Not Katy Perry
October 23, 2010 6:47 AM Subscribe
You found a music video on YouTube!
posted by Wolfdog at 7:00 AM on October 23, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 7:00 AM on October 23, 2010 [4 favorites]
read as "tangerine dream", clicked it, bummed.
posted by nathancaswell at 7:19 AM on October 23, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by nathancaswell at 7:19 AM on October 23, 2010 [5 favorites]
Teenage Dream in a different but equally manufactured way.
posted by etc. at 7:20 AM on October 23, 2010 [17 favorites]
posted by etc. at 7:20 AM on October 23, 2010 [17 favorites]
Sorry, I just thought it was a decent piece that some people would like on a Saturday morning.
posted by Han Tzu at 7:21 AM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Han Tzu at 7:21 AM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
I agree. Over produced adult contemporary music is much more legitimate than over produced pop music.
posted by thylacine at 7:23 AM on October 23, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by thylacine at 7:23 AM on October 23, 2010 [9 favorites]
As ETC. said.
Black and white, intentional "sloppy" editing, soft mood location.
As manufactured as any pop song on the radio.
Just trying to infect a different audience.
posted by gcbv at 7:25 AM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
Black and white, intentional "sloppy" editing, soft mood location.
As manufactured as any pop song on the radio.
Just trying to infect a different audience.
posted by gcbv at 7:25 AM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
Ah, ignore the haters, Han Tzu. I thought this was amazing, and I just bought their album based on it. Thank you for sharing!
posted by headspace at 7:41 AM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by headspace at 7:41 AM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
that sounded still pretty manufactured to me (not snarky)
posted by darkripper at 7:42 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by darkripper at 7:42 AM on October 23, 2010
I liked it. But I like the original, too.
posted by empath at 7:46 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by empath at 7:46 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ignore them Han. They're just angry hipsters. They even liked the Chilean miners better when they were still underground.
posted by Talez at 7:46 AM on October 23, 2010 [32 favorites]
posted by Talez at 7:46 AM on October 23, 2010 [32 favorites]
In America these days, a strike is something you get at a bowling alley.
posted by Postroad at 7:47 AM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Postroad at 7:47 AM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
yea, if you posted something like Bye Bye Bird - Sonny Boy Williamson - Live In Europe - HQ you would have been ok :P
cheers!
posted by kliuless at 7:55 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
cheers!
posted by kliuless at 7:55 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Good cover, though I'm still not to keen on the lyrics.
posted by WalkingAround at 7:58 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by WalkingAround at 7:58 AM on October 23, 2010
You people are mean!
posted by cjorgensen at 8:28 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by cjorgensen at 8:28 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
And they said my dream of a Rusted Root / Kings of Leon / Liz Phair / Pink supergroup was folly!
posted by threeants at 8:32 AM on October 23, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by threeants at 8:32 AM on October 23, 2010 [5 favorites]
Am I the only one who finds the phrase "go all the way" deeply creepy coming from anyone who is not a bona-fide hormone-ridden dramatic-romantic teenager?
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:38 AM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:38 AM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
I like this, but the appeal (to me, anyway) of the original is that it IS manufactured, and unapologetically. Listening to it's like gorging on a gigantic delicious plastic rainbow-colored Cinnabon and puking it back out.
posted by blucevalo at 9:53 AM on October 23, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by blucevalo at 9:53 AM on October 23, 2010 [5 favorites]
I for one will be mighty glad when contrived-winsome-pretty is out of fashion in music again, and people start shouting and thrashing like psychotic thugbeasts from hell. Sweet girly voices... enough already. Ari Up just died and there is no justice. Sorry. God, I'm old..
posted by Decani at 10:10 AM on October 23, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by Decani at 10:10 AM on October 23, 2010 [6 favorites]
It certainly is better than the original, but the best/worst part is the Phil Collins/Murderace hybrid on drums.
However, as with all things good, some Zappas did it better.
posted by cmoj at 10:35 AM on October 23, 2010
However, as with all things good, some Zappas did it better.
posted by cmoj at 10:35 AM on October 23, 2010
They're just angry hipsters. They even liked the Chilean miners better when they were still underground.
