After reviewing the list of nominees, it’s pretty apparent that our submissions skew heavily towards quasi-ironic indie rock. In the interests of greater inclusion, I encourage all readers with a passion for folk, country, rap, soul or funk (or just about any other under-represented genre) to chime in with a few nominations. I’ll get things started with Cube and Mack 10 covering (sampling?) “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”
Will
Will writes from Washington, D.C. (well, Arlington, Virginia). You can reach him at willblogcorrespondence at gmail dot com.
We have been experiencing some system resource issues. We believe the problem may be resolved, but if it is not please bear with us.
on More Campus Palestine Protests, More Arrests, More Viral VideoToday's example of multiple things can be true: 1. Congressional Republicans are acting in bad faith…
on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsI don't really care about the store brand frosted flakes impact to entertainment. It doesn't really…
on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsCalifornia has banned non-competes for decades. It’s one of the reasons why Silicon Valley sprung up… on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsComeuppance is comeuppance. But in terms of the particular nuance at issue, trade secret law, confid…
on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsI agree, and I think that, as both solution and as a stick/learning opportunity, this policy is righ… on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsNo disagreement that it was wrong to do and that corporate America brought this on itself. I just th… on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsI haven't read it either. Some of the commentary I have seen seems to suggest the final rule was 20%… on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsAt certain levels of seniority and talent the companies injured can and will ruinously sue the heck…
on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsI haven't read the final rule. The earlier version of the rule I read had an exception for officers…
on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreementsSome of the top questions under the tweet are asking about Pro Wrestling and MMA. I mean, I understa…
April 24, 2024
April 23, 2024
Friend Husband At The Ballpark
April 22, 2024
Good Morning! Are You An Amateur?
April 21, 2024
on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreements
on Open Mic for the week of 4/22/2024 on More Campus Palestine Protests, More Arrests, More Viral Video
on Open Mic for the week of 4/22/2024 on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreements on The FTC has banned (nearly all) non-compete agreements on More Campus Palestine Protests, More Arrests, More Viral Video on More Campus Palestine Protests, More Arrests, More Viral Video on More Campus Palestine Protests, More Arrests, More Viral Video on Open Mic for the week of 4/22/2024
on Open Mic for the week of 4/22/2024 on More Campus Palestine Protests, More Arrests, More Viral Video
on More Campus Palestine Protests, More Arrests, More Viral Video on Open Mic for the week of 4/22/2024 on Open Mic for the week of 4/22/2024
Honestly, I thought this was an all-white thing. Here’s my nomination:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65WexbsVs40Report
This may or may not be an interesting thing I’ve noticed but rock and roll has a lot of covers. This band covers this song and that band remakes that other song, so on and so forth.
Rap does not seem to do that. Every now and again, of course, there is a line in a song that pays tribute to an earlier song (like throwing a “let me clear my throat” before the bridge or similar) but there aren’t anywhere near the same degree of covers.
I wonder why.Report
What about sampling? The fact that so many great hip hop and rap tracks are based on a small snippet of a hook, a bass line, a lyric, a horn line seems on the same level as your perception of rock n roll. Different genres approach appropriation differently.Report
Like both EPMD and Puff Daddy sampled Average White Band’s “person to person”?
I don’t know. That strikes me as different than a cover, per se…Report
Klein –
Great pick – I’ll put that up as soon as I get the chance.
Jaybird –
I think you’re right; rap is pretty self-referential and has definitely popularized sampling, but you don’t hear too many covers. I have no idea why this is the case. Funk, soul, country and folk, on the other hand . . .Report
If we want to open up enough to allow samples, I’d say that Nice & Smooth’s sampling of Fast Car on “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow, Sometimes I Rhyme Quick” is probably the best use of an unobscure sample out there.
Eric Prydz’s “Call on me” is probably the best use of a borderline sample.
Best use of an obscure sample would probably be EPMD’s sampling of “Person to Person” on Richter Scale. (Which then became significantly less obscure when Puffy used the same sample on “Friend” on his debut (crappy) album).Report
Phish is without question one of the great “cover bands.” Their covers of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” The Beatles “A Day in the Life,” Ween’s “Roses are Free,” and Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll” are legendary (at least in jam band circles), as is their range (they’ve also taken stabs at The Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, and TV on the Radio). Their recent cover of the entire Stone’s “Exile on Main Street” album on Halloween was outrageously good. I think their version of “Shine a Light” qualifies for this little contest, but I could only find this snippet online (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3E15PDTkc8). But here’s the full version of “Loving Cup,” which didn’t suck either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1bsxFqLuMgReport
Here’s another band on another Halloween that could cover a tune too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMan6STpZAEReport
And this might possibly be the best worst holiday song cover of all-time. Thanks, Neil!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOegH4uYe-cReport
I realize, like Nirvana above, these are “indie” bands but they’re pretty incredible covers.
Antony – “If It Be Your Will” by Leonard Cohen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKhGKB6faW0
The Raconteurs – “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjIsub91HAQ
White and company also did a monster “It Ain’t Easy” by David Bowie during this set at Lollapalooza.
I’ll stop now.Report
The Dead Kennedys “California Uber Alles” performed by The Disposable Heroes or Hiphoprisy. This is from their album “Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury” but there’s a better version from the Virus 100 compilation (Alternative Tentacles 100th release) –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBAkOifDeSw
I’m going to throw in another indie rock cover though, “Freebird” performed by Built to Spill. Why? Because it is *not* ironic – watch the video, they are taking it dead serious. I got to see them perform this live, and it was a jaw dropper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8whmIaeftQReport
Good call on BTS playing Freebird. A buddy of mine saw that performance live.Report
Well, speaking of Ice Cube and sampling, The Players Association cover of “Footsteps in the Dark” by the Isley Brothers is pretty good. My vote’s with Stars though.Report