Islands in the Stream
November 10, 2021 5:39 PM Subscribe
The Original Version
The Best Duet Ever Version
The Tribute Version
The "Still Got It" Version
The Modern Band Version
The Sunday Morning Version
The Lockdown Version
The Metal Version
The Bette Version
The Hip Hop Version
The Polka Version
The Best Duet Ever Version
The Tribute Version
The "Still Got It" Version
The Modern Band Version
The Sunday Morning Version
The Lockdown Version
The Metal Version
The Bette Version
The Hip Hop Version
The Polka Version
From Tom Breihan's wonderful The Number Ones project for Stereogum: Originally, “Islands In The Stream” was going to be a solo track for Kenny Rogers, but Rogers didn’t like the way it was turning out. After four days of trying to nail the lead vocal, Rogers told Barry Gibb that he was starting to hate the song. Gibb responded that the song needed Dolly Parton. At that point, Rogers and Parton had only ever sung together on a 1976 episode of Parton’s variety show. But Parton happened to be recording in the same studio that day. Rogers’ manager ran out and grabbed Parton, and she immediately laid down her part of the song.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 5:49 PM on November 10, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 5:49 PM on November 10, 2021 [11 favorites]
The posthumously-published Ernest Hemingway novel.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:58 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 5:58 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
Boy I thought for a moment you were talking about this song and I’m glad to be wrong.
posted by heyitsgogi at 6:01 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by heyitsgogi at 6:01 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
The American Horror Story version
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 6:14 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 6:14 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
I freaking love this song!
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:14 PM on November 10, 2021
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:14 PM on November 10, 2021
The Hip Hop Version link is the same as the one for the Sunday Morning Version. Is the Hip Hop Version supposed to be Pras' "Ghetto Supastar"?
posted by May Kasahara at 6:17 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by May Kasahara at 6:17 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
Because I needed another good cry today I GUESS.
It’s one of those songs I’ve heard and enjoyed all my life, but the instant I learned who wrote it I felt like a complete idiot for not realizing it immediately. It is such classic Barry Gibb it practically has its own mustache. (And I mean that in a good way; Gibb is a genius and doesn’t get enough credit for it. I mean he gets a lot of credit but it’s still not enough.)
And one of the hallmarks of a good song is that it can work in a lot of different styles, as can be seen from the links. You listening, Postmodern Jukebox?
(I had the same “Well, duh” experience learning that Neil Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer” for the Monkees. How could I possibly not have heard it without being told?)
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:33 PM on November 10, 2021 [7 favorites]
It’s one of those songs I’ve heard and enjoyed all my life, but the instant I learned who wrote it I felt like a complete idiot for not realizing it immediately. It is such classic Barry Gibb it practically has its own mustache. (And I mean that in a good way; Gibb is a genius and doesn’t get enough credit for it. I mean he gets a lot of credit but it’s still not enough.)
And one of the hallmarks of a good song is that it can work in a lot of different styles, as can be seen from the links. You listening, Postmodern Jukebox?
(I had the same “Well, duh” experience learning that Neil Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer” for the Monkees. How could I possibly not have heard it without being told?)
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:33 PM on November 10, 2021 [7 favorites]
I wanna do this at karaoke someday if I ever find the right person to do it with me (hah hah).
Watching Kenny and Dolly is a delight. I'm not even into Miley Cyrus, but her dressed like her godmother is just so cute. She's clearly whaling away and enjoying herself. Barry and Olivia are also having a darned good time.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:39 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
Watching Kenny and Dolly is a delight. I'm not even into Miley Cyrus, but her dressed like her godmother is just so cute. She's clearly whaling away and enjoying herself. Barry and Olivia are also having a darned good time.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:39 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
I don't even *like* metal really and the metal cover actually pretty much works for the likes of me.
OMFG BETTE'S EFFING TAIL WIGGLING IS THE CRAZIEST THING.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:52 PM on November 10, 2021
OMFG BETTE'S EFFING TAIL WIGGLING IS THE CRAZIEST THING.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:52 PM on November 10, 2021
This might be the MeFi comment that finally gets me banned but here is a ska version. (Bonus famous white people duet: Annette Funicello and Bob Hope performing Jamaica Ska.)
posted by Nelson at 7:02 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Nelson at 7:02 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
I had the same “Well, duh” experience learning that Neil Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer” for the Monkees.
