And after all...
July 1, 2015 9:55 PM Subscribe
Anyways, here's Wonderwall ...
In addition to this intriguing curio you've just enjoyed, The Mike Flowers Pops has a large catalog of curdled classics for your consideration. Among these are:
Light My Fire
Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Call Me (audio only)
Velvet Underground Medley (audio only)
MacArthur Park (audio only)
and many more!
In addition to this intriguing curio you've just enjoyed, The Mike Flowers Pops has a large catalog of curdled classics for your consideration. Among these are:
Light My Fire
Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Call Me (audio only)
Velvet Underground Medley (audio only)
MacArthur Park (audio only)
and many more!
This was in quite heavy rotation on MTV back in the day.
posted by mykescipark at 9:59 PM on July 1, 2015
posted by mykescipark at 9:59 PM on July 1, 2015
This is interesting. The video seemed kind of silly and vacuous, but the song itself had interesting moments. I felt like it was severely limited by its reliance on tropes, though, such as the banal early 60's brass faffery and weirdly clipped, almost lazy phrasing. The few notes of reverb-y guitar and the staccato trumpet at the very beginning feel like they gesture at a style that never entirely coalesces.
posted by clockzero at 10:15 PM on July 1, 2015
posted by clockzero at 10:15 PM on July 1, 2015
Excellent. A place to drop this F.A.B. Easy Listening documentary - with Mike Flowers and all...
(I love love LOVE this stuff)
posted by prismatic7 at 10:18 PM on July 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
(I love love LOVE this stuff)
posted by prismatic7 at 10:18 PM on July 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
And the singer has sort of an interesting Bryan Ferry-esque lounge style, but with none of Ferry's exciting, subversively cold weirdness.
posted by clockzero at 10:18 PM on July 1, 2015
posted by clockzero at 10:18 PM on July 1, 2015
at the time, starting right around when Kurt Cobain offed himself, the so-called Lounge Resurgence was a breath of fresh air for me -- Not To Be Taken Remotely Seriously. Which is very much what it felt like the culture needed: a profound retreat from seriousness.
But a little taking-the-piss can go a long way and I was pretty much of sick of it all by 1996. With a few exceptions where the smooth, cocktail-buzz took certain songs to a whole other realm. Very serious indeed.
Like Steve + Eydie's take on Black Hole Sun ...
posted by philip-random at 10:30 PM on July 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
But a little taking-the-piss can go a long way and I was pretty much of sick of it all by 1996. With a few exceptions where the smooth, cocktail-buzz took certain songs to a whole other realm. Very serious indeed.
Like Steve + Eydie's take on Black Hole Sun ...
posted by philip-random at 10:30 PM on July 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've always been a little sad that Ethel Merman didn't live long enough to put out a rendition of Wonderwall.
To this day, I can't listen to the track without imagining the Merman warble. Oh, it would have been so good.
posted by Graygorey at 10:30 PM on July 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
To this day, I can't listen to the track without imagining the Merman warble. Oh, it would have been so good.
posted by Graygorey at 10:30 PM on July 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
This music always makes me feel like I'm stuck in a Jonathan Adler store and someone is verbally berating Liza Minellini, possibly Tom Ford.
posted by The Whelk at 10:30 PM on July 1, 2015
posted by The Whelk at 10:30 PM on July 1, 2015
It's really great music to pass out in a carpet lined conversation pit to.
posted by The Whelk at 10:33 PM on July 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:33 PM on July 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
( I do wonder why all the hip gay guys who are about ...35 all decided this was the aesthetic they wanted to evoke. Everyone wants it to be a Carol King sunrise with polyester wrap dresses and robes and lots of hair but also drugs?)
posted by The Whelk at 10:35 PM on July 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 10:35 PM on July 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Someday we're going to have a version of this that is just people doing the Gin Blossoms and Bush and it's gonna be confusing.
posted by StopMakingSense at 10:57 PM on July 1, 2015
posted by StopMakingSense at 10:57 PM on July 1, 2015
METAFILTER: a Carol King sunrise with polyester wrap dresses and robes and lots of hair but also drugs
posted by philip-random at 11:06 PM on July 1, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 11:06 PM on July 1, 2015 [6 favorites]
ilana: "Personally, I prefer Wndrwll ."
