Music Post!
Feb. 5th, 2006 10:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
charloweenThis week, it's... More Covers! Huzzah!
( Zip here. )
Universal Hall Pass - Ring of Fire
- A country song performed by a Western artist who appropriates Middle Eastern influences for the one track. Dude, that is so post-modern. (sorry) Seriously, though. Music is the least representational of art forms (and therefore isn't necessarily about anything), but world music does carry with it various cultural assumptions/biases. This track seems to want to draw only the relatively simplistic desert/heat/fire imagery associated with the Middle East (something that exists already in part in the text of the original song) as a signifier and combine that with the exoticism/(sexual) mystery of "The East". It's a pretty and original take on such a well-known song.
Snake River Conspiracy - Lovesong
- There are SO MANY covers of this song, and I think this is the best of them. It's bold, it's sexy, and it draws emphasizes the, ah, power of love. The slightly creepy vibe of the original is still there, but (like with their version of "How Soon is Now") takes it from the loner-loser side of things to the insane-nymphomaniac side. Okay, that's not the best way to put it. Um. *points* Shiny! And you can dance to it! It's a sad little soulful song all tarted up in leather like a 17-year-old with her first serious boyfriend and a thing for leather wristbands and fishnets. (At least, that's how I always think of Snake River Conspiracy.)
Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
- It's always interesting to see what's left when you strip a rock song down to its bare bones. This and the next bunch are that type of cover: where the original track was big, brash and bold, the cover is spare, sparse and sparkling. This one is a perfect song for a cold, rainy day. It's a warm hug of a song. The original is a rocker-boy's "confession", sung to thousands and (as such songs do) acts as a barrier between the performer and recipient. This version turns a rocker-boy whine melody into something far more personal and haunting. A piano line that is syrupy on Oasis's version becomes a beautiful touch at the very end of the song. The acoustic guitar work is delicate and simple and almost achingly personal.
Cyndi Lauper with Sarah McLachlan - Time After Time
- It's kind of a cover; I think an acoustic re-recording with a special guest artist should count as a cover, even if it is a self-cover. If it was just her alone, then I wouldn't count it as a cover. But since there's someone else in there singing some of the lines, I call it a cover. It's half-covered. (hee) Plus, It's more different that some covers I've heard (I'm thinking here of GnR's cover of "Sympathy for the Devil"), and is a good song even if it does go off the rails a bit at the very end.
Hayseed Dixie - Rockin' In the Free World,
Hayseed Dixie - Whole Lotta Love and
Hayseed Dixie - Back In Black
- Bluegrass = awesome. Bluegrass covers of famous rock songs = very awesome. The Led Zep one works because "Whole Lotta Love" was based on a folk song, and "Rockin' In the Free World" is a far more serious track than the other Hayseed Dixie I've heard. They started as a joke AC/DC cover band (say "Hayseed Dixie" out loud a few times until you get it), but "Rockin' In the Free World" really surprised me with its gravity. I like it better than when Neil Young sang it for a number of reasons, none of which I can really articulate - though a rich rock star who's strung out on drugs telling me to be socially aware carries a little less moral weight and urgency than the same words coming from a small-time bluegrass band. This version is also a full minute shorter. Again, it's fun to hear when something is torn down to its bones and remade with slightly different materials. "Back in Black" is maybe the most comfortable sounding of the three songs, but (again!) they had a great base to build from. There's the sing-along chorus, the jazz bits toward the end, the kind of thing you find on a Sunday afternoon at a folk festival after the performers are all slightly warped and fearless after a weekend in the sun. "Whole Lotta Love" is a silly, silly song no matter who sings it. If you like these, I have a few more covers, including "Thunderstruck", "War Pigs", "Highway to Hell", and Green Day's "Holiday". Trent Reznor joked once about how NIN songs would sound as campfire songs, and I'm waiting for Hayseed Dixie's next album...
Petra Haden - God Only Knows
- Beach Boys! Yeah! It's a great song to begin with, and this is one of those completely a cappella covers, where a "choir" bah bah booms the accompaniment (it sounds like her doing all the parts, but I'm not sure about that), including the percussion. It's short, cute, a technical marvel and not in the least bit schmaltzy.
Travis - Hit Me Baby One More Time
- It works. Best of all, it's live, and the band and audience is into it. Dumb pop song becomes anthem... and it works because EVERYONE knows ALL THE WORDS whether you wanted to or not. The best part is that (if you approach them with only a bit of irony), the lyrics don't sound all that ridiculous. I mean, who's never been lonely, wanting nothing more than to be with a particular person? It became a hit for that Spears chick because at its core, it's a good song (okay, and there was that whole marketing thing, but really, not even stinky product stays long). Or if you hate the song completely, listen to it because the guys are having so much damn fun singing it.
And![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aoshi posted a cool meme that I'm going to steal:
Music Meme!
