Hmmm… so far the first two posts this month have both featured cover songs. That was happenstance, but the interpretations you’ll be hearing the rest of the month will be deliberate favorites. I know lots of people don't see the point in covers, but I love them. Next to Irish bands and Christmas tunes, cover songs comprise the third biggest sub-category in my music collection. I've always been fascinated how one musician can take another’s composition and put a new spin on it; reimagine it, breathe new life into it, and make it his own. A performance that uniquely reflects the personality and style of the band performing the cover, versus a soulless note-for-note replication that merely mimics the original. It's a process that is, and always has been, at the very essence of rock n' roll music. A band's decision to cover someone else's material may be out of necessity, but the choice ultimately reflects a level of admiration and respect that acknowledges a certain musical kinship and solidarity. In other words, when Peter Gabriel chooses to cover a song by Arcade Fire, my regard for him goes even higher than it already is because... I like Arcade Fire too! Sometimes it can even work in favor of the artist being covered. In other words, when Peter Gabriel chooses to cover a song by Paul Simon, my response isn't "What the hell is wrong with Peter Gabriel?" but rather, "I trust Peter Gabriel so maybe I need to give Paul Simon another chance."
I teased you on April Fool’s Day with the promise of a classic rock song by The Who, and then surprised you with Richie Havens’ fabulous cover of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” played on acoustic guitar. Havens slows the tempo down and incorporates a world-weary tone to deliver a far less explosive song that still manages to be anthemic and reflect a spirit of defiance. That's what a great cover song does: it adds a new dimension to the listening experience based on a different perspective without obliterating the foundational structure of the original song. That's called having your cake and eating it too!
So as Saturday slips towards Sunday and another weekend blurs into another pandemic week, one of my favorite Elton John songs comes to mind—accompanied by the nagging question: "Did Elton John ever really get in a fight on a Saturday night?" Probably not, but I'll bet The Who did which is why their version of "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" sounds great and feels a tad more genuine. The song first appeared on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in 1973. The Who contributed their version of the song to Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin in 1991. On Saturday, April 4 2020, it's the Happy Medium Song of the Day. By the way, in case you're wondering why Pete Townshend puts "Take Me to the Pilot" from Elton John's second album, into the bridge of this song, it's probably just a tip of the hat to Elton for putting "I Can't Explain" in the middle of his 1975 cover of The Who's "Pinball Wizard." OK, now who wants to fight?
(Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
(Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)