Nice. Album download commences.
posted by Samizdata at 11:21 PM on July 1, 2015
Nice. Album download commences.
posted by Samizdata at 11:21 PM on July 1, 2015
Personally, I prefer Wndrwll.
It's like a Pontypool supernova.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:26 PM on July 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's like a Pontypool supernova.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:26 PM on July 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
what the fuck did i just listen to
and why is it kicking my teenage memories in the ass
why did this happen
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:52 PM on July 1, 2015
and why is it kicking my teenage memories in the ass
why did this happen
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:52 PM on July 1, 2015
Señor Coconut And His Orchestra cover Daft Punk's Around The World (with shades of the Star Wars Cantina Band)
posted by sektah at 11:58 PM on July 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by sektah at 11:58 PM on July 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
I couldn't believe no one had linked Paul Anka's version but after searching I see it's not available on YouTube or Spotify (could be because I am currently in Canadia and don't know where to look). His treatment of Wonderwall is Rat-Pack style punch-it-up big band swing by a guy that practically invented the genre and it rocks hard. About ten years ago, Anka released an album of covers of songs like Eye of the Tiger and Van Hale 's Jump called Rock Swings and by hitting the accents and hooks that drew us to these songs in the first place, the album really pays respect to the source material while reinterpreting the songs. And Anka ain't no wannabe poser ironic hipster. He's the real deal.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 12:01 AM on July 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 12:01 AM on July 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
To be fair, with only the removal of the words "brass" and "clipped" this phrase:
I felt like it was severely limited by its reliance on tropes, though, such as the banal early 60's brass faffery and weirdly clipped, almost lazy phrasing.
also applies to the original song.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:36 AM on July 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
I felt like it was severely limited by its reliance on tropes, though, such as the banal early 60's brass faffery and weirdly clipped, almost lazy phrasing.
also applies to the original song.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:36 AM on July 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
philip-random: "Like Steve + Eydie's take on Black Hole Sun"
This is, like, unrelated or whatever, but could the internet please make Chris Cornell sing Adele's Someone like You? This is the wrong place to ask, but you're all I got. You guys are internet, right? You probably know people and stuff. It would be so swell, and I promise to give you all kisses (nothing gross or nothing). So... yeah. Do that, please. TIA.
posted by team lowkey at 12:44 AM on July 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
This is, like, unrelated or whatever, but could the internet please make Chris Cornell sing Adele's Someone like You? This is the wrong place to ask, but you're all I got. You guys are internet, right? You probably know people and stuff. It would be so swell, and I promise to give you all kisses (nothing gross or nothing). So... yeah. Do that, please. TIA.
posted by team lowkey at 12:44 AM on July 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
(I'm trying to figure out what you guys are talking about without WTFV. No clue.)
posted by mantecol at 12:48 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by mantecol at 12:48 AM on July 2, 2015
This was very very nearly the Christmas No 1 in 1995 in the UK. It ended up at no 2 and couldn't quite beat Michael Jackson's Earth Song.
posted by memebake at 12:51 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by memebake at 12:51 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
I saw that guy on Blue Peter and was completely nonplussed. Still not a fan of twee and mannered, TBH.
posted by topynate at 1:20 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by topynate at 1:20 AM on July 2, 2015
Oh, but Wndrwll is quality, thanks. Sort of a musical in-joke: "Yes, I've clearly heard the song a million times. Well so have you, and we both know it's a classic, however uncool it is."
posted by topynate at 1:26 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by topynate at 1:26 AM on July 2, 2015
If you like this, you'll be pleased to know that one of Norway's leading sociologists and public intellectuals in the Nineties had a job on the side as lead singer in Penthouse Playboys, a similar venture, though more 60s-70s oriented, which additionally translated some songs to Norwegian.
Sangen han sang var min egen (Killing Me Softly with His Song)
Smoke On The Water
Været
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 1:30 AM on July 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sangen han sang var min egen (Killing Me Softly with His Song)
Smoke On The Water
Været
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 1:30 AM on July 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
More lounge core from Nouvelle Vague - Love Will Tear Us Apart
posted by asok at 1:52 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by asok at 1:52 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
When Wonderwall won the TripleJ Hottest 100 in 1995, instead of playing the actual Oasis song, they played this version first to prank listeners.
