Devo- Satisfaction Devo-Working in a Coal mine Devo- Secret Agent Man Pretty much anything by Laibach Leben heisst Leben (Life is Life) the German version is 1 billion times better than the Opus version and the English version is 50 million times better Geburt einer nation (only time a Queen song was worth a liste Sympathy for the Devil (maybe a tie) Get Back (the gutteral "Get back, Jo Jo" is magic) I Dig a Pony The Final Countdown (1 hundred billion times better than Europe's) Jesus Christ Superstar They have a 40 year career of making lame music awesome.
I’ve always been partial to Buckley’s version of Hallelujah. Another one that isn’t better but is interesting is Ben Folds covering Dr Dre. I’m not a fan of the song (definitely not suitable for work), but he has an interesting take on why he did it if you search Ben folds Dre stroudsburg on YouTube. The live version that follows is muddled by the crowd though. The subtext of the cover is more about the absurdity of appropriation (including the word white people should not say that begins with n).
Meeeeemories.... Can't tell you the number of times, I dove off a stage while David Ryan Harris was belting out those lyrics. FFN shows were so much fun. They'd usually open the show with Channel Zero with this long intro, building up tension as David started the countdown --- "it ain't channel three, not channel two, not channel one --- it's zeeeeeero." And boom, the guitars and the room would explode with everyone in the place bouncing up and down. Fast forward more than ten years, I ended up coaching Jamie Turner's (bass player) son in soccer.
Probably been about ten years or more, but I watching that Storytellers show on VH1 and they had the Boss. He talked about writing that song and he agreed that the Manfred Mann version was better. He also laughingly informed the crowd..."It's NOT revved up like a douche, guys!"
I remember your telling me- that's about as cool as it gets! Opened for them here once, and saw them every time they came to town. Did a Birmingham band called Vova Nova ever get out to Athens while you were there? They were monsters, tho I sometimes think the vocalist could have reined it in a bit. Their bassist, Milton Davis, wrote "I Know" (sung by Dionne Farris) and is now a reasonably successful producer out West.
Yeah, we've all been on BS so long, I'm sure I'm repeating some stories at this point. Apologies. I don't recall Vova Nova. But the Dionne Farris connection is interesting. David played guitar for her on her big album --- what late 90s? I remember when she played SNL, I saw David behind her, playing. From what I hear from my music friends, he still does a lot of studio and production work here in Atlanta and LA. I wonder if he's friends with Milton Davis. Last time I saw him was in line at Aurora Coffee in L5P. I said hey to him, and he politely said he remembered me (through mutual friends). Great guy and so talented.
I'm sure they know one another. I've met Milton, but I don't know him in the sense that he'd remember meeting me.
Covers better than the original - Pat Boone, Smoke on the Water Pat Boone, Tutti Frutti Pat Boone, Ain't That a Shame
I started laughing before I even went to YT for "Smoke". Then I stopped. It's actually pretty good. But it's too early Batman/Get Smart/something for my taste to listen more than a couple of times. Like Lawrence Welk trying to stay relevant. I commend Pat for not even trying to do it the right way.
U2-Everlasting Love Over not only the original by Robert Knight whom I didn't know about but over the cover I did know by Carl Carlton.
I read an interview with him. He was WELL aware hwt he was the ivory face used to abergate Black music. He had no illusions and played it with that knowledge. He was in on it but took the opportunity however sappy they demanded he make it. He was tongue in cheek on all of it.
R.E.M.'s Superman way better than The Clique's version Camper van Beethoven's Pictures of Matchstick Men better than The Status Quo's version ----- maybe but barely. The original is pretty darn good.
SAD NEWS Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, The Hostess Twinkies and Captain Crunch The grave site was piled high with flours. Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Born and bread in Minnesota, Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, the crusty old man was considered a positive roll model for millions. Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.