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Posted by: MK Murder in Top9, Top List, top 10, The Shoot, Nostalgia Critic, Mk Murder, Fuck, Duck Tits, Bum Reviews, AVGN on
Nov 14, 2008
It's been a while since I previewed this Top List. If TNA hadn't pissed me off so much with the whole "MEM" Debacle, it would've been up sooner. (Just one more thing TNA fucked up) Anyway, random quotes are everywhere. But it takes a certian kind of random to be funny out of context. And now, in no order whatsoever, some of the best Random quotes.
As much venom as I spewed in my last two lists about covers, I’m not against the concept of covering songs altogether. For all the ripping on I did towards all the absolutely putrescent renditions I know of otherwise great songs, there are some that I like.
I would characterize a good cover as one that takes the song and either captures the spirit of the original to great effect, or takes it in a different interesting direction. (That last idea is kind of a double-edged sword if you think about it, because a lot of the terrible covers I talked about in my previous two lists took the originals in too far a direction, and absolutely sucked. Partially because they slapped their grill all over it trying to make it “theirs” with little regard for the original artist.)
Naturally talking about covers both good and bad brought up the suggestion of making a list of what I consider GOOD covers.
Okay. Before continuing however, please go back and read my first two lists, which inspired this one. 20 Bad Cover Songs #1
I got some pretty positive responses from my list of bad cover songs, (Hopefully enough to make you all forget about the VG Protagonists that Suck list, I hope? Please? Put your torches and pitchforks away?) but there were people who thought there were a bunch of covers that I left out of my list that were bad enough to garner some negative recognition…That is just the thing, though. There are so many bad, awful, absolutely terrible covers of songs out there, that it’s a daunting feat to narrow them down to 20.
And so the prospect of a second list was presented to me.
Apparently I have struck a chord here, because bad music in general is a universal thing that everyone can relate to. (Hey, you hate that Laffy Taffy song? Me too!) America has spoken, and they want bad song covers.
All I can say is that you guys are just gluttons for punishment.
And so am I.
BUT WAIT!!! (Sorry, Benzaie) Before you read the rest of this, please have a look at the first article that inspired this sequel: The ORIGINAL 20 Worst Cover Songs list.
If there are a few things that I am passionate about, foremost among them is music. I love good music, and I know a lot about it. In that respect, I consider myself kind of a purist. If I hear a really great, and truly timeless song, often times I think “That’s it. That’s the end all right there. That’s the version of the song we are gonna stick with, because it’s awesome, and everybody knows it.“
Some don’t quite see it the same way as I do, though. Often a band will look at a song they really truly like and start to think to themselves: “I can do that!“ And then there are covers of songs.
Some are really good. Some manage to be good by staying true to the original and not venturing TOO far from familiar terrain, (Social Distortion’s take on “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, or Bauhaus’ take on “Ziggy Stardust” by David Bowie) while others may take the song in a COMPLETELY different direction, and end up with an intriguing new take on a classic. (DEVO’s take on “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones, or Apoptygma Berzerk’s take on “Fade To Black” by Metallica.)
Some…not so much.
I must warn you, readers…The songs that are listed below are abysmal butcherings of otherwise great songs, that are not meant for the human ear to take in. Why have I written this list, then? Do you have an enemy? Recognize the songs below to them. I guarantee after listening to them, their brain will be a fine paste by the end of the week.
Either way, proceed with caution into…
The 20 Worst Cover Songs Ever
20. “Heroes” by Oasis (Originally by David Bowie)
Let’s start this list out with a song that I think doesn’t NEED to be covered. EVER. The brothers Gallagher really dropped the ball on this cover, because it’s missing something that Bowie could bring to his original tune, but Liam (Or Noel. I can’t tell which one is singing on this one.) failed outright to even fake.
Sincerity.
The song was inspired after Bowie saw two lovers embracing by the Berlin Wall near Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany. The song would evolve into one about two lovers separated by the Berlin wall, and the way Bowie sang it, it was like he genuinely cared about the subject matter, as if he WAS on the other side of the wall.
Oasis on the other hand, displays none of the vocal emotion that Bowie did in the original version, and sounds more like a bland Bowie cover group just going through the motions of covering a Bowie tune. Liam (I’m more sure than ever it’s Liam) has his typically shrill shriek on full ALWAYS, and the song is so drowned in distortion and other superficial shit that at first listen, it’s hard even to recognize the song they’re covering in the first place.
Watch This Video - In picking this one out, a few people who knew I was writing this pointed out that the version by the Wallflowers is way worse than Oasis'. Maybe, but I haven't heard the Wallflowers version. I HAVE heard Oasis' version, however, and it's pretty poor. So on it goes.
19. “Fell In Love With A Girl” by Joss Stone (Originally by The White Stripes)
I don’t care if she had The Roots backing her up when she was in her heyday a couple of years ago. There was never anything remotely interesting about Joss Stone, and this uninspired hip-hoppy cover of an already awesome garage rock tune proves it.
In Joss Stone’s version of the song, she effectively takes Jack White’s awesome guitar work and Meg White’s…actually pretty lousy drumming abilities…and glosses over them with that soul diva-ness that has at this point become interchangeable in today’s music industry. The guitars aren’t prominent anymore, the drumming is less powerful, the song is a lot slower, and it sounds pathetic by comparison.
The original White Stripes song rocked, but this one is weak, tame, and SAFE. She could have at least taken a LITTLE bit of risk by keeping the original title in. (Her cover was titled “Fell In Love With A Boy”, which doesn’t quite roll off the tongue like the original, if you’ll pardon the entendre.)
Posted by: CultconXIX in Top9, movies on
Oct 12, 2008
Without any further commentary, here's my Top9 list of Unique movie Villains: 9. The Devil (Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny) I know what you might be thinking: Isn't there like tons of movies about Satan? That might be true but think about it. In how many movies does Satan actually walk the Earth (This should cut the list in half at least)? And in how many movies does Satan do some sweet-ass Metal jamming with drums and electic quitar, topped with awesome rock vokills? Well, the answer is one. And it happens in this movie.
Hail! I like reading Top-lists so I desided to do even one.
Hear me, ou those who's body and mind belongs to Metal: leave a comment and I shall know who's heart beats for the Devil! But please, no comments about Cradle of Filth (/ a.k.a Fries) or Dimmu Borgir (/ a.k.a Burger) beeing Black Metal. I don't know what the Hell they are, but as the Devil is my witness, they aren't Black Metal. Note: As we all know (or not) Finland (my homeland), Sweden and Norway have stong traditions in BM (Black Metal). Thus most of the bands mentioned on this list are from Finland but if you know any real trend-killer BM bands in USA, or wherever you live, let me know and leave a link if the band got one. I will also mention something called "the 1st and 2nd wave of finnish BM": this is not any official fact but this is how I like to think about the evolution of it.
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