Author Topic: Songs that change when re-interpreted (Read 5849 times)

tiermat · « **on:** 07 April, 2011, 12:35:39 pm »

I was reminded about this from another thread that mentioned a cover of Britney'S pears "Hit Me Baby One More Time".

When Ms Spears sings it, it is a light, frothy pop song about teenage love.

When stripped down to an acoustic version, sung with a modicum of passion (ala Matt Cardle) it is more about spousal abuse (at least to my ears it is).

Any other examples?

Kathy · « **Reply #1 on:** 07 April, 2011, 12:41:14 pm »

Katy Perry's I kissed a girl (and I liked it). Was covered by a gay male singer, whose name escapes me. Changed from a flirty faux-lesbian song into an utter crisis of sexual identity.

Otherwise, there's always Scissor Sisters' cover of Comfortably Numb.

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #2 on:** 07 April, 2011, 12:58:40 pm »

Gwyneth Paltrow singing Gary Glitter's 'Do you want to touch me?' as a sex education lesson.
Exclusive Glee Video: Watch Gwyneth Paltrow Cover 'Do You Wanna Touch Me?' - TVLine - TVLine

Flying_Monkey · « **Reply #3 on:** 07 April, 2011, 01:47:25 pm »

Quote from: Exit Stage Left on 07 April, 2011, 12:58:40 pm

Gwyneth Paltrow singing Gary Glitter's 'Do you want to touch me?' as a sex education lesson.
Exclusive Glee Video: Watch Gwyneth Paltrow Cover 'Do You Wanna Touch Me?' - TVLine - TVLine

Hmm, that certainly changes it. I've never, ever seen anything from Glee before. Maybe that was a poor introduction, but it was both unfortunate and completely terrible. Kinda like School Of Rock without the joy. And Gwyneth Paltrow is possibly the least sexy woman on the planet - very nice and very pretty, perhaps, but sexy, no.

Billy Weir · « **Reply #4 on:** 07 April, 2011, 01:53:29 pm »

I didn't realise until quite recently that "There She Goes" by The La's is about heroin. For a long time, I took it as a charming ditty of a love song.

Rhys W · « **Reply #5 on:** 07 April, 2011, 01:56:16 pm »

And that was covered by fey christians Sixpence None The Richer. I wonder if anybody told them?

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #6 on:** 07 April, 2011, 01:57:11 pm »

Quote from: Flying_Monkey on 07 April, 2011, 01:47:25 pm

Quote from: Exit Stage Left on 07 April, 2011, 12:58:40 pm
Gwyneth Paltrow singing Gary Glitter's 'Do you want to touch me?' as a sex education lesson.
Exclusive Glee Video: Watch Gwyneth Paltrow Cover 'Do You Wanna Touch Me?' - TVLine - TVLine

Hmm, that certainly changes it. I've never, ever seen anything from Glee before. Maybe that was a poor introduction, but it was both unfortunate and completely terrible. Kinda like School Of Rock without the joy. And Gwyneth Paltrow is possibly the least sexy woman on the planet - very nice and very pretty, perhaps, but sexy, no.

It's actually not too far from the Joan Jett version. Which is what most will be familiar with in the USA.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/XELpxApT8Kc&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/XELpxApT8Kc&rel=1</a>
That performance has less range than Glitter's, so Gwyneth's feeble vocals are more in keeping with what most in the US know of the song.
Glitter's vocal performance is more dynamic.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/CvtRkarV5wM&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/CvtRkarV5wM&rel=1</a>

spindrift · « **Reply #7 on:** 07 April, 2011, 02:01:55 pm »

I'm sure I saw David Cassidy cover The Police "Every Step You Take" with some female singer. They gazed adoringly into each others' eyes, quite forgetting the song's about a creepy stalker.

eeymsmo · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 April, 2011, 02:06:01 pm »

Quote from: Rhys W on 07 April, 2011, 01:56:16 pm

And that was covered by fey christians Sixpence None The Richer. I wonder if anybody told them?

Or whichever female pop lot covered the Red Hot Chilli Peppers "Under the Bridge" which has the same subject.

Staying on heroin though, Johnny Cash's version of NiN's Hurt was a completely different slant.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 April, 2011, 02:16:12 pm »

Quote from: Billy on 07 April, 2011, 01:53:29 pm

I didn't realise until quite recently that "There She Goes" by The La's is about heroin. For a long time, I took it as a charming ditty of a love song.

See also The Only One's Another Girl Another Planet. I can't remember which mobile phone company used it for an advert but I bet they felt a bit daft when someone told them.

Edit: Also, compare and contrast the version of Tomorrow Belongs To Me from Cabaret with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band's version.

