So anyway, it got me to thinking, do I love both these songs because they are familiar or because they are different? But of course, as you teen fiction cafers have probably already twigged, it's because they are both, and it suddenly occur ed to me that this is what I always try to do with my writing.
I love taking something familiar (like death or zombies) and building up my own little world for it where things can happen my way. I'm not saying everyone will like what I do with it, but as a writer, it's definitely what keeps me feeling challenged and happy. So what do we all think? Do you like these sort of covers of have the artists committed the ultimate sacrilege????
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11 comments:
I used to be 100% in the camp of "if it doesn't sound like the radio version I DON'T LIKE IT!" I hated covers and even when bands did their own songs in a new way.
Now, I love it! I like the familiarity, but appreciate the creativity of a new style on an old song. Usually anyway.
I LOVE both of these, especially the Mandy Moore version of Umbrella!
I really like the Mandy Moore version. The Wombats aren't my style. But I agree that covers can be a lot of fun--sometimes better than the originals.
Melissa - I normally hate covers as well. I always used to think if you can't do it better then don't do it at all. But I've definitely started to change my opinion lately!!!
Sara - you were the one who first put me onto the Mandy Moore version and it is so fab!!!
Diana - hehehe - yes, I can see that The Wombats wouldn't be everyone's style!!!!!
Sorry, but I am way too in love with the Leona Lewis version to even consider a cover. (My love stems mostly from the hip-hop dance routine on So You Think You Can Dance last season. I still swoon when I watch it--check it out on YouTube if you haven't seen it!!!)
But as far as taking-something-you-know-and-twisting it goes, I'm all for it. I think that's what we always do as writers, finding a new take on a timeless plot.
I like a good cover done well! The Lemonheads version of Mrs. Robinson, Giant Drag's Wicked Game, and love, love, love, Nirvana's version of David Bowie's (our shared boyfriend!) The Man Who Sold the World.
But that said, a bad cover is just sad.
Tera - I do love me some Leona - I was still in the UK when she was on X-factor and she is so insanely great. However, there is something about The Wombats that really do it for me (dissonance perhaps!!!!)
Alyson, I'm just off to check out that Nirvana cover right now (btw, is it my week or your week with Mr. B??!!)
Alyson - duh. Just realized that I totally know and love that version, I just hadn't engaged my brain!!!!!
Like any song, I like covers when they are done well. I like when they are a goodly tribute to the original and/or a wholly new take on them.
Some covers I like better than the originals - example: Fake Plastic Trees, original by Radiohead (sorry, don't really care for their style and the singer's voice), cover by Duncan Sheik (as I like everything he does!) Same with Duncan's cover of Karma Police and Lucy Woodward's cover of It's Oh So Quiet. (GO LUCY GO!)
Some covers I like just as much as the originals - Mother, Mother, original by Traci Bonham, great cover by The Veronicas.
Little Willow,
I just looked up the Veronicas cover on YouTube. I love it! I had no idea they redid the Traci Bonham song. That came out when I was in high school. Ah, memories of disturbing songs about our parents...
Little Willow - how weird - I just put Fake Plastic Trees at the top of my playlist yesterday. It took me ages to get use to it but now i love it. I've not heard the cover so I'm off to check it. I'll also check the Veronicas - I love them and of course they're Australian which is even cooler!!!
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