have a look at a band that I already knew but that definitely fits in this OP – Apocalyptica, playing “Metallica”… with 4 cellos (these guys were alumni of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, professional cello players). Here is a sample: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4WZ2Y8aRqpw/hqdefault.jpg "Apocalyptica-Creeping Death") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WZ2Y8aRqpw) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/2 "2015-08-18T15:34:25Z")
El Hambo, a Finnish folk dance. Lyrics by The Swedish Chef. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2vqc__Fme2Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: El Hambo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vqc__Fme2Y) Bach prelude performed on boomwhackers. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y5seI0eJZCg/maxresdefault.jpg "Prélude n°1 aux tubes musicaux (boomwhackers)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5seI0eJZCg) Bach’s Toccata & Fugue performed on a giant foot piano [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MNi5MIXsEsA/hqdefault.jpg "Bach - Toccata & Fugue on Giant Foot Piano") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNi5MIXsEsA) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/3 "2015-08-18T15:39:38Z")
Bluegrass “Enter Sandman” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3c7bISLhVl8/maxresdefault.jpg "Enter Sandman // Iron Horse") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c7bISLhVl8) Metallica’s “One” performed on medieval instruments [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YTCiuTUaEvs/maxresdefault.jpg "Metallica - One (medieval cover by Stary Olsa) Легенды.Live") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTCiuTUaEvs) While My Guitar Gently Weeps on ukelele [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/puSkP3uym5k/hqdefault.jpg "Ukulele weeps by Jake Shimabukuro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/4 "2015-08-18T15:47:36Z")
Laibach doing the Rolling Stones’ ["Sympathy for the Devi"l](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7muCRio2nQ). They also covered the whole Let It Be album, minus two songs (“Let It Be” and “Maggie Mae,” although a track called “Maggie Mae” is on there, but replaced by the song “Auf der Lüneburger Heide.”) Here’s [“Get Back”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9w6SEtkeug). The Moog Cookbook has a lot of great Moog synthesizer covers of pop hits. [Here’s “Hotel California” by the Eagles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmxo_vIyfJc), for instance. “Whimsical” is a good way to describe it. The covers are cheesy, but the care taken to the sounds, the arrangement, and the articulation of the notes (these are synths played by humans for the most part, not sequencers or otherwise programmed, AFAIK) betrays what I would call a sophisticated musicality. They’re humorous interpretations, but very well done and “human.” ETA: [Here’s their full eponymous album,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKgrzTg7Ipc) which includes 90s hits like “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Even Flow,” and “Basket Case.” ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/5 "2015-08-18T15:50:06Z")
We Will Rock You on bagpipes Enter Sandman on cello Beatles bluegrass style Star Spangled Banner polka [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Rg2e-hdWYGQ/hqdefault.jpg "allen smithy polka star spangled banner") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg2e-hdWYGQ) Jump Around performed by former Amish (I have a very strange playlist.) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/6 "2015-08-18T16:59:51Z")
A band called Self put out an album created with children’s toy instruments. The album is called **Gizmodgery**. My favorite song from it is their cover of the Doobie Brothers “What a Fool Believes.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hV64MTaw7aE/hqdefault.jpg "Self - What a Fool Believes (Doobie Brothers)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV64MTaw7aE) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/7 "2015-08-18T17:07:00Z")
Lol Coxhill’s delightfully strange version of “I am the Walrus.” Alas, there doesn’t seem to be a video of it except from some dodgy websites, but it’s chanted by preschoolers, as Coxhill bleats on a flute and plays random notes on the piano. I see it’s available on Spotify. Search for “coxhill walrus” and you’ll find it. Trust me, you haven’t heard weird until you’ve heard this. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/8 "2015-08-18T20:03:39Z")
[Yakety Sax](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dls0Mmwcp4s&list=PLC7DVV00Hy39Sg2Yupre9a2dAWkd6_pOm&index=27) or anything else really, by the Raleigh Ringers. They are a handbell choir. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/9 "2015-08-18T20:10:03Z")
Does[this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG2lTB-UVvs) qualify? It’s Gilligan’s Island’s theme to the tune of _Stairway To Heaven_. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/10 "2015-08-18T20:13:05Z")
Beethoven’s moonlight sonata for air horns https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=false&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F93897930&show_artwork=true&maxheight=166 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/11 "2015-08-18T20:57:21Z")
There’s a whole album of [this guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIqY-zvdESQ) ruining some of the best rock music. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/12 "2015-08-18T21:15:42Z")
[Start Me Up](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzkILGr2-Ok) by The Folksmen. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/13 "2015-08-18T21:44:46Z")
[DJ Leibowitz - Holiday In Cambodia](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qx6RX7ek70) (Dead Kennedys song as solo piano piece; DJL has a repertoire of something like 2000 punk/new wave/rock songs he can play at a moments notice.) I could fill an entire thread with interesting covers of _Louie Louie_; here’s [Les Dantz & His Orchestra - Louie Louie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G--2l6E20R8). [Anthrax - Keep On Runnin’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyHheg2j2EE) (Journey cover) [Minutemen - Ain’t Talkin’ About Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0C0Yke9tww) (Van Halen cover) [Dinosaur Jr. - Show Me The Way](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as6pXqWYE4U) (Peter Frampton cover) [The Bad Plus - Tom Sawyer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGR-lbiFQk) (Rush cover by a 3 piece jazz combo; this band is awesome & people should listen to them more) [Butthole Surfers - American Woman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLveU2E-NkE) (Guess Who cover) [1000 Homo DJs - Supernaut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjho-zVgDXo) (Black Sabbath cover by 1-off side project of Ministry frontman Alan Jourgenson) [Alanis Morrisette - My Humps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmYfVCH2UA) (Black Eyed Peas cover) But IMO the winner is [Bongwater - Dazed & Chinese](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vincS_wW0xM). I’ll come back with more later maybe. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/14 "2015-08-18T21:56:57Z")
Among the many interesting song adaptions I heard on Top Gear over the years: [Ananda Shankar’s Jumping Jack Flash](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbVSFVOJnLU) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/15 "2015-08-18T22:03:26Z")
Ananda Shankar totally fucking rocked! I miss him. His uncle, too. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/16 "2015-08-18T22:34:08Z")
The New Standards do covers with xylophone, upright bass, and piano: e.g. [Hey Ya](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iu_vzwR9Tk) (Outkast cover); [I Want You To Want Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSMTRkpnN9Q) (Cheap Trick cover) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/17 "2015-08-18T22:38:42Z")
[Postmodern Jukebox does Jason DeRulo’s _Talk Dirty to Me_ backed by a Klezmer band.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvEWNlcefAw) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/18 "2015-08-19T00:00:20Z")
Brave Combo’s polka-fied cover of “Purple Haze” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Jzpprn-jz9Q/maxresdefault.jpg "Purple Haze (The Jimi Hendrix Polka)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzpprn-jz9Q) Tom Waits’ cover of “Heigh Ho” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/71gI8xMfJO0/hqdefault.jpg "Tom Waits - Heigh Ho - Orphans (Bastards)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71gI8xMfJO0) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/19 "2015-08-19T01:14:24Z")
Rush’s Bravado covered by [Gregorian.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-_wnIVfpVI) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180/20 "2015-08-19T04:44:58Z")
Marlene Dietrich’s cover of “The Little Drummer Boy” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reD0rau3A34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peculiar-versions-of-songs-and-other-musical-works/728180.md?page=2)