When a cover version changes the meaning of a song

Sometimes a cover version can change the original meaning of a song. When Sandie Shaw sings “Reviewing The Situation” the song takes on a new slant when sang from a female perspective. The lyrics –

And a wife would cook and sew for me,
And come for me, and go for me.

Are changed to –
And I would cook and sew for him, and come for him, and go for him.

Another example is the Undertones “Teenage Kicks” contains the lyrics –

Are teenage dreams so hard to beat?
Every time she walks down the street
Another girl in the neighborhood
Wish she was mine, she looks so good
I wanna hold you wanna hold you tight
Get teenage kicks right through the night

These lyrics are great when sung by a teenager, but when they are sang by the band The Platinum Paddies the fact that the singer is clearly in his advancing years makes the song somewhat menacing.

The ultimate though unintentional creepy cover is the Elvis Presley song “Suspicious Minds” the lyrics, as you probably know are –

We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby
Why can't you see?
What you're doing to me

These are very strange words (in retrospect) to be sang by
Gary Glitter in view of everything that we have found out about him in the last few years.

Anyone know of any others?

everything old is new again - some thoughts on the evolution of the cover version

Everything old is new again – some thoughts on the evolution of cover versions
There have been many forms of popular music over the last century including but not limited to: Jazz, Blues, Soul, Disco, Punk, Hip Hop, Rap and Grunge. Since Grunge hit in the early nineties there have not been any strong musical movements at the forefront of popular culture. Where is the new music coming from? Old music. Cover versions and cover bands have moved in to fill the cultural void that a new musical direction could be filling.
Cover versions are nothing new, of course, the first popular songs were traditional songs sang by troubadours, memorized by the populous and sang by anyone who was moved to sing. With the advent of cheap sheet music the tunes and lyrics became standardized and these songs became popular standards. In the 1920’s and 30’s some songs started to become associated with specific singers after their records were played on the radio and they sang them in movies. But by and large a popular song would have a life of its own. Cole Porters song Anything Goes for example was written for a Broadway musical but was used in numerous films and recorded by many different artists and still to this day stands out as a standard without being associated with a specific singer. In the 1950’s Rock and Roll became popular with artists like Elvis Presley rerecording blues songs with an upbeat tempo. That’s Alright Mama a song that was made popular by Elvis is an almost exact copy of the Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup original from 1946. In England there was the Skiffle movement, bands with a ragtag assortment of guitars, washboards and homemade bass reinterpreted traditional folk songs.
In the sixties popular music exploded with new bands such as The Beatles, The Animals and The Rolling Stones releasing records that were nearly all covers of the Blues and rock and roll records that they were listening to. Soon the great songwriters of the Sixties emerged and there was a small industry in covering the songs of Dylan, Lennon - McCartney and Jagger – Richards. This was a golden era for the cover version, the songs were everywhere and the singers could not be. The strength of the songwriting shone through and Beatles songs were recorded in every imaginable style and language. Bands like the Hollies, Manfred Mann and the Band recorded albums and E.P.s comprised wholly of Bob Dylan songs. The great interpreters stepped up to the plate, musicians who covered songs in such a way that they made them their own, Cream remade the blues in their own image, Joe Cocker took “With a little help from my friends” and created a wholly different song from the Beatles original vision, Jimi Hendrix (with a song that is generally regarded as the greatest cover version of all time) took Dylan’s “All along the watchtower” to soaring new heights scarcely imagined by its composer. Along with Bob Dylan great poets like Leonard Cohen emerged who wrote beautiful song that were enhanced by new interpretations.
As the seventies emerged more singer songwriters are being known for their own versions of songs as easier international travel and satellite /video technology made it easier for the artists to be seen playing their own songs. The two saving graces for cover versions in the seventies were the advent of Punk and Disco. Disco cover versions filled the dance floor by adding orchestrations and a beat to such songs as Donna Summers version of “ Macarthur’s park” or Boney M singing “Sunny”. Punk was a fountain of interesting cover versions too numerous to mention. Those that I will mention are “My Way” by Sid Vicious, “Stepping Stone” by The Sex Pistols, “I heard it through the grapevine” by The Slits, “ All along the watchtower” by XTC and the greatest cover version of the seventies (in my opinion) “Walk on By” by The Stranglers.
The eighties were somewhat of a low point for cover versions with a few bands that started out in the seventies releasing cover albums one good example is The Flying Lizards “Top 10” album. There were a few small bands keeping the covers alive, the Silicon Teens released “Music for Parties” an album of electro versions of late fifties and early sixties hits. Towards the end of the eighties where were manufactures groups like Bananarama singing overproduced covers of songs such as “Na Na Hey Hey – Kiss Him Goodbye” and “Venus” these haven’t aged well.
The nineties brought the advent of the tribute album, a bunch of assorted artists record covers from one band or songwriter and release it as an album. The market was flooded with them and major labels released tributes to major artists while minor labels released more eclectic collections. There are tribute albums to: The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen, The Byrds, Frank Zappa and many more.
Here in the 21st century the cover version is once again entering a golden age in the U.K. and Australia there are TV and Radio shows where guests are encouraged to do impromptu cover versions. Internationally shows like American Idol are all cover versions (glorified Karaoke but cover versions none the less). In London’s West End and on Broadway shows like Mamma Mia and The Jersey Boys play to packed houses. Films like Mamma Mia and Across the Universe are keeping cover versions at the forefront of popular culture.