Butterfly · « **Reply #10 on:** 07 April, 2011, 02:23:23 pm »

Mary Coughlan and other more recent examples of Billie Holliday/Bessie Smith's (T)Ain't Nobody's Business turn the meaning around. Eric Clapton's version is just odd - no anger or passion at all

itsbruce · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 April, 2011, 02:51:05 pm »

I fought the law, as covered by the Dead Kennedys. The preceding versions were about youthful protest or rebellion; they made it into a satirical comment on the murder of Harvey Milk.

On the subject of Gwyneth Paltrow, I've always thought the best word to describe her was insipid.

nicknack · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 April, 2011, 03:04:25 pm »

Quote from: tiermat on 07 April, 2011, 12:35:39 pm

I was reminded about this from another thread that mentioned a cover of Britney'S pears "Hit Me Baby One More Time".

When Ms Spears sings it, it is a light, frothy pop song about teenage love.

When stripped down to an acoustic version, sung with a modicum of passion (ala Matt Cardle) it is more about spousal abuse (at least to my ears it is).

Any other examples?

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/eQgqisUJu3M&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/eQgqisUJu3M&rel=1</a>

numbnuts · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 April, 2011, 03:17:11 pm »

From Tommy by the Who

Down with the bedclothes
Up with the nightshirt!
Fiddle about
Fiddle about
Fiddle about !

See me, feel me, touch me, heal me
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me

Deano · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 April, 2011, 03:19:30 pm »

Arab Strap - Why Can't This be Love? Turns the pompous hair-rock anthem into a sinister paean of misery.

andygates · « **Reply #15 on:** 07 April, 2011, 03:24:46 pm »

That Kate Bush one is all different when you re-interpret the lyric as not "Combat ducks"

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #16 on:** 07 April, 2011, 03:33:44 pm »

I edited some 1980s footage of PBP to two versions of Mad World.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pmcui9ynsus&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/pmcui9ynsus&rel=1</a>

Rhys W · « **Reply #17 on:** 07 April, 2011, 05:30:11 pm »

Laibach are masters of turning seemingly banal pop songs into something sinister and rather scary. They've done The Beatles, Stones, Status Quo, Opus's "Life Is Life" and Europe's "The Final Countdown". Intriguing.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/1YE_j0xIsJA&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/1YE_j0xIsJA&rel=1</a>

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #18 on:** 07 April, 2011, 06:24:59 pm »

Quote from: Rhys W on 07 April, 2011, 05:30:11 pm

Laibach are masters of turning seemingly banal pop songs into something sinister and rather scary. They've done The Beatles, Stones, Status Quo, Opus's "Life Is Life" and Europe's "The Final Countdown". Intriguing.

I once sneaked a Leibach track into an LEL video, as a backing to riding through Eskdale, but it was this one.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/_q5mlb3Bjzs&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/_q5mlb3Bjzs&rel=1</a> which is fairly unthreatening.

geraldc · « **Reply #19 on:** 07 April, 2011, 06:28:05 pm »

People always treat you are my sunshine as a happy sung, but when you sing all the verses, it's a song to slit your wrists too.

Billy Weir · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 April, 2011, 07:01:58 pm »

"Annie aime les sucettes".

Innocent little France Gall singing her wee heart out about a tasty aniseed lolly. You dirty bugger, Serge.

Andrij · « **Reply #21 on:** 07 April, 2011, 07:35:12 pm »

Quote from: geraldc on 07 April, 2011, 06:28:05 pm

People always treat you are my sunshine as a happy sung, but when you sing ~~all the verses~~ even one verse, it's a song to slit your wrists too.

FTFY

tiermat · « **Reply #22 on:** 07 April, 2011, 07:46:04 pm »

Quote from: geraldc on 07 April, 2011, 06:28:05 pm

People always treat you are my sunshine as a happy sung, but when you sing all the verses, it's a song to slit your wrists too.

Indeed, there is a famous scene in a film (can't remember the film right now) where the main character is singing that song and doesn't make it past the first verse due to tears.

Also reminds me of, in a slightly different vein, The Vaselines taking a spiritual song (Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam) and turning it into something completely different (Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam), made famous by Mr K Cobain covering it on the Unplugged In New York album...

Rhys W · « **Reply #23 on:** 07 April, 2011, 08:35:31 pm »

Speaking of the Vaselines, Susan Boyle's version of "Rory Ride Me Raw" has to be seen to be believed.

clarion · « **Reply #24 on:** 07 April, 2011, 08:37:05 pm »

Johnny Cash was mentioned upthread, and it's worth touching on his version of Personal Jesus.

Hmm.

Author Topic: Songs that change when re-interpreted (Read 5849 times)

Flying_Monkey

Billy Weir

spindrift

Billy Weir