Do you trust my taste in music? Pick a number between 1 and 4500 and I'll find the corresponding song in my collection playlist. I'll upload it for you (and everyone else reading this entry) to grab. [Optional: when you've gotten a song from me, go post this meme in your own journal, so I can grab a random song from you.]
EDIT: Brokeback to the Future. Oh god. Oh gods. Oh gods gods gods. Hilarious but scary. It's far better than this trailer remix, because it's not a stretch to find the subtext in Top Gun.
( Zip here. )
Universal Hall Pass - Ring of Fire
- A country song performed by a Western artist who appropriates Middle Eastern influences for the one track. Dude, that is so post-modern. (sorry) Seriously, though. Music is the least representational of art forms (and therefore isn't necessarily about anything), but world music does carry with it various cultural assumptions/biases. This track seems to want to draw only the relatively simplistic desert/heat/fire imagery associated with the Middle East (something that exists already in part in the text of the original song) as a signifier and combine that with the exoticism/(sexual) mystery of "The East". It's a pretty and original take on such a well-known song.
Snake River Conspiracy - Lovesong
- There are SO MANY covers of this song, and I think this is the best of them. It's bold, it's sexy, and it draws emphasizes the, ah, power of love. The slightly creepy vibe of the original is still there, but (like with their version of "How Soon is Now") takes it from the loner-loser side of things to the insane-nymphomaniac side. Okay, that's not the best way to put it. Um. *points* Shiny! And you can dance to it! It's a sad little soulful song all tarted up in leather like a 17-year-old with her first serious boyfriend and a thing for leather wristbands and fishnets. (At least, that's how I always think of Snake River Conspiracy.)
Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
- It's always interesting to see what's left when you strip a rock song down to its bare bones. This and the next bunch are that type of cover: where the original track was big, brash and bold, the cover is spare, sparse and sparkling. This one is a perfect song for a cold, rainy day. It's a warm hug of a song. The original is a rocker-boy's "confession", sung to thousands and (as such songs do) acts as a barrier between the performer and recipient. This version turns a rocker-boy whine melody into something far more personal and haunting. A piano line that is syrupy on Oasis's version becomes a beautiful touch at the very end of the song. The acoustic guitar work is delicate and simple and almost achingly personal.
Cyndi Lauper with Sarah McLachlan - Time After Time
- It's kind of a cover; I think an acoustic re-recording with a special guest artist should count as a cover, even if it is a self-cover. If it was just her alone, then I wouldn't count it as a cover. But since there's someone else in there singing some of the lines, I call it a cover. It's half-covered. (hee) Plus, It's more different that some covers I've heard (I'm thinking here of GnR's cover of "Sympathy for the Devil"), and is a good song even if it does go off the rails a bit at the very end.
Hayseed Dixie - Rockin' In the Free World,
Hayseed Dixie - Whole Lotta Love and
Hayseed Dixie - Back In Black
- Bluegrass = awesome. Bluegrass covers of famous rock songs = very awesome. The Led Zep one works because "Whole Lotta Love" was based on a folk song, and "Rockin' In the Free World" is a far more serious track than the other Hayseed Dixie I've heard. They started as a joke AC/DC cover band (say "Hayseed Dixie" out loud a few times until you get it), but "Rockin' In the Free World" really surprised me with its gravity. I like it better than when Neil Young sang it for a number of reasons, none of which I can really articulate - though a rich rock star who's strung out on drugs telling me to be socially aware carries a little less moral weight and urgency than the same words coming from a small-time bluegrass band. This version is also a full minute shorter. Again, it's fun to hear when something is torn down to its bones and remade with slightly different materials. "Back in Black" is maybe the most comfortable sounding of the three songs, but (again!) they had a great base to build from. There's the sing-along chorus, the jazz bits toward the end, the kind of thing you find on a Sunday afternoon at a folk festival after the performers are all slightly warped and fearless after a weekend in the sun. "Whole Lotta Love" is a silly, silly song no matter who sings it. If you like these, I have a few more covers, including "Thunderstruck", "War Pigs", "Highway to Hell", and Green Day's "Holiday". Trent Reznor joked once about how NIN songs would sound as campfire songs, and I'm waiting for Hayseed Dixie's next album...
Petra Haden - God Only Knows
- Beach Boys! Yeah! It's a great song to begin with, and this is one of those completely a cappella covers, where a "choir" bah bah booms the accompaniment (it sounds like her doing all the parts, but I'm not sure about that), including the percussion. It's short, cute, a technical marvel and not in the least bit schmaltzy.
Travis - Hit Me Baby One More Time
- It works. Best of all, it's live, and the band and audience is into it. Dumb pop song becomes anthem... and it works because EVERYONE knows ALL THE WORDS whether you wanted to or not. The best part is that (if you approach them with only a bit of irony), the lyrics don't sound all that ridiculous. I mean, who's never been lonely, wanting nothing more than to be with a particular person? It became a hit for that Spears chick because at its core, it's a good song (okay, and there was that whole marketing thing, but really, not even stinky product stays long). Or if you hate the song completely, listen to it because the guys are having so much damn fun singing it.
