I don’t think that’s really the point that’s being made here. It’s not the fact that these items are being covered, it’s that they’re being covered by a shitty artist shittily. It’d be like Keanu Reeves wanting to remake Citizen Kane. It’s not the fact that Keanu didn’t write the movie, it’s that he’s a pisspoor actor and it would ruin what was a classic. (Or, for a real example, Vince Vaughn in Psycho.)
snicker
This would be a good place to ask this - I used to love a cover of “Money (That’s What I Want)” which was performed by a band of three young Asian women. They spoke the lyrics with a slight Japanese accent, and used what sounded like a coke bottle for the drum beat. IIRC they had another similar song where they sang “Yeah! Uh-Huh!” while riding on the back of a speedboat. Both songs were hilarious in an off-beat kinda way, but I can never remember the name of the band.
Anybody remember this group? They were definitely a Japanese import, and weren’t around very long.
Don’t know one by a Japanese import - the best surreal version of that song I know is from the '80’s and was by the Flying Lizards - the vocals were delivered by a British woman affecting a spoiled, posh accent, and the total production costs for the song were about $14. Great cover.
Sadly, not the Flaming Lizards - I know that album. These were definitely Asian girls.
Could it have been Shonen Knife?
I don’t think it’s Shonen Knife. I listened to some of their clips and they sound too Rock N’ Roll and well-produced. This was more like a deliberately humorous riff on the fact that they didn’t speak English very well, and not very well-done songs at that. The coke bottle-drums were very distinctive. (“I want money…<tink tink> <tink tink tink tink>…that’s what I want…<tink tink> <tink tink tink tink>”)
Dooku, maybe Cibo Matto or Pizzicato Five?
I HATE IZ’s cover of “Over the Rainbow”, which attitude is apparently some sort of heresy from the reactions I get. I’m sorry, but it sounds like someone’s doing a bad karaoke version and not watching the screen for the right lyrics.
My roommate, who is into all sorts of crazy Japanese music, said that Shonen Knife certainly has their share of “crappy stuff” (her words). So it might still be them. Not like I’d know, though. She also seconds the possibility of it being Cibo Matto, and says she’ll keep her eyes out for anything resembling the Money cover.
More good covers:
“Blackbird”-Sarah McLachlan (which I’m listening to right now)
“Yesterday”-Boyz II Men (beautiful a capella version)
“One Less Bell to Answer” -Sheryl Crow (done for a tribute to Burt Bacharach)
I thought the Frente “bizarre love triangle” was lovely. Apart from anything else it was suitably different from the original to make it worthwhile. The Slits’ version of “I heard it through the grapevine” is good. Toots and the Maytals’ version of “Country Roads” was quite good too.
I just wanted to add that Michael Hedges’ cover of “All Along the Watch Tower” is
just fantastic IMHO.
Yep or thinking that Boyzone sang the original ‘When The Going Gets Tough’ or Westlife were the first to do ‘Seasons in the Sun’ or ‘Against All Odds’
Another great cover by Metallica – ‘Tuesday’s Gone’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd (again). On the Garage Inc. album. One of my favs, lots of good covers on that one.
I think covers are always worth trying. Even if they’re done poorly at least the band involved is experimenting. If they don’t pull it off they don’t and little harm done.
That said, Dolly Parton’s cover of Collective Souls ‘Shine’ is brilliant.
Eric Clapton doing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is fantastic.
Thanks for the help guys - it’s neither Cibo Matto nor Pizzicato Five unfortunately. I’ve listened to all of their stuff.
This was actually a rather popular song in about '96 or so. I’m surprised no one else remembers what I’m talking about, but it’s hard to describe with words. I’ve hijacked this thread enough with it, moving on.
How about some good covers? I’m really impressed with Rush’s latest, “Feedback”. Having never recorded cover songs before, they decided it would be fun for their 30th anniversary to record some. They picked songs from 1966-67, when they were 13-14 years old and just learning to play their instruments. The songs are:
Summertime Blues (The Who version, I think)
Heart Full of Soul
For What It’s Worth
The Seeker
Mr. Soul
Seven and Seven Is
Shapes of Things
Crossroads
Excellent, excellent stuff.
I forgot to mention that Sarah McLachlan also sang “The Rainbow Connection” for a “kids songs” collection. I love it, it’s gorgeous.