I recall dancing around the lounge-room of our share house with the hat-stand.
Good times.
posted by But tomorrow is another day... at 2:11 AM on July 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
I recall dancing around the lounge-room of our share house with the hat-stand.
Good times.
posted by But tomorrow is another day... at 2:11 AM on July 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
But, for serious, you guys. You guys know how to activate stuff. With kickstarts and whatnot? And AV Club? Let's movement! Chris Cornell, Someone like You. You want it, and you want it. For reals. Let's alternate universes! The future is yours!
posted by team lowkey at 2:28 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by team lowkey at 2:28 AM on July 2, 2015
#corndele
posted by team lowkey at 2:42 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by team lowkey at 2:42 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
For me, this version fell into some sort of auditory uncanny valley and every time it was about to crawl out it would slide back down and creep me out again.
posted by Apoch at 2:57 AM on July 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Apoch at 2:57 AM on July 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
So this is deep web horror.
posted by jefflowrey at 4:28 AM on July 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by jefflowrey at 4:28 AM on July 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
This is, like, unrelated or whatever, but could the internet please make Chris Cornell sing Adele's Someone like You? This is the wrong place to ask, but you're all I got. You guys are internet, right? You probably know people and stuff.
Ever since I first encountered the Satan Swings, Baby! hoax, I've had an unfulfilled desire to hear Sammy Davis, Jr. sing "Sympathy for the Devil." Can someone make that happen as well, please?
I asked Wayne Brady on Twitter, but he never replied.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:39 AM on July 2, 2015
Ever since I first encountered the Satan Swings, Baby! hoax, I've had an unfulfilled desire to hear Sammy Davis, Jr. sing "Sympathy for the Devil." Can someone make that happen as well, please?
I asked Wayne Brady on Twitter, but he never replied.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:39 AM on July 2, 2015
Prozak for Lovers. I highly recommend their "Don't Fear the Reaper" bossa nova.
posted by tzikeh at 5:07 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by tzikeh at 5:07 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm surprised Mike Flowers hasn't been posted here already? But whatever, I love the moment you realize you're hearing a pop song wrapped up in a totally different genre. Like say Piece of My Heart, bluegrass-style.
posted by A dead Quaker at 6:11 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by A dead Quaker at 6:11 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've tried but failed to detect the massive evil that is supposed to be contained in this song.....I guess it just got overexposed or something? I think that must have happened during some of the years I don't remember so well. I'm too old to have been annoyed by house-party-acoustic-guitar-guys playing it, too.
Ryan Adams' cover of it is really quite good.
posted by thelonius at 6:14 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ryan Adams' cover of it is really quite good.
posted by thelonius at 6:14 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ryan Adams' cover of it is really quite good.
...a bit of an understatement. That cover is fucking fantastic.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:23 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
...a bit of an understatement. That cover is fucking fantastic.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:23 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Iceland's Ragnar Bjarnason does Smells Like Teen Spirit. (Never gets old)
posted by kaymac at 6:38 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by kaymac at 6:38 AM on July 2, 2015
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the entire Me First And The Gimme Gimmes discography can be streamed on Bandcamp. There are also videos for I Believe I Can Fly, Summertime, and Danny's Song.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:44 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Going To Maine at 6:44 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wow, Wndrwll is a thing I didn't know I wanted until now. Magnificent!
posted by marginaliana at 6:45 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by marginaliana at 6:45 AM on July 2, 2015
Iceland's Ragnar Bjarnason does Smells Like Teen Spirit. (Never gets old)
In a similar vein, I quite like Dani Siciliano's take on Come As You Are.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:47 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
In a similar vein, I quite like Dani Siciliano's take on Come As You Are.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:47 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
I feel like this sort of treatment really highlights which songs are truly brilliant and which ones just caught the zeitgeist.