And
aoshi posted a cool meme that I'm going to steal:Music Meme!
Do you trust my taste in music? Pick a number between 1 and 4500 and I'll find the corresponding song in my collection playlist. I'll upload it for you (and everyone else reading this entry) to grab. [Optional: when you've gotten a song from me, go post this meme in your own journal, so I can grab a random song from you.]
EDIT: Brokeback to the Future. Oh god. Oh gods. Oh gods gods gods. Hilarious but scary. It's far better than this trailer remix, because it's not a stretch to find the subtext in Top Gun.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 07:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 07:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 07:52 pm (UTC)And there was also talk about Star Wars Epic Duels day 2! I'm so excited for that!
Finally - would you be interested in doing a Firefly RPG on LJ?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 08:56 pm (UTC)Epic Duels is such a silly, pointless game but it was too much fun. The company makes all the difference. Day 2 will rock The Spot so hard it won't know what hit it. Bwahaha.
Finally - I *would* be interested in doing an RPG, yes! I've never RP'ed before, but I'm sure I'll pick it up pretty fast. *crosses fingers* Will it be an all-OC RP?
(Would you like to leave a number for the meme?)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 07:24 am (UTC)What to you mean by "all-OC" RP? All out of character? I'd like for it to stay as in-character as possible, but I'm not sure. I've had two ideas for settings:
1) takes place after "Objects in Space"
2) takes place after "Serenity", but no character death occurred in the movie
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 07:32 am (UTC)I think I like the second option, especially since playing between "Objects in Space" and Serenity gives a finite timeline. Or maybe that's better? Again, woefully inexperienced in these things.
Aaaand your song is a live version of "B.J. Don't Cry" by Moxy Fruvous. I think I'll have all the songs up by the end of the week.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 07:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 09:32 am (UTC)I'm in for an AU post-Serenity with everyone we know and love present and whole. (Also- how uncrazy would River be?)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-07 07:39 pm (UTC)Exactly - what character death?!
[snicker]
Date: 2006-02-05 08:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 08:43 pm (UTC)It'll be in the next music post.
(...damn you)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 08:27 pm (UTC)oh yesh. thank you for the AS disc. I've read to read through it (cuz I'm lazy and easily distracted by beyblade fanart....) but I will soon ^_^
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 08:47 pm (UTC)1982 is... "Morphée" by Moxy Früvous. Oooh, that's a cute little one. I'll have it up in next week's post.
I'm glad the AS finally got to you. There were some parts that didn't make a whole lot of sense, but the rest of it is quite pretty. And there's OMG a lot of it. Whenever you get around to it, enjoy!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 08:41 pm (UTC)Also, did you hear about the Ballywood version of Fight Club? XD Its going to be a musical! If I can get the link from Scott again I absolutely MUST show it to you if you don't know about it.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 08:50 pm (UTC)2069, eh? *scrolls down* "Loomer" by My Bloody Valentine. Good choice! Next week's post is going to be interesting, that's for sure. Any other numbers? The 3000s are where all my bands starting with "The" hide...
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 08:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-05 08:58 pm (UTC)Woah. It's ten minutes long. Shiny. Posted it will be. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 06:10 am (UTC)Oh my fucking God. That link make my entire year.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 06:34 am (UTC)Oh, and...
Date: 2006-02-06 01:45 pm (UTC)Re: Oh, and...
Date: 2006-02-06 01:59 pm (UTC)Re: Oh, and...
Date: 2006-02-06 09:04 pm (UTC)Look for it up tomorrow.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 09:24 am (UTC)83 shall be mine!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-06 09:47 am (UTC)83... 83... is probably something by Alpinestars. Thought I'd check my email at work, and my playlist isn't here. *frets* When I get home I'll double-check. Though, of the 155 songs I have with me, 83 is Motion City Soundtrack, "When You're Around".
Alhambra Redux.
Date: 2006-02-06 06:28 pm (UTC)I've always wanted to see that.
Date: 2006-02-06 09:08 pm (UTC)I'm putting the whole mess of songs up tomorrow-ish, Thor willing.
I'm late, I'm late...
Date: 2006-02-08 06:14 pm (UTC)wandering around online doing nothingdoing my homework, and never managed to comment. So, I'll go with the perfect number: 1.618. But 'cause that would be just... strange, I'll go with 1618.(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-08 09:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-09 11:20 am (UTC)And on a mostly unrelated note- Gmail adds are disconscertingly accurate. This email got adds for Various Fibonacci number-crunching fomulas and an article on the Golden Ratio in the Internet. Yipes!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-09 08:33 pm (UTC)Gmail is so cool. *nod*