Just been searching for Pulp covers on Youtube - and why not? - and I'm still deeply confused at the thought of a full child choir backing Shatner singing "Dance, and drink, and screw"
-- Edited by Ste on Thursday 17th of June 2010 10:02:23 AM
I find it quite interesting (note - interesting, I've yet to hear one I love) the range of artists that cover Pulp. There's no bunch of folk around who will dislike butchering a classic more than us - but it's surprising the reach they had, and I find that quite heartening.
We're not the people to judge, but I think that Andy is onto something - no other band seems able to pull the songs off just... right.
F. Ferdinand's cover: I think it was a gimmick, and godawful
Keane's Disco 2000: muzac
Christie's Born to Cry was over-wrought, but the best of the bunch, I reckon. (Then again, it's hardly a light-and-airy song, and the Pulp version doesn't really lighten up on the despair feeling, so perhaps that's harsh - the music just seemed a touch TOO dramatic for me)
Even Hannon had a pop at covering Disco 2000, and, well, failed to remember the lyrics. (Granted, it was an impromtu thing from audience suggestions, but he picked that one out from the many suggestions)
Whatever the outcome, I like to find that other bands hold their songs in high regard / want to perform them. I wonder if we'll get retro covers released in 20 years time...
What's the "best" cover anyone's heard? (LeoVK's and co. aside, of course!)
-- Edited by Ste on Friday 18th of June 2010 06:18:16 PM
I kinda dig it - interesting variation on the original rather than a straightforward copy.
Best Cover Version: Leo VK - Going Back To Find Her (though I think he took it off youtube for some reason) and that Argentinan band doing This Is Hardcore
Oddest: Tori Amos Common People
There's some interesting Pulp covers on youtube. A member of a stag party in Mag(Shag/Stag)aluf doing a kareoke version of TIH is compulsive viewing.
I kind of hate every Pulp cover I've heard; Franz Ferdinand, Cave, William S, Keane, Tony Christine. Even songs that Jarvis-written songs that other people sing are quite horrible in their versions. In a way it would be fun if someone could do a decent cover of them but on the other hand it should be strictly forbidden. The fact that their songs are impossible to cover is a good thing. It wouldn't be fun if you actually could use the phrase "this is better than the original" about a Pulp cover. The music part in this verson of babies is really good but the singing, no thanks.
-- Edited by Perfect on Sunday 20th of June 2010 08:10:12 PM
-- Edited by Perfect on Sunday 20th of June 2010 08:10:48 PM
Jarvis just has such a unique vocal style. Not just the tone of his voice, but the way he can effortlessly move from singing to talking in the middle of a verse. It's really hard -- if not impossible -- to duplicate. I think that's one of the reasons why most Pulp covers blow.
That Argentinian band that did "TIH" did alright, though. By and large, though, I think someone like Rosin Murphy had the right idea with her version of "Sorted":: deconstruct the song entirely.
Ha! I always enjoy Pulp covers (as well as covers of my other fav songs) in a sense that is "see? No one can do as good as Pulp even though the songs seem simple musically". On the other hand, I appreciate anybody's effort to cover a Pulp song.
IMHO, Franz Ferdinand's Misshapes is not that bad!