OK, time for a brief break from politics, and a venture into music — a field where I have NO skill, NO aptitude, and my knowledge boils down to “I know what I like.”
There are a lot of ways of determining if a song is a “classic.” I think I can put up one defining factor: if the song in question can be covered in a variety of styles by a variety of artists, yet still be instantly recognizable as “that song,” then that makes it a classic. Especially if the original is so damned popular, so deeply buried in the collective subconscious, that it can be recognized within seconds.
In the extended section are three covers of a song that I believe can be indisputably be described as a rock classic. It’s one of the most instantly recognizable songs, but presented here by three very different artists — and posted in the order in which I first discovered them.
The first version takes the fewest liberties with the original lyrics — I don’t think the cover artist changed a single word. But it’s probably the furthest from the original vocals and music.
The second version takes the fewest liberties with the original melody — it seems almost a note-for-note remake. Here, the creative part comes from the vocals and the adaptation of the lyrics.
The final version… well, words fail me. It’s the furthest from the original, but yet still captures the spirit of the original and imparts the least amount of whimsy and fun that the other two inject.
I also can’t bring myself to say which of these I prefer. I love them all, as well as the original.
Warning: Rock purists should probably just skip the extended version entirely, because each of these artists fearlessly put their own brand on top of the original work — and that kind of thing just kills some people.
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Comments (15)
Pachelbel's Canon in D majo... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Upset Old Guy | April 6, 2011 10:34 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Pachelbel's Canon in D major (his greatest hit) is a classic and has been "covered" by many. I will only say that Cleo Laine's rendition wasn't instantly recognizable for me.
1. Posted by Upset Old Guy | April 6, 2011 10:34 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 10:34
2. Posted by jim m | April 6, 2011 10:37 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Bohemian Polka...It just goes to show that the accordion is the most (justly) underrated instrument in rock music.
2. Posted by jim m | April 6, 2011 10:37 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 10:37
3. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | April 6, 2011 10:43 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
jim m,
My vote is still for the bag pipe
3. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | April 6, 2011 10:43 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 10:43
4. Posted by Rheinman | April 6, 2011 11:00 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I was nearly strung up by my thumbs in college by some Simon and Garfunkel purists. They were outraged when I told them I preferred The Bangles’ version of “Hazy Shade of Winter”
4. Posted by Rheinman | April 6, 2011 11:00 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 11:00
5. Posted by John | April 6, 2011 11:08 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Tom Petty says that you know you have a good song if you can sit at a piano (or guitar) play and sing it by yourself and it's good. If it has to have production to be a good song it's probably not as good.
5. Posted by John | April 6, 2011 11:08 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 11:08
6. Posted by irongrampa | April 6, 2011 11:46 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
"I know what I like " is probably the most valid criteria going. It can apply to any musical genre.
6. Posted by irongrampa | April 6, 2011 11:46 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 11:46
7. Posted by WildWillie | April 6, 2011 2:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Love all three. Never thought of Bluegrass for the song though. That took some work. ww
7. Posted by WildWillie | April 6, 2011 2:29 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 14:29
8. Posted by denisej | April 6, 2011 3:06 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
“I know what I like.”
"And I like what I know"
8. Posted by denisej | April 6, 2011 3:06 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 15:06
9. Posted by Pretzel_Logic | April 6, 2011 3:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7yRSHC7ph8
9. Posted by Pretzel_Logic | April 6, 2011 3:08 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 15:08
10. Posted by epador | April 6, 2011 3:24 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Sigh, I'll just have to wait til I get home as UTUBE blocked here at work.
10. Posted by epador | April 6, 2011 3:24 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 15:24
11. Posted by Jay Tea
| April 6, 2011 4:18 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
denise, shut up and go clean the wardrobe.
I'll be mowing the lawn...
J.
11. Posted by Jay Tea
| April 6, 2011 4:18 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 16:18
12. Posted by Knightbrigade | April 6, 2011 5:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Ok..I'm still processing these ummmm...versions.
All that's left is the WIZBANG version----
Jay, Kevin, Rick, and DJ. put it up!!!
12. Posted by Knightbrigade | April 6, 2011 5:16 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 17:16
13. Posted by DJ Drummond | April 6, 2011 7:46 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Better count me out. I have, as they say, a face for radio and a voice for literature.
13. Posted by DJ Drummond | April 6, 2011 7:46 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 19:46
14. Posted by Kathy Kinsley | April 6, 2011 7:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
#3 I loved. It works. The other 2...meh.
(But I still prefer the original.)
14. Posted by Kathy Kinsley | April 6, 2011 7:52 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 6, 2011 19:52
15. Posted by wheels | April 7, 2011 2:36 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
An instrumental version of Bohemian Rhapsody:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB3RbO7updc
15. Posted by wheels | April 7, 2011 2:36 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 7, 2011 02:36