Who the hell covers the Violent Femmes?

[featherynscale]

This morning, as I was driving in to work, I heard something on the radio that I never thought could exist: a cover version of a Violent Femmes song. Now, I do always enjoy an unlikely cover song. But who the hell covers the Violent Femmes? Number one, every person in a developed country born between 1968 and 1990 knows the entire first album. I am certain of this. I mean, I was listening to this in the fourth grade when the college kids were listening to it, and when I was in college, we were still listening to it. They still play Blister in the Sun and Add it Up on the 'alternative' radio now, for the gods' sake. And, number two, what about listening to a Femmes song makes you go, "Yeah, let's cover this"? I ask you. The style is inherently very silly. It's like covering They Might Be Giants or the Dead Milkmen, or something. Except that you'd have to imagine that the Dead Milkmen had the staying power of the Beatles, or something. Like covering a Beatles song in the style of They Might Be Giants, maybe. Don't let that break your brain. Anyway, I think it's pretty ballsy, and it sounded good -- better than the original, though I imagine that's not a high bar to jump.


[Poll #832134]


Also, on the way in, I heard Muse's "Cydonia", which never fails to crack me up -- it's a fantastically textured song, but there is a bit where the guitar line is the same driving bit from Led Zepplin's "Immigrant Song" (for those younger than me, that would be the song with the viking kittens). And yes, I was doing the Immigrant Song yell in my car this morning, to the wrong song, in a different key. Because I can. At least I do not ever have to wonder why other drivers are looking at me funny.

Comments

Covers, covers....

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

I've got a live recording of Dave Matthews covering "Daughter" by Pearl Jam. He riffs at the end, in his usual style. Remind me to bring it with me next time we're in the same zip code. :)

Also, you may like Fiona Apple's cover of Across the Universe (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/fionaapple/acrosstheuniverse.html) by the Beatles - it's on the Pleasantville soundtrack, which I also own.

And finally, Jonathan Coulton (http://www.jonathancoulton.com/songs) (the guy that sings First of May, that fionnabhar sweetly linked to over a year ago) does dashed clever covers of Baby Got Back by Sir Mix a Lot, and Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny's Child. I like a lot of his stuff, but those are the only two I recognize as covers.

Re: Covers, covers....

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

Eh? Never heard of him. The only "First of May" I know of is an old, old, old Bee Gees song from their 1969 LP Odessa. If it's a cover, I don't wanna go near it. :-)

Re: Covers, covers....

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

No, it's not a cover, at least I'm not aware that it is. Seriously, you don't remember the song First of May (http://www.jonathancoulton.com/mp3/First%20of%20May.mp3)? I'm pretty sure you linked us all to it in the first place. *shrug*

Re: Covers, covers....

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

That might have been one of my other thirds that posted to JC.

Howeevr, we do for a certainty have his CD now, so fionnabhar can hear him at Wild Hare's Beltaine ritual next year, if nothing else. ;)

Re: Covers, covers....

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely song. My brain still adamantly insists that fionnabhar linked it originally, but I just spent a good 20 minutes in her archives, and have failed to find proof to back this up. Damn and Blast.