Mind. Blown.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:33 PM on November 10, 2021
Mind. Blown.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:33 PM on November 10, 2021
The ska cover is fscking glorious. Jamming a Monterrey chord progression into ska and grunting the lyrics over it is hilarious. Pick it up pick it up pick it up! Oi oi oi!
posted by kaibutsu at 8:24 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by kaibutsu at 8:24 PM on November 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
> The Hip Hop Version link is the same as the one for the Sunday Morning Version. Is the Hip Hop Version supposed to be Pras' "Ghetto Supastar"?
Ah crap yes, I screwed up the links. Mods, do you mind fixing?
posted by dorothy hawk at 8:58 PM on November 10, 2021
Ah crap yes, I screwed up the links. Mods, do you mind fixing?
posted by dorothy hawk at 8:58 PM on November 10, 2021
Mod note: I have altered the bits in that particular bit of the stream.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:00 PM on November 10, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:00 PM on November 10, 2021 [10 favorites]
I've been obsessed with the Dolly Rogers version of this song recently, to the point that I had to look up if they were ever involved because the tension in the song is...you know. I have to know! Did Kenny Rogers Roaster!?
Parton my vulgarity.
posted by guiseroom at 9:46 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
Parton my vulgarity.
posted by guiseroom at 9:46 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
I love you all.
posted by Thella at 10:28 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Thella at 10:28 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
The Bee Gees respond to Pras (wait for the end).
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:23 AM on November 11, 2021
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:23 AM on November 11, 2021
I just want you all to know this is my wife and my "song" both unironically and earnestly (sung and accompanied on ukulele by a friend at our wedding, karaoked excessively in every opportunity while dating and still to this day).
And this was posted on our tenth anniversary. I look forward to whatever you all cook up for twenty!
(Thank you! We've been listening to these all morning now.)
posted by abulafa at 5:29 AM on November 11, 2021 [6 favorites]
And this was posted on our tenth anniversary. I look forward to whatever you all cook up for twenty!
(Thank you! We've been listening to these all morning now.)
posted by abulafa at 5:29 AM on November 11, 2021 [6 favorites]
But Parton happened to be recording in the same studio that day. Rogers’ manager ran out and grabbed Parton, and she immediately laid down her part of the song.
We, as a species and as a planet, should work to be worthy of Dolly Parton. We definitely do not deserve her.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:01 AM on November 11, 2021 [2 favorites]
We, as a species and as a planet, should work to be worthy of Dolly Parton. We definitely do not deserve her.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:01 AM on November 11, 2021 [2 favorites]
I loved the Lockdown version. Thank you for posting this :)
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 7:44 AM on November 11, 2021
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 7:44 AM on November 11, 2021
Not to derail but why has polka gotten so frantic? It's certainly a lively form but that video could trigger a grand mal in someone not even susceptible to seizures.
posted by sammyo at 8:03 AM on November 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 8:03 AM on November 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
Thanks for posting! It's not a particular favorite of mine, but one thing I really, really appreciate about these musical posts is that I finally learn the name of that damn song I've been hearing off and on for years.
And yes Bette is an expert tail flapper.
posted by winesong at 9:26 AM on November 11, 2021
And yes Bette is an expert tail flapper.
posted by winesong at 9:26 AM on November 11, 2021
Wait, wait, no one posted this version??
posted by Kitteh at 9:38 AM on November 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 9:38 AM on November 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
I think the Parton/Rogers version is really the "original" version of the song. The Bee Gees wrote it, but they were writing songs for other artists at that point and didn't record their own version until years later.
I only noticed this because I was curious about the guitar solo in the Bee Gees version quoting the "When you're gone, how can I even try to go on?" bit from ABBA's "S.O.S."
posted by straight at 10:33 PM on November 11, 2021
I only noticed this because I was curious about the guitar solo in the Bee Gees version quoting the "When you're gone, how can I even try to go on?" bit from ABBA's "S.O.S."
posted by straight at 10:33 PM on November 11, 2021
This is great; thank you for posting it. I'd always loved the Parton/Rogers version, and had never given much thought to who wrote it, but as soon as I learned it was Gibb, it seemed obvious. And watching him sing it with ONJ was fantastic - they have a similar chemistry together as Dolly and Kenny do, and it was fun to see ONJ lean into a bit of the country accent (she was first marketed as a country artist, of course).
I also loved the lockdown and metal versions, for vastly different reasons.
posted by cinnamonduff at 6:41 PM on November 13, 2021
I also loved the lockdown and metal versions, for vastly different reasons.
posted by cinnamonduff at 6:41 PM on November 13, 2021
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posted by credulous at 5:48 PM on November 10, 2021 [1 favorite]