Getting into the swing of things

Show two was a hoot! I managed to play some Punk, Rock, Jazz, Ska, Blues, Country and a few ballads and it all worked together, I love Covers!

Here for anyone who is interested is the playlist from week two - 

Walk on by – The Stranglers – (Dionne Warrick)
I heard it through the grapevine – The Slits – (Marvin Gaye)
Only Love can break your heart – St Ettiene - (Neil Young)
If You Gotta Go, Go Now – Cowboy Junkies - (Dylan)
When I paint my masterpiece – Emmylou Harris -(Dylan)
Lay Lady Lady – Sandie Shaw – (Dylan)
Motherless Child – Portishead /Tom Jones – (trad)
Let’s spend the night together – Muddy Waters –– (Rolling Stones)
The letter – Seasick Steve – (the Box tops)
Low rider – Son of Dave – (War)
Black hole sun - Eydie Gorme & Steve Lawrence – (Soundgarden)
Wonderwall – Paul Anka – (Oasis)
Fly Me to The Moon – Skanatra – (Sinatra)
Paranoid –Ruder Than You -( Black Sabbath )
Take On Me – Reel Big Fish –(Aha)
Come on Eileen – save Ferris –(Dexys Midnight Runners)
Funnel Of Love - Asylum Street Spankers –(Wanda Jackson)
Rose Garden – Southern Culture on the skids –(Joe south (Loretta Lynne)
Rock Island Line – Knitters (Trad)
I’m a believer – Robert Wyatt – (Monkees)
Last train to Clarkesville – Cassandra Wilson –(Monkees)
You Can’t Do That – Harry Nilsson – (Beatles)
Esta Bien Mamacita (That’s All Right Mama) – El Vez – (Elvis)
She don’t care about time – The Cateran - (Byrds)
I’ll feel a Whole lot better – Dinosaur Jr – (Byrds)
Here without you - Richard Thompson, Clive Gregson & Christine Collister – (Byrds)
Look at Miss Ohio – The Kill Devil Hills – (Gillian Welch)
Smells like teen spirit – Willie Nelson – (Nirvana)
That’s All Right – Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup {1946} (covered by Elvis)

First show playlist and thoughts

Finally the first show is over. It was a rough start, what with nerves and tech problems but the music was good. Here is the playlist from the first show.

Feeling Good – Muse –  (Nina Simone ’65)

Perfect  Day – Evan Dando & Kirsty MacColl   -  (Lou Reed ’72)

This will be our year   - Beautiful South –  (Zombies  ‘68)

Let it be - Carol Woods & Timothy T. Mitchum –  (Beatles)

Help - Isaac Scott –  (Beatles)

Wind Cries Mary  - Chuck Prophet  -  (Hendrix ’67)

Hey Joe – Dukes of Hamburg – (The Leaves ’65  -  Hendrix ’66)

All along the watchtower – Hair Rave Up –(Dylan ’67 – Hendrix ’68)

Hot Burrito #1 – Raul Malo – (Flying Burrito Brothers ’69)

Sin City - Beck & Emmylou Harris – (Flying Burrito Brothers ’69)

Alison -  Janas Hoyt And The Mary Janes – (Elvis Costello ‘77)

Shipbuilding  - Robert Wyatt  (Elvis Costello ‘81)

Almost Blue  - Gwen Stafani  (Elvis Costello ‘82)

House of the Rising Sun – John Otway (traditional)

The harder they come – Waco Brothers – (Jimmy Cliff –’72)

So much Trouble in the World – Madness – (Bob Marley)

No Woman No Cry – King – (Bob Marley)

Love her madly – Wailing Souls – (Doors ’71)

Bridge over troubled water – Jimmy London – (Simon & Garfunkel  ’70)

Blowing in the wind – Don Carlos – (Dylan ’63)

The Last Time  - The Bees –(Rolling Stones)

Out of time – Chris Farlowe – (Rolling Stones)

Come As You Are  - King –  (Nirvana)

Stairway to heaven – Australian Doors Show – (Led Zepplin)

Day in the life  - Big Daddy – (Beatles)

Tainted Love  - Gloria Jones (covered by Soft Cell)

Hard days night  - Peter Sellers – (Beatles)

If anyone was actually listening i would appreciate feedback.

Thanks Dan