I have an affinity for cover songs. I like the way they make me hear the same music in a new way, help me to appreciate the person singing them and just add a bit of flavor to a played out song. Of course, there are also a lot of bad cover songs, which you can read all about here, but I’m feeling extraordinarily generous today, probably due to the more than 5 hours of sleep I got and the fact that Los Angeles doesn’t feel like the surface of the sun at the moment, so let’s concentrate on the good.
© Bird and the Bee
This isn’t the first time Rihanna’s songs have received the cover treatment; Mandy Moore came out an infectious version of her hit “Umbrella” (ella, ella, ella) a while back, but its amazing what Don’t Stop the Music sounds like without the heavy beats and typical pop-infused background music.
I’ve written about how much I love Zee Avi before, but the fact that she’s covered a Morrissey song and given it an entirely new flavor, makes her solid in my book.
Nouvelle Vague is known for their covers and this Go-Go’s classic is on their 3rd album, simply titled “3.” Maybe it’s the fact that I’m partial to 80s female pop singers and groups, or that this version doesn’t sound so brash, but rather allows you to just melt down with it - this is especially nice when you’re dealing with miles and miles of traffic.
Oh Adele. What can I say about you that I haven’t already. In short, I love your music. If I ever have the guts to sing or write songs, I imagine that I would sound a lot like you. The thing about Adele is that there is absolutely no difference in listening to her pre-recorded album songs and seeing her live - she is the same, meaning she’s amazing, either way. Her voice has this rare quality that I just can’t put my finger on, and it manages to turn this Strokes song into something more than extraordinary.
© Merge Records
I like Zooey Deschanel. A lot. I’m starting to like M Ward a lot. Together as She & Him, I’d say they’re pretty cool, especially when they’re covering The Smiths for such a delightful and quirky film as 500 Days of Summer, which you must see - put down the remote and stop watching VH1 and get yourself to a theatre, you won’t regret it.
I don’t think I really need to explain this one - anytime you combine two of my favorite things - Morrissey and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, you know I’m sold. Morrissey’s voice has so much longing, so much sadness in this song, that I can’t help but love it.
Again, two of my favorite things - smooth melodies from Les Nubians, coupled with a Sade song, in French! All I need is a warm breeze and tea lights and the mood seems perfect.
Clearly, this list is incomplete and ends at an odd number, so forgive me. I’m sure I’ll be back with more, but for now, I’d love to hear some suggestions.
Posted on 2 August '09 by liana, under Music. 4 Comments.
Finding new music is such a sacred and personal procedure, and something that feels so gratifying when it happens by accident, kind of like everything else in life. It might be when you’re stuck in traffic, listening to the radio or during your favorite television show or soundtrack to a film or when you’re dilly dallying online.
Of course, friends always exchange music with other friends, but there have been plenty of instances when someone has given me music, which I’ve listened to and liked, but that I don’t “discover” myself until weeks later when I hear it randomly during one of the aforementioned scenarios. It’s like a late reaction, kind of like when you hit your toe on a corner and the throbbing pain doesn’t reach you until after a few seconds.
For example, a few months ago I sent my boyfriend a Fleet Foxes song that I really liked and it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that he heard it one day on t.v. and decided he loved it. This is why I say that the act of discovering new music is so deeply introverted. For some reason this type of discovery doesn’t necessarily apply to film or books as much as it does to music.
Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, Mamer, Choir of Young Believers and Zee Avi are a few new favorite musicians of mine that I’ve accidentally discovered.
Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - When you listen to this three person rockabilly/rock n’ roll/swing/[insert music from the 40s and 50s here] band, you’ll be transported back to the days of Elvis, amazing vintage fashions and all the nostalgia you can muster up. The best part? Kitty, Daisy and Lewis are 16, 21 and 19 respectively, which makes them just that much cooler to listen to. They are everything I would aspire to be if I was a musician, right down to what they wear and the equipment they use, which is 8 track tape machines and vintage BBC and RCA microphones, by the way.
Mean Son of a Gun - Kitty, Daisy and Lewis
Mamer - Growing up 2,000 miles away from Beijing by the borders of Russia and Kazakhstan in the grasslands certainly has a great influence on Mamer’s music, carrying with the themes like “the nature of man, the delicate balance of man and the temptations of modernity.” Make no mistake, Mamer’s music really can’t be categorized. While listening, you might ask yourself, “Ok, but where does this fit into music.” The beauty is that by the end, you wont really care. Signed to Peter Gabriel’s “Real World Records,” Mamer uses the dombra, a long-necked lute that is popular in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. His strong voice is paired perfectly with the folk melodies he sings against.
Choir of Young Believers - Hailing from Denmark, Choir of Young Believers is the brainchild of 24-year-old singer-songwriter Jannis Noya Makrigiannis. Their music is haunting and just plain cool. The interesting thing about this band is that their performances vary in size - at times you might see all 10 members will appear on stage or you might be treated to a solo performance by Jannis himself. Infectious and intelligent pop music is one way I would describe the “Choir.” They sound like a combination of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver put together and as far as I’m concerned, that can’t be a bad thing.
Photo by Autumn de Wilde
Zee Avi - Oh Zee Avi, what can I say about this stunning new singer from Malaysia who was more or less discovered on YouTube. Just a girl and her guitar, Zee Avi is what I like to call “music that makes me smile.” I suppose she does for me, what pop singers like Colbie Caillat with their annoying and cheesy song lyrics do for those who listen to top 40 exclusively. Plus, she’s covered Morrissey’s “First of the Gang to Die,” which is an automatic free pass into my world of cool. Her debut single “Bitter Heart” will totally put you in a good mood.
Posted on 25 May '09 by liana, under Music. No Comments.
