8.04.2006

Compare/Contrast

Consider this your essay topic for today: Should musicians be allowed to cover other musicians' works? Present evidence for/against your argument.

For: Bob Dylan's Man of Constant Sorrow

The Futureheads cover Kate Bush on Hounds of Love. Of special consideration on this video are the puppies that make an appearence. But sadly, no Mr. Chips.

Against: A cover of Thunder Road by Kids, Incorporated. Who thought this was a good idea? And yes, that is apparently Martika of Toy Soldiers fame.

No link on this one, but on her most recent album, Dar Williams thought it a good idea to cover Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb. And it's bad. Really bad.

So debate. Any big ones to share here? If we ban covers we miss out on Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah and Hendrix's Watchtower but we spare ourselves from countless abuses of Louis Armstrong's classic Wonderful World.

And I don't even know what to think of this.

posted by jp at 4:39 PM | Permalink

4 Comment(s) - Click to View/Hide

And here I thought girl talk was a prolific mashup dj comment by  nick, 8/04/2006 7:47 PM

It looks like we need some inspiration...Enjoy The Covers Project. For example, I learned that Further Seems Forever did a cover of *NSync's Bye Bye Bye An original song by Further Seems Forever, New Year's Project, was covered by Dashboard Confessional, who covered Weezer's Jamie. Another song by Weezer, Say It Ain't So, was covered by Further Seems Forever......good Lord, I could spend hours here. comment by  C, 8/07/2006 9:50 AM

BTW, if you've got a few minutes, look at The Covers Project's entry for The Beatles...my favorite: Eddie Murphy's version of Good Day Sunshine (errr something). comment by  C, 8/07/2006 9:57 AM

I'm for it. BUT, I think artists should apply for a permit. Musicians could demo a cover for a board of musicians, and then could get approval from them to do covers. Here is an example of covers done right - Rufus Wainwright: Rufus does "One Man Guy" along with his sister Martha, which originally was by his father, the famed folky Loudon Wainwright. Rufus does "Across the Universe", which also has been covered beautifully by Fiona Apple. The song, of course, is originally by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. You may have heard of them. Rufus has also done great covers of JB's "Hallelujah," a song by The Hollies entitled "He aint heavy...he's my brother," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland. So, this cover approval board could let gems like these in, while keeping terrible covers from being released. The jury is still out on Fat Mike and the boys, but I think I'd approve. How can you not love a punk rock cover of "O Sole Mio?" Or an awesome REO song? comment by  brian, 8/11/2006 9:02 AM