This is a song that a lot of people probably think is all Emmylou, because she owned this song like no other.
But it was a cover of a song by The Louvin Brothers in 1958. Emmylou's version, unlike the original, charted and became her first hit in 1975. She went on from there, of course, to become THE Emmylou Harris.
Monday, September 23, 2019
Thursday, June 6, 2019
6 June 2019 - Kiesza - Prayer in C
Sure, it doesn't sound like the song you know.
Which means you didn't read my "Prayer in C" post that explains that. The explanation is, of course, that Robin Schulz didn't remix this.
But Kiesza is clearly familiar with and a fan of the unremixed version, because this performance is brilliant.
Which means you didn't read my "Prayer in C" post that explains that. The explanation is, of course, that Robin Schulz didn't remix this.
But Kiesza is clearly familiar with and a fan of the unremixed version, because this performance is brilliant.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
5 June 2019 - Conway Twitty - Slow Hand
Conway Twitty.
Covering the Pointer Sisters.
After a long hiatus here, you might not have expected that this would be our comeback choice.
And yet it makes a lot of sense. The original was strongly country-themed. With a few lyrical changes - because the original lyrics don't work for a heterosexual male. And yet, I don't see that as his biggest alteration to the song. The tempo is a lot faster - but that was appropriate for the genre at the time.
Covering the Pointer Sisters.
After a long hiatus here, you might not have expected that this would be our comeback choice.
And yet it makes a lot of sense. The original was strongly country-themed. With a few lyrical changes - because the original lyrics don't work for a heterosexual male. And yet, I don't see that as his biggest alteration to the song. The tempo is a lot faster - but that was appropriate for the genre at the time.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
16 August 2018 - Aretha Franklin - Repsect
Less a cover and more a reimagination of an Otis Redding classic, this song was unbelievably Aretha's only Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit. More importantly, it turned a song about a guy begging his girl for respect into a feminist anthem.
Music really lost a legend in Aretha Franklin today, but her songs will endure for generations to come.
Music really lost a legend in Aretha Franklin today, but her songs will endure for generations to come.
Monday, July 30, 2018
30 July 2018 - The Oak Ridge Boys - Elvira
A lot of you know there used to be two authors of this blog, as well as Wicked Guilty Pleasures. I miss writing with Scott Colvin - he brought a different feel to his postings than I did, and he kept me motivated.
But I have to correct a slight inaccuracy on one of his posts today, and it's a commonly held one.
In 2014, he posted what he called a cover of an Oak Ridge Boys classic, "Elvira", by Little Big Town. And, the song was definitely "Elvira", and a pretty interesting version of it. But the Oak Ridge Boys themselves covered the song, which was previously performed by Rodney Crowell (whose version is probably closest to the Little Big Town one), as well as Kenny Rogers and the First Edition...... and written and recorded in the mid-60s by Dallas Frazier.
He didn't write it about Cassandra Peterson, either - Elvira Ave. is a residential street in Nashville, Tennessee. And there's no Hungry House Cafe there. I checked.
Let's be completely honest, though - the Oak Ridge Boys owned this song, and they made it a classic. Scott got that part spot-on. No other version has such great harmonies, or nearly the energy of this version. These are some of the best harmonies ever recorded!
But I have to correct a slight inaccuracy on one of his posts today, and it's a commonly held one.
In 2014, he posted what he called a cover of an Oak Ridge Boys classic, "Elvira", by Little Big Town. And, the song was definitely "Elvira", and a pretty interesting version of it. But the Oak Ridge Boys themselves covered the song, which was previously performed by Rodney Crowell (whose version is probably closest to the Little Big Town one), as well as Kenny Rogers and the First Edition...... and written and recorded in the mid-60s by Dallas Frazier.
He didn't write it about Cassandra Peterson, either - Elvira Ave. is a residential street in Nashville, Tennessee. And there's no Hungry House Cafe there. I checked.
Let's be completely honest, though - the Oak Ridge Boys owned this song, and they made it a classic. Scott got that part spot-on. No other version has such great harmonies, or nearly the energy of this version. These are some of the best harmonies ever recorded!
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
19 June 2018 - Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life
This was a cover - which you know if you read Wicked Guilty Pleasures today...
It was also, bar none, the biggest hit ever up until that time, spending ten weeks at the top of the Billboard charts in 1977 (a feat matched by this song in 1980 and not eclipsed until 1993). It came to be when Joseph Brooks, the songwriter, became disillusioned for one reason (some say he was the Harvey Weinstein of his day) or another with the original vocalist, and had Debby Boone rerecord it - in a more Christian reading of the love song.
None of Brooks' ugliness is Debby's fault. She did a beautiful job singing this in her own right.
It was also, bar none, the biggest hit ever up until that time, spending ten weeks at the top of the Billboard charts in 1977 (a feat matched by this song in 1980 and not eclipsed until 1993). It came to be when Joseph Brooks, the songwriter, became disillusioned for one reason (some say he was the Harvey Weinstein of his day) or another with the original vocalist, and had Debby Boone rerecord it - in a more Christian reading of the love song.
None of Brooks' ugliness is Debby's fault. She did a beautiful job singing this in her own right.
Monday, May 21, 2018
21 May 2018 - I.O.I(아이오아이) - Whatta Man (Good man)
If you are a fan of my other blog, Wicked Guilty Pleasures, you know last week was a tribute to K-Pop.
In building those posts over there, I found this fun Salt 'n' Pepa cover. I didn't expect it, and the verses really aren't the same - much less sexually charged than the original. However, the beat, the feeling, the flow, the energy - all very similar.
In building those posts over there, I found this fun Salt 'n' Pepa cover. I didn't expect it, and the verses really aren't the same - much less sexually charged than the original. However, the beat, the feeling, the flow, the energy - all very similar.
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