27 January 2021 - Miley Cyrus - Heart Of Glass

Miley's take on Blondie is a study in homage and contrast.   The original version of this song was a disco/rock fusion built around a drum machine beat, with Debbie Harry's breathy falsetto driving the lyrics home.

Miley's take does MUSICALLY pay homage to the disco influence, with the obvious drum machine opening.  There is, however, no breathy falsetto, instead being replaced by her trademark huge throaty voice.... and it works here, almost bringing a bigger desperation to the song.  

This performance had such a positive review that it was released as a single and added to the digital edition of her album, Plastic Hearts. 

26 January 2021 - Nouvelle Vague - Too Drunk To F**k

This French band is known for their inventive poppy covers, often of songs that are seen as not great cover candidates.

Take this Dead Kennedys classic.  The ladies take Jello Biafra's lyrics, clearly intended to be in-your-face punk, and give them a gentle lounge treatment.  Soak it in, like the audience does.  

25 January 2021 - Nina Persson - The Windmills Of Your Mind

In 1968, the performance of this song by Noel Harrison won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, as this song was featured in The Thomas Crown Affair.  Nina Persson, vocalist for Swedish band The Cardigans, does an admirable job bringing feeling and sorrow to the song.  The version is done as part of a tribute to Dusty Springfield, who made a cover of the song a minor hit.  

Yes, she also does it in Swedish.  I think it's even a little better here.   

22 January 2021 - Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out

This cover of a Beatles classic was a Top 15 hit in 1971 and earned a Grammy nomination.  And yes, Paul McCartney is CLEARLY a fan.  This performance is from a Paul McCartney tribute at the White House in 2010.  

Wonder's version is far more densely layered than the original, adding keyboard and harmonica parts and a much funkier bassline than even Paul himself envisioned.  

21 January 2021 - Evanescence - The Chain

This was one of Fleetwood Mac's darkest song, so it stands to reason that it would be one that Evanescence covered as part of their return - giving it an even darker and more orchestral feel.  Of course, it's dominated by Amy Lee's huge voice, but, in an unusual move, every member of the band sings at least a little bit.  

20 January 2021 - Rouge - O Amor É Ilusão

You know we love Brazilian music here.  

The story of this version is a little darker than most.  In 2005, the band Rouge were three albums in and on the verge of breaking up.  Their label demanded a compilation (read: "Greatest Hits") album.  This song, which was included on an album of rerecorded hits and translated English language songs, was part of the compromise.

As it turns out, the song was a minor hit for the band, but it didn't stop their breakup.  

They did reform in 2018, though.

19 January 2021 - Trine Rein - Torn

Trine Rein is a Norwegian-American artist.  If you don't read Wicked Guilty Pleasures, you think this is a Natalie Imbruglia cover.   It isn't.  The song was written and performed by the band Ednaswap (that's TODAY's Wicked Guilty Pleasure).   

Rein took this song to the top 10 in Norway in 1996, a full year before Imbruglia (who admittedly was working with one of the songwriters)  released her version.  In fact, it is THIS version that likely sparked the big hit cover.  

I kind of love this version, though.