Bringing back the warmth to the ground

February 28, 2008 9:36 AM

What does it take before a song becomes a pop standard? Does a recording by four different generations of performers count? When originally recorded, Rolf couldn't play digeridoo, so the instrument was simulated with eight bass fiddles. On release it made number 2 in the charts and was kept from the number one spot by Elvis Presley's Return To Sender.

Sun Arise (canonical version) by Rolf Harris
Sun Arise by Alice Cooper
Sun Arise by Plant and Page
Sun Arise by The Flaming Lips.

Sadly, I couldn't find an online copy of 808 State's techno remix.

posted by PeterMcDermott (12 comments total)

Studio version of Rolf Harris' Sun Arise, although the somewhat less enjoyable that the live version previously linked.
posted by Daddy-O at 10:04 AM on February 28, 2008

the *video is* somewhat less enjoyable
posted by Daddy-O at 10:05 AM on February 28, 2008

In order to become a standard a song must be ingrained in me at a cellular level. Sun Arise does not meet this criteria. Ok tune, though.
posted by wsg at 10:36 AM on February 28, 2008

I've never been an alice cooper fan, but I liked that.
posted by vronsky at 10:48 AM on February 28, 2008

Cool. I only knew (and loved) the Alice Cooper version.
posted by anazgnos at 11:01 AM on February 28, 2008

Rolf wrote this in 1960 and recorded it (with George Martin!) in 1962. Pretty out there for the time.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 11:07 AM on February 28, 2008

Yeah, daddy-o, and it's that 1962 recording that is the real canonical version, but I couldn't resist posting Rolf's live performance in preference.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:34 AM on February 28, 2008

Rolf covered Stairway to Heaven recently.

That would be a fun quiz question, Peter. The Lion Sleeps Tonight is about the only other one I can nominate off the top of my head (the Tight Fit version was the first time I heard it!).

Maybe Dusty Springfield's, The Travellers, et al I Only Wanna Be With You?
posted by uncanny hengeman at 1:50 PM on February 28, 2008

Previously, on the Green: What are the recent jazz standards?
posted by eritain at 7:59 PM on February 28, 2008

That Rolf, what a character! Gotta love him!

Ever seen him do Stairway To Heaven? Incomparable artistry on the flexible piece of sheet metal.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:29 PM on February 28, 2008

Oh, and excellent use of the faux-abo tag, Peter!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:30 PM on February 28, 2008

Rolf Harris is all kinds of awesome. I saw him live a few years ago backed by a band including 3 didge players. He's actually a good musician, and puts on a heck of a show using a variety of odd instruments. Although rather more famous for his novelty songs, which of course made up the last 40 minutes of the show, he also has some rathe rmore moving numbers.
posted by bap98189 at 2:08 AM on February 29, 2008