Auld Blue Eyes – Only You
Genre: Skate Punk
Listen, for the most part, I’ve had it with quirky covers as much as you have. Those have gone out with the metalcore bands butchering the latest pop singles because they simply had no means of writing their own. Yes, it was a fun ride for a while. And, yes, doing covers is something of a necessity for newer musical artists or for those looking to acquire some success.
However, the one thing that you’d expect from these mismatched renditions is to provide some surprises. After all, songs that you’ve likely heard, played by people you haven’t, can reveal a tremendous amount about them. It works kind of like somebody telling you what their favorite movies are.
Auld Blue Eyes’ verbal assault that makes up most of the tune Only You might say more about the artist than reading their diary. It indeed says that an invitation to Sunday dinner from this Yazoo-loving singer might be best left unanswered and that in a pub fight, his voice will rise above the ruckus. It’s a grimy rendition and not one that relies on humor to get your attention. It’s willing despair that is expressed here and, yep, miles away from the synth-pop sounds of the original.
VelvetHeroin – The Faces
Genre: Indie Rock, Garage Rock, Alternative Rock
It still surprises me that more rock song titles aren’t simply numbers or colors. Unless you’re Bob Dylan or John Lennon, simply calling your song Red should be enough. I’m not for one second trying to suggest that the art of rock songwriting is in any way inferior to the kinds that are provided ample room inside museum halls.
What I do mean is that we should be open about what most of us like. Many of the greatest songs are based on powerful melodies, strong grooves, and competent playing. The lyrics are supposed to give the audience an inkling about what the singer is feeling.
From then onward, something magical happens. The audience is asked to use their collective imagination about what the song means. The audience is required to fire up their own make-believe world when hearing VelvetHeroin’s The Faces. The sharply changing dynamics and the passion captured in the singing should be enough. Rock music works a lot like a campfire in which everyone looks and sees what they want to see.
