Cover tunes covered, my friend did a list of songs he likes in B minor...for some reason, people don't make all that many songs in that key - which is a shame - here's my two cents:
Balloons - Mercury Motors feat. Anneli Drecker
A lovely little duet from a rather underrated early 90's Norwegian group with Anneli Drecker of Bel Canto (Norwegian ambient/pop outfit from mid-80s to early 00s). About the pink goggles you wear when in love and the all too common sport of dealing the blame when it all goes pearshaped.
Stakkars Oslo - deLillos
A tune about "Poor Oslo" from national Norwegian rock legends deLillos. With Lars Lillo-Stenberg's idiosyncratic vocals, they carve out the stark ironies of a city that craves international recognition and winds up tearing down old houses and alleyways to make room for a huge parking mall called "Ibsen" (Norway's most internationally known playwright), stripping the city of what character it had in the first place... Probably the heaviest piece of music deLillos ever made, and among the most scathing.
The Kids are on High Street - Madrugada
Ah, the sweet sound of disillusionment... Keeping up with what seems to be a Norwegian trend in this post - the main Norwegian rock band of the 00s belts out a haunting tune with Sivert Høyem's amazing vocals (picture Eddie Vedder and Michael Stipe in one with a touch of Johnny Cash) just giving me shivers down the spine. Vocals aside, the ending of the song is of the kind that could just develop into one long, never ending instrumental - which, alas, it doesn't. But it leaves me with wanting mooooore.
White Wedding - Billy Idol
Ok, kitsch to the core and the ultimate self-parody as Billy Idol is, this IS a runaway train of an 80s rock tune. Just for crashing through the stained glass church window on a motorbike in the video, this H minor piece is worth a spot on the list. ^^
...and now I will cheat a little and end the post with a song that ENDS in B minor (the song is in G major):
Heart of Lothian - Marillion
From the time when Fish still was a member and still was able to write lyrics that could strike a chord in me. A song of the pride of belonging somewhere and yet...when it all comes down to it...was it worth the fame and the glory? The final lines after what is a patriot anthem winds into a mournful anticlimax labelled "Curtain Call":
And the man from the magazine wants another shot
Of you all curled up
'cos you look like an actor in a movie shot
But you're feeling like a wino in a parking lot
How did I get in here, anyway?
Do we really need a playback of the show?
'cos the wideboys want to head for the watering holes,
watering hols, anyway
Let's go
And the man in the mirror had sad eyes...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Under cover
Ok. I'm a lousy blogger. Well, I'll post this here little thing - a friend of mine made a list of covered songs he likes. Here's my attempt:
Got about 25k titles residing on a hard drive (yep, it was a BEAR getting all those tracks ripped from my cds/dvds/vinyls/cassettes/whatnots), so this might not be quite comprehensive, but more a spur of the moment thing - some covers are here because I love them, others are just fun, while some are just plain...odd.
Lady Madonna - Yeahlove Swans
Norwegian poprock band that never made it in the early 90s - grunge killed them - turning the old Beatles tune into a thunderous train ride).
I come and stand at every door - This Mortal Coil
Late 80s UK project turning The Byrds' song about a child that died from the bomb in Hiroshima into the most heartbreaking thing ever - I simply can't sing it without sobbing.
En stor sølvgrå lastebil - Vazelina Bilopphøggers
Norwegian band part rockabilly part parody singing about going on holiday in a sanitary vehicle (errr...what else to call the truck that gathers human wastes in a tank?) to the tune of It's only make believe by Conway Twitty.
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Hendrix's genius with the brilliance of SRV...
Smalltown Boy - Vampire State Building
Norwegian 80s/90s s&m-gothtechnorock indie band doing an excellent cover of Bronski Beat's 80s gay anthem.
Night and Day - U2
A song from the early 90s AIDS fundraiser project Red, hot + blue where U2 covers Cole Porter's old classic tune in a way that possibly makes it the most haunting song about steamy, frustrated longings that Bono & co have ever made.
Gimme some lovin' - Blues Brothers
Ok, Steve Winwood has/had an amazing voice, but for the sheer love of music, I think this one outweighs the Spencer Davis' Group original.
Rusty Cage - Johnny Cash
Ok. This is just different. It ain't Soundgarden for sure, just...different.
