Well, here I am again, blogging! I'm not sure what's gotten into me, but I'll take it.
I seem to have run out of clever names to title my blog entries about cover songs and their originals, but you get the idea. I was inspired to post this last night when my boyfriend, a Sonic Youth fan, told me he was listening to the deluxe edition of Goo and discovered that on the second disc contained a cover of the Beach Boy's song "I Know There's An Answer" from Pet Sounds.
Now, I've never gotten into Sonic Youth, so don't shoot me. I admit I've not really heard much of their stuff, but I've never been quite sure that they were my "type" of music anyway. That aside, when I heard their cover of the Beach Boys' song, I was pleasantly surprised. It still has the jangly whimsy and innocence of the original. The vocals and harmonies stay pretty true, but have a more raw and earnest tone than the Beach Boys' sweet, near-perfect harmonies. (PS - is it Thurston singing in the Sonic Youth version?)
I think what really ties Sonic Youth's version to the Beach Boys original is the syncopated tambourine that remains in both. I gotta say, I really like Sonic's Youth version - I love that guitar line in the second verse.
The weather's been bumming me out lately and so has the results of the recent Canadian election (boo hiss!). But politics are rarely my choice of discussion topic, so let's move on.
The first time I'd heard this song was the version done by the Beach Boys. And we all know how much I love the Beach Boys, don't we? I don't need to dedicate yet another post about Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys!
So yes, this song makes me swoon. There's something SO romantic about the lyrics - it pretty much embodies the feeling of being in love and being enveloped in that feeling. Sigh!
I just love the swelling harmonies in the Beach Boys version. And it really does musically surround you, without sounding overdone and syrupy sweet.
Obviously I was totally stoked when I found out She & Him were releasing their own cover of "I Can Hear Music" as the b-side to the first single off Volume 2, "In the Sun" (pretty much the most perfect pairing ever for a 7" single!). Their version is fairly low key, with M. Ward's dreamy acoustic guitar and minimal backing vocals. I love how Zooey's voice sounds so warm and lovely; it just soars. I think this song was meant to give me chills!
Anyway, in the press release announcing that She & Him single, I realized that the Beach Boys weren't the original artists of this song - it was actually The Ronettes. Oddly enough, I hadn't heard their version despite being a huge fan of 60's girl groups and Phil Spector's wall of sound. To be honest, I think the Beach Boys' version is still my absolute favourite.
Sometimes I get so obsessed with bands that I can't stop playing their music and I worry at some point I'm going to get so sick of them, that I'll never be able to listen to them again.
Two bands I've been super obsessed with lately? Well, you should be able to guess one of them: Dum Dum Girls (obvs!) and the other is the Raveonettes.
I saw the Ravonettes in Toronto last month and reviewed the show for Singing Lamb, a Toronto-based music blog I also write for... the review and photo gallery can be found here. The band also did an in-store performance at Sonic Boom on Bloor (for non-Torontonians - seen Scott Pilgrim? Then you'll know what record store I'm talking about!) and chatted with Sune Rose Wagner afterwards (total SQUEE moment), as well as a photo with him and Sharin (see left). Looking back, I probably should've blogged about it immediately afterwards but oh well.
Anyway, I've been saying for quite awhile now that I would keel over with joy if the Raveonettes toured with Dum Dum Girls. I mean, they both have that amazing, dark retro-vintage-reverb sound and they're already all pals, right? (see previous entry where I already gush about this, haha)
So in my recent search for all things Dum Dum Girls, I found that they actually cover a Raveonettes song! You know me, I love covers and what could be better than a band I love covering another band I love? Also, in watching several interviews with DDG's singer Dee Dee, she stated that she loves thinking of songs the band can cover - hey Dee Dee, I like covers too! Let's be pals!
Okay, okay, enough ramble from me (though I haven't blogged in so long, you can excuse a bit of ramble, right?). Without further ado, here is the Raveonettes' with their song "Heart of Stone" from their 2009 album, In and Out of Control.
And now, with a similar tone but (in my opinion), a totally different approach, Dum Dum Girls' version.
The thing about both songs is that I love both intros - both start out with the single guitar playing - then the Raveonettes' version has that dramatic drum intro, whereas Dum Dum Girls' comes in with that syncopated drum beat.... have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE syncopated drum beats? To me, it's such a throwback to 60's girl groups or just that 60's/Phil Spector/wall of sound type sound. Ahhh. I love it. Can't stop gushing.
Seriously hoping I will be able to see Dum Dum Girls when they do NXNE in June....
My third installment of Wini-approved cover songs is timely in that I just saw Fran Healy (singer of the band Travis) perform this at his solo show in Toronto on Friday and also because it is somewhat Christmas-themed. I mean, we're starting to get snow around these parts and December is just around the corner, so... yeah.
The melancholy tone is so heartbreaking - I love the tiny break in Fran's voice when he hits the high notes (also see: impressive) and how sad and sincere he sounds. It's pretty faithful to the original, aside from the change of pronouns (from male to female).
The original is by Canadian legend, Joni Mitchell, duh. If you haven't heard it before, look it up. Oh wait, here it is:
Both songs give me chills. And rightly so. But I do apologize if they bum you out a bit. You have been warned!
I previously mentioned that I grew up listening to my parents' records and was blissfully unaware of "contemporary" music for the longest time. Prior to the Beatles and Beach Boys, I bopped around to ABBA as a baby. My sister (eight years older than me) had a tape recorder with which she made recordings of baby Wini learning to talk. The gem of this tape is of me singing along to ABBA's "Voulez-Vous" (in which I'd sing "VOULEZ-VOUS!" loudly and then babble/mumble the rest).
ABBA is pure pop, no way around it. Their songs sound happy and cheerful, and the lyrical content tends to come second. Sad lyrics? Doesn't matter, it'll still make me want to dance.
Comparably, Camera Obscura is somewhat similar. Their lyrics have a stronger effect; the twee melodies still make me want to sway, but with a heavier heart. Their cover of "Super Trouper" does the song justice - the music actually reflects the lyrics better than the original. In fact, I'm not sure if I ever really paid attention to the lyrics until I hear Camera Obscura's version. Tracyanne's mournful, melancholic voice rings out and I'm surely convinced of her homesick loneliness when she sings, "Facing twenty thousand of your friends / How can anyone be so lonely?" Hearing her sing that line causes such pangs in my heart!
Camera Obscura's version:
The original by ABBA:
Wonderful example of a cover version bringing a whole new dimension to a song I already enjoy.
I love cover songs. (Well, generally .) It's weird because my mum hates cover songs for some random reason - she'll always scoff and say disparagingly, "Pfft, why is this person doing someone else's song?"
I'm the complete opposite. I love when an artist brings something new to a song and puts their own style/spin on it. Depending on which version I heard first, sometimes I'll like the cover version more than the original (which I know is somewhat sacrilegious in some cases of "classic" heralded tunes).
This morning I was listening to Nicole Atkins' cover EP, Nicole Atkins Digs Other People's Songs. On it, she covers Nada Surf's "Inside of Love," her lovely emotive voice holding faithful to the original. I love this song. Both versions give me chills and sometimes have the power to make me tear up a little.
(Side note: Nicole Atkins' new album comes out early next year and the first single can be downloaded from her website for free.)
The original by Nada Surf will always be held close to my heart - though Nicole Atkins' version is really good, the original will definitely reign superior. Chills, I tell you.
