Who By Fire
February 8, 2013 9:45 AM   Subscribe

Get your CanCon on! Buck 65 covers Leonard Cohen in a new video directed and choreographed by Jacob Niedzwiecki. The video for 'Who By Fire', inspired by the motion of a pendulum, just had its world premiere at New York's Lincoln Center as part of the 2013 Dance on Camera Festival.
posted by Fuzzy Monster (19 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 
I came across this the other day, thought it was fantastic. Jenn Grant's backing vocals are lovely.
posted by oulipian at 9:51 AM on February 8, 2013 [3 favorites]


Thanks for the Jenn Grant link, oulipian! Her backing vocals are lovely indeed!
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:54 AM on February 8, 2013


This track is from Buck 65's latest album, 20 Odd Years, which came out about over a year ago. You can stream the tracks on Grooveshark, and possibly MySpace, but I can't check that link from here.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:07 AM on February 8, 2013


I love Buck 65. He really does have a perfect voice for covering Leonard Cohen.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 10:49 AM on February 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


ohyesgodilovedthisfromthefirsttimeiheardit! (Both versions.) I agree that all the singing, especially Grant's, is just lovely, but the sparse instrumental closing really wraps it up perfectly.

Buck 65 (as Rich Terfry) hosts the drive-home show on CBC2 -- really worth the time. You can catch some old pieces, such as Rear View Mirror, on the show page (under "Audio").
posted by maudlin at 10:51 AM on February 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


I'm not much into hip-hop, but I do love Buck 65's stuff. Have to check it out.
posted by jgaiser at 10:51 AM on February 8, 2013


Buck 65 (as Rich Terfry)

My husband always hears that as "Rick Stir-fry."
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 10:59 AM on February 8, 2013


Big Buck 65 fan here. A few of my favorite albums to check out via Grooveshark, should you be inclined:

This Right Here is Buck 65
Secret House Against the World
Talkin' Honky Blues
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:20 AM on February 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


jgaiser, Buck 65 has slowly but surely been moving away from hip-hop, and 20 Odd Years is a lot less hip-hop focused than his past albums, with Buck singing more than rapping, and the musical accompaniment ranges from electronic-ey to folksy/quirky indie-rock type and chamber-pop. This particular song is no different, a beautiful duet set to guitars that build to include some weird percussive/ electronic elements, followed by violins.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:22 AM on February 8, 2013


I like to imagine that CanCon is a fan convention comprised entirely of fans of the kraut rock band Can.
posted by to sir with millipedes at 11:54 AM on February 8, 2013 [2 favorites]


Jenn Grant's backing vocals are lovely.

I was going to say it was a Jenn Grant-Buck 65 duet as much as a Buck 65 cover.

I'm not a huge fan, but I saw Buck 65 open for somebody at the Fillmore and he was pretty fucking awesome.

That said, this video is not what I expected. Can't say I like the cover much nor the video.

But it does make me want to listen to the original ... with Sonny Rollins!
posted by mrgrimm at 12:00 PM on February 8, 2013


perfect voice for covering Leonard Cohen

The perfect voice for covering Leonard Cohen is always Jennifer Warnes.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:02 PM on February 8, 2013


Want more Buck 65 singing Leonard Cohen!

mrgrimm, I prefer Madeleine Peyroux to Jennifer Warnes.
posted by eviemath at 1:44 PM on February 8, 2013


Hmmm...

I'm both a fan of Buck 65 and Leonard Cohen. I certainly agree with the sentiments that Jenn Grant's backing vocals are great, but I must say I'm a tad disappointed.

In my opinion, when you cover someone's materials you should give it a new feel, a new breath, a new perspective. Amanda Palmer covering Material Girl, Cowboy Junkies covering Sweet Jane or State Trooper are good examples of this.

Leonard Cohen covers I think do a good job of this include Concrete Blonde performing Everybody Knows, Nick Cave performing Tower of Song, The Flying Lizards singing Suzanne (check this one out, it's pretty awesome), and Coil doing Who by Fire.

Thanks for the post though, I did enjoy the song (and yay, Buck 65!).
posted by el io at 1:45 PM on February 8, 2013


I have to agree that it's a decent cover but just too close to the original to be all that interesting to me.

I'll add Jackson Browne's version of A Thousand Kisses Deep to the list of covers that take a different path from the original. The Teddy Thompson version of Tonight Will Be Fine and Antony's If It Be Your Will, both from the I'm Your Man movie/soundtrack, are wonderful reinterpretations as well.
posted by Candleman at 4:20 PM on February 8, 2013


Don't forget Teddy Thompson's cover of The Future!
posted by oulipian at 5:19 PM on February 8, 2013


I beg your pardon. I was expecting this post would be about Kon Kan.
posted by xil at 9:31 PM on February 8, 2013


Wow, Buck 65 is still around. Haven't thought of him in years. Though I do still think of The Centaur occasionally.
posted by lkc at 11:28 AM on February 9, 2013


Is it because of his big c**k, or his love of classical music? Or the sample from Carrie?
posted by filthy light thief at 8:33 PM on February 15, 2013


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