This Wheel's on fire - Siouxsie & The Banshees
Sorry, Bob Dylan. I heard this version before the original - it's the definite one to me.
O, bli hos meg - Knut Reiersrud & Iver Kleive
Guitar ace Reiersrud and organist Kleive making an exquisite goosebump-raiser out of the burial hymn/FA Cup anthem better know as Abide with me...
Breathe/Time - The Polka Floyd Show
Pink Floyd gone polka with accordion. And it is WELL played with just the right touch of tongue-in-cheek as well as loving attention to the original.
We three Kings - Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors
The alternative version of the christmas carol. A touch of rhinestone and Tom Waits. Open up your presents, son!
Little Wing - Marius Müller's Funhouse
Another Hendrix masterpiece in the delicate, giant hands of Norway's greatest ever (arguably where physical size is concerned) rock guitarist.
Lay, Lady, Lay - Magnet feat. Gemma Hayes
A lush, LUSH, 2:30 am duet of another Bob Dylan classic. Sheer balm for the ears.
Battle of Evermore - The Lovemongers
I always had a soft spot for Heart since I was a teenager. This live recording under their Lovermongers alias does full justice to Led Zeppelin's original, imho.
When all is said and done - Nils Landgren Funk Unit
The up-tempo, hard beat ABBA song tuned all the way down to a tender, tender piano ballad...
Mission Impossible - Laika & The Cosmonauts
A great rendition of the MI theme, played by these Finns on their "Instruments of Terror".
Carmen - Spike Jones
Bizet's opera in less than 10 minutes. Just the narrator's voiceover stating "Carmen not only fills the role of the soprano, she overflows it" is worth the ticket alone.
Cloudbusting - Steve Hogarth
A live recording from Barcelona where the Marillion vocalist first launches into a mock-soprano version of "Wuthering Heights" before doing a nice version of Kate Bush's song.
The Fountain of Salmacis - Yngve Guddal & Roger T Matte
Early Genesis? Prog rock? For two grand pianos? Take it away, boys!
Birthday - Femi Gange
Norwegian rockers take this Beatles song and cranks up the volume. Loud!
Euroboys - Scarborough Fair
Ok. Here's you find Knut Schreiner, better known as Euroboy from Turbonegro. Don't start running just yet. This is laidback and pretty cool with a 70s movie feel, actually. What Simon & Garfunkel might think of it? Dunno.
Slibesteinsvalsen - Reidar Larsen
Just had to include the cover of a Norwegian song. The "Whetstone Waltz" by Alf Prøysen, is here sung in a fashion by blues singer Larsen that leaves no doubt as to whom is sharpening his blade...the Grim Reaper is coming for you...
Ev'ry time we say goodbye - Annie Lennox
Another Cole Porter classic from the Red, Hot + Blue project. The Eurythmics vocalist does the song full justice and more.
The Portree Kid - The Corries
Scottish bards par excellence doing a uniquely Highlander take on Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Forward to Death - NoMeansNo
Right. An a capella version of a...Dead Kennedys song? And it WORKS!
'97 Bonnie & Clyde - Tori Amos
And I thought Eminem was slightly off the page? Tori goes beyond beyond here...
Wrapped around your finger - Tori Amos
In this live recording with just Tori and her piano, you'd think she and not The Police wrote the thing.
Galju Prikhod - Vopli Vidopliassova
Ukrainian polka! AC/DC! Highway to Hell! Yay!
Got about 25k titles residing on a hard drive (yep, it was a BEAR getting all those tracks ripped from my cds/dvds/vinyls/cassettes/whatnots), so this might not be quite comprehensive, but more a spur of the moment thing - some covers are here because I love them, others are just fun, while some are just plain...odd.
Lady Madonna - Yeahlove Swans
Norwegian poprock band that never made it in the early 90s - grunge killed them - turning the old Beatles tune into a thunderous train ride).
I come and stand at every door - This Mortal Coil
Late 80s UK project turning The Byrds' song about a child that died from the bomb in Hiroshima into the most heartbreaking thing ever - I simply can't sing it without sobbing.
En stor sølvgrå lastebil - Vazelina Bilopphøggers
Norwegian band part rockabilly part parody singing about going on holiday in a sanitary vehicle (errr...what else to call the truck that gathers human wastes in a tank?) to the tune of It's only make believe by Conway Twitty.
