Wednesday, March 16, 2011: It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

For me, a good cover version takes the song into a new direction, or even a new dimension.

Honestly, what is the point of doing a cover of something and have it sound exactly like the original?  I mean, really.

A good cover should make you look at the song differently, maybe even show you different meanings, or see new ideas.

Yes, sometimes an artist can take the creative train way all the way into Dagenham* (I'm looking at you, Flying Lizards), but generally it works.  And it rarely worked better than our first song up for today, Devo's New Wave take on the stone cold classic Satisfaction.

Almost getting into Flying Lizards territory is this lovely gem from The Cardigans.  Yes, the Swedish group known mostly for the Fluffy Cotton Candy Pop of "Lovefool" dares take on the hallowed ground of classic Heavy Metal band Black Sabbath.

But what at first seems like a joke, a playful lite-jazz counter-point to the dark, weighty crunch of the original song, soon gives way to oodles of subtle irony (natch), and even open mocking (cue the breathless fawning voices crying "Oh Iron Man"). This is an outstanding effort, a truly knowing and thought out take on a not so obvious target. Very well done.



And now for our last Mad selection. Which, ironically enough isn't Gary Jules thoughtful version of Mad World. No, it's Paul Anka's all killer version of Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun.

I'm a huge fan of jazzed up versions of popular songs, I especially like the work of Richard Cheese and Lounge Against The Machine. In fact, his take on Gun's And Roses Welcome To The Jungle needs to be mentioned in any discussion of cool covers.

The downside, however, with Richard Cheese is that he knows he is being clever and ironic. So, while his stuff is funny and provides a very well needed stab at the pretentiousness of today's music, I just end up feeling that he never really connects with his material. I realize that sounds like a typical "critic" thing to say, but compare Mr Cheese's Welcome To The Jungle with Mr Anka's version of Black Hole Sun, and you'll see what I mean.

Paul Anka makes you believe that he believes in the material. I have no idea if he is actually being clever and ironic, he may well be, but he never lets the listener in on the joke. And that's the trick, that's where the magic happens. This song is (almost) as straight as Put Your Head On My Shoulder.

And, friend, THAT is glorious.




* Dagenham is three stops past Barking. Barking Mad, you see. . . .oh, never mind.