Page 1 of 3
What in tarnation were they thinking?
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:14 am
by shamustwin
Not an earth shattering thread here.
However, I recently heard a "smooth jazz" version of Dave Brubeck's classic "Take Five". And it was being played in 4/4! This meant they had to compensate by leaving gaps in the melody, or repeat little phrases at various points in the song.
The beautiful melody is still there (albeit produced so stringently (astringently?) as to sound quite sterile). I can't figure why the artist would take the most interesting facet of this song out - the 5/4 timing of the original -after all that's why it was titled Take Five!
Anyone else come up with remakes that should never have been?
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:56 am
by vito
I'd nominate whoever did that dreadful version of Henley's Boys of Summer a coupla years ago....
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:06 am
by kcole4001
Take Five...Give One Back
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:08 am
by rob
How about Kid Rock doing Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gimmie Back My Bullitts?
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:15 am
by stubby
Maybe they were hacks and couldn't handle 5/4 timing?
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:04 am
by jdogric12
In 1996 I was working for the college radio station and came across a hip-hop kind of version by a group called Teknicolour (sp?) and I think it was in 5/4 but with crazy techno beats and raps, and two saxes playing the melody in two-part harmony. The version was titled "Take 5 (In The Jungle)" ...does that ring a bell?
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:07 am
by jdogric12
Other obscene covers... that version of a Ramones song that was on a US TV advertisement in the last few years.
Also anyone that thinks they can cover a Beatles song. I've heard a lot of Beatle covers, and only abot 5% are good.
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:15 am
by leftyguitars
Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends. Covers don't get any better than this!
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:24 am
by sowhat
When it comes to Ramones' songs done by others, i'd most certainly vote for "The KKK..." as done by Marilyn Manson...
The other possible candidate, in my opinion, would be the Clash's version of "Junco partner". Don't get me wrong, i like Clash, but imho, when it comes to this song, the original is far better than the cover.
I also remember hearing some pretty stupid cover of "In the mood", but cannot remember who it was...
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:30 am
by randyz
Peter: Have you heard Joe Cocker's cover of "I'll Cry Instead" from 1964? It's so close to the Beatles' original version, I don't know why he bothered!
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:57 am
by firstbassman
Somebody, a long time ago, did a vocalized scat-like version of Take Five. Was it Bobby McFerrin?
What did you think of that one?
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:11 am
by ozover50
Status Quo's version of "When You Walk In The Room". They didn't quite massacre the song and if you hadn't heard the Searchers do it you might like it. No comparison, however......
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:24 am
by sowhat
Status Quo's version of "Rockin' all over the world" is also... mmm... not quite as good as the original...
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:27 am
by randyz
While I'm a major fan of The Zombies, their cover of "Roadrunner" is extremely weak compared to The Pretty Things' definitive version.
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:11 am
by alanz
I've always thought John Belushi's version of Joe Cocker was better than Joe Cocker's version of Joe Cocker.