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Hendrix's genius with the brilliance of SRV...
Smalltown Boy - Vampire State Building
Norwegian 80s/90s s&m-gothtechnorock indie band doing an excellent cover of Bronski Beat's 80s gay anthem.
Night and Day - U2
A song from the early 90s AIDS fundraiser project Red, hot + blue where U2 covers Cole Porter's old classic tune in a way that possibly makes it the most haunting song about steamy, frustrated longings that Bono & co have ever made.
Gimme some lovin' - Blues Brothers
Ok, Steve Winwood has/had an amazing voice, but for the sheer love of music, I think this one outweighs the Spencer Davis' Group original.
Rusty Cage - Johnny Cash
Ok. This is just different. It ain't Soundgarden for sure, just...different.
This Wheel's on fire - Siouxsie & The Banshees
Sorry, Bob Dylan. I heard this version before the original - it's the definite one to me.
O, bli hos meg - Knut Reiersrud & Iver Kleive
Guitar ace Reiersrud and organist Kleive making an exquisite goosebump-raiser out of the burial hymn/FA Cup anthem better know as Abide with me...
Breathe/Time - The Polka Floyd Show
Pink Floyd gone polka with accordion. And it is WELL played with just the right touch of tongue-in-cheek as well as loving attention to the original.
We three Kings - Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors
The alternative version of the christmas carol. A touch of rhinestone and Tom Waits. Open up your presents, son!
Little Wing - Marius Müller's Funhouse
Another Hendrix masterpiece in the delicate, giant hands of Norway's greatest ever (arguably where physical size is concerned) rock guitarist.
Lay, Lady, Lay - Magnet feat. Gemma Hayes
A lush, LUSH, 2:30 am duet of another Bob Dylan classic. Sheer balm for the ears.
Battle of Evermore - The Lovemongers
I always had a soft spot for Heart since I was a teenager. This live recording under their Lovermongers alias does full justice to Led Zeppelin's original, imho.
When all is said and done - Nils Landgren Funk Unit
The up-tempo, hard beat ABBA song tuned all the way down to a tender, tender piano ballad...
Mission Impossible - Laika & The Cosmonauts
A great rendition of the MI theme, played by these Finns on their "Instruments of Terror".
Carmen - Spike Jones
Bizet's opera in less than 10 minutes. Just the narrator's voiceover stating "Carmen not only fills the role of the soprano, she overflows it" is worth the ticket alone.
Cloudbusting - Steve Hogarth
A live recording from Barcelona where the Marillion vocalist first launches into a mock-soprano version of "Wuthering Heights" before doing a nice version of Kate Bush's song.
The Fountain of Salmacis - Yngve Guddal & Roger T Matte
Early Genesis? Prog rock? For two grand pianos? Take it away, boys!
Birthday - Femi Gange
Norwegian rockers take this Beatles song and cranks up the volume. Loud!
Euroboys - Scarborough Fair
Ok. Here's you find Knut Schreiner, better known as Euroboy from Turbonegro. Don't start running just yet. This is laidback and pretty cool with a 70s movie feel, actually. What Simon & Garfunkel might think of it? Dunno.
Slibesteinsvalsen - Reidar Larsen
Just had to include the cover of a Norwegian song. The "Whetstone Waltz" by Alf Prøysen, is here sung in a fashion by blues singer Larsen that leaves no doubt as to whom is sharpening his blade...the Grim Reaper is coming for you...
Ev'ry time we say goodbye - Annie Lennox
Another Cole Porter classic from the Red, Hot + Blue project. The Eurythmics vocalist does the song full justice and more.
The Portree Kid - The Corries
Scottish bards par excellence doing a uniquely Highlander take on Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Forward to Death - NoMeansNo
Right. An a capella version of a...Dead Kennedys song? And it WORKS!
'97 Bonnie & Clyde - Tori Amos
And I thought Eminem was slightly off the page? Tori goes beyond beyond here...
Wrapped around your finger - Tori Amos
In this live recording with just Tori and her piano, you'd think she and not The Police wrote the thing.
Galju Prikhod - Vopli Vidopliassova
Ukrainian polka! AC/DC! Highway to Hell! Yay!
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