Their cover of Wonderwall is hilarious, but not actually good music, whereas their version of Light My Fire is still fantastic. I'm actually not sure there's a way to arrange Light My Fire so that it is not perfect.
posted by 256 at 6:53 AM on July 2, 2015
Their cover of Wonderwall is hilarious, but not actually good music, whereas their version of Light My Fire is still fantastic. I'm actually not sure there's a way to arrange Light My Fire so that it is not perfect.
posted by 256 at 6:53 AM on July 2, 2015
this thread is important for finally getting me to listen to Neil Cicierega
It's simply the best...part of waking up...
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 7:25 AM on July 2, 2015
It's simply the best...part of waking up...
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 7:25 AM on July 2, 2015
That's the worst MacArthur Park I've ever heard. What is all that unrelated crap in the middle? Girl choirs singing some alternate universe stuff, an unrelated trumpet solo. Dear Lord, that was awful.
And his vocal sucks.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 7:42 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
And his vocal sucks.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 7:42 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Saving this comment thread for helpful criticism as I develop my Al Bowlly-inspired crooner act...
posted by aion at 8:25 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by aion at 8:25 AM on July 2, 2015
Easy listening/lounge covers are fun and I love Richard Cheese. But the best genre changing cover of Black Hole Sun is this soft jazz one by Stella Starlight Trio.
posted by MrBobaFett at 8:43 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by MrBobaFett at 8:43 AM on July 2, 2015
Here's Paul Anka's version right here. I agree, Slarty Bartfast, Rock Swings is a wonderful album because the arrangements are great. His versions of Jump and Smells Like Teen Spirit are equally good. If his tongue was in his cheek, he didn't act like it.
posted by Man-Thing at 8:50 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by Man-Thing at 8:50 AM on July 2, 2015
Pop songs would get the easy listening treatment almost immediately after release back then. Witness this Helmut Zacharias arrangement of "Light My Fire" from 1969. (and he played all the hits, too. )
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:23 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:23 AM on July 2, 2015
ooh, is this the part of the thread when I geek out about cover versions?
purple haze
r u experienced
sorry, I'll leave quietly
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 9:48 AM on July 2, 2015
purple haze
r u experienced
sorry, I'll leave quietly
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 9:48 AM on July 2, 2015
Anybody like a capellea spirituals by the Pixies?
posted by Going To Maine at 10:22 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by Going To Maine at 10:22 AM on July 2, 2015
Joakim Ziegler,
I cannot resist - what do you mean "in the Nineties"? I have pics proving I was at a Penthouse Playboys concert (in Hvasser or thereabouts) the summer of 2011.... ;-)
posted by MessageInABottle at 12:47 PM on July 2, 2015
I cannot resist - what do you mean "in the Nineties"? I have pics proving I was at a Penthouse Playboys concert (in Hvasser or thereabouts) the summer of 2011.... ;-)
posted by MessageInABottle at 12:47 PM on July 2, 2015
MessageInABottle: "I cannot resist - what do you mean "in the Nineties"? I have pics proving I was at a Penthouse Playboys concert (in Hvasser or thereabouts) the summer of 2011.... ;-)"
I noticed they were still active, yeah, but they did kind of drop off the radar. They were semi-famous in the Nineties, I guess would be a better phrasing.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:25 PM on July 2, 2015
I noticed they were still active, yeah, but they did kind of drop off the radar. They were semi-famous in the Nineties, I guess would be a better phrasing.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:25 PM on July 2, 2015
I'm really enjoying his rendition of Don't Cry For Me Argentina.
posted by isthmus at 8:37 PM on July 2, 2015
posted by isthmus at 8:37 PM on July 2, 2015
Here's Paul Anka's version right here . I agree, Slarty Bartfast, Rock Swings is a wonderful album because the arrangements are great. His versions of Jump and Smells Like Teen Spirit are equally good. If his tongue was in his cheek, he didn't act like it.
posted by Man-Thing at 8:50 AM on July 2 [+] [!]
This video not available in your region. It was a Canadia thing. I'm sure this can be blamed directly on Harper, probably as some weird retribution for the falling exchange rate.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:48 AM on July 3, 2015
posted by Man-Thing at 8:50 AM on July 2 [+] [!]
This video not available in your region. It was a Canadia thing. I'm sure this can be blamed directly on Harper, probably as some weird retribution for the falling exchange rate.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:48 AM on July 3, 2015
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posted by The Whelk at 9:57 PM on July 1, 2015