This is a darned funny statement that does not improve the video in question. The song's nice, though hardly essential (I've never heard it before so the irony/sincerity factor is lost on me). Just four nice voices working nicely together ... but the video adds NOTHING, just wants the attention of my eyes for four plus minutes when they could be looking out the window at tall elm trees in the breeze, leaves slowly turning to gold against a gloomy October sky.
posted by philip-random at 10:37 AM on October 23, 2010
This is a darned funny statement that does not improve the video in question. The song's nice, though hardly essential (I've never heard it before so the irony/sincerity factor is lost on me). Just four nice voices working nicely together ... but the video adds NOTHING, just wants the attention of my eyes for four plus minutes when they could be looking out the window at tall elm trees in the breeze, leaves slowly turning to gold against a gloomy October sky.
posted by philip-random at 10:37 AM on October 23, 2010
Sideshow Bob looks good for his age.
I tend to like covers of pop songs, but this one just emphasizes the crappy lyrics. Thanks for posting, Han Tzu.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:48 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I tend to like covers of pop songs, but this one just emphasizes the crappy lyrics. Thanks for posting, Han Tzu.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:48 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
This strikes me as the kind of thing that would be the musical backdrop to Ryan finally getting with Marissa in the OC or something.
posted by djgh at 11:16 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by djgh at 11:16 AM on October 23, 2010
What music is not "manufactured," please? Do you mean to compare this with celestial harmonies?
posted by fourcheesemac at 11:39 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by fourcheesemac at 11:39 AM on October 23, 2010
Nerds! That video was great. I'm in a band where everyone sings - it's one of our band rules. And I was amazed to hear such wonderful intonation from four very distinct voices - any one of them could sing lead in a band with only one singer. Also - the scarcity in their approach to the instrumentation - I almost lost it watching the drummer - it was good tension. The drums wanted and needed to be played, but he was singing, and the drums only kicked in at the last possible moment in the phrasing... awesome. What a stellar combination of musicians. Thanks Han! Excellent stuff.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 11:40 AM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Baby_Balrog at 11:40 AM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
What a mixed bag of thoughts and emotions!
I hate the song. Katy Perry has started to bug me, and not in the GRAR way that she seems to bug some people. Cant put my finger on it. But that song? Yeah, it's the lyrics.
The linked video I actually liked, but tempered with a bit of confusion due to it being EASIER for me to hear the lyrics of a song I don't particularly like. Huh.
Talez. Now there is water on my keyboard.
posted by Stunt at 11:40 AM on October 23, 2010
I hate the song. Katy Perry has started to bug me, and not in the GRAR way that she seems to bug some people. Cant put my finger on it. But that song? Yeah, it's the lyrics.
The linked video I actually liked, but tempered with a bit of confusion due to it being EASIER for me to hear the lyrics of a song I don't particularly like. Huh.
Talez. Now there is water on my keyboard.
posted by Stunt at 11:40 AM on October 23, 2010
Also, this video sucks. Katy Perry is better. At least she's honest about being a crappy gold-digging pop singer.
This HD vid of adult-contemporary hipsters with funky thrift-store-chic sweaters and distinctive hairstyles that scream "would you like that grande or venti?" doing a smooooove elevator version of the song with absolutely no grit, no verve, no rage, and no humor actually succeeds in making her sound edgy.
That's a real accomplishment.
posted by koeselitz at 11:49 AM on October 23, 2010 [7 favorites]
This HD vid of adult-contemporary hipsters with funky thrift-store-chic sweaters and distinctive hairstyles that scream "would you like that grande or venti?" doing a smooooove elevator version of the song with absolutely no grit, no verve, no rage, and no humor actually succeeds in making her sound edgy.
That's a real accomplishment.
posted by koeselitz at 11:49 AM on October 23, 2010 [7 favorites]
Tomorrowful: “Am I the only one who finds the phrase "go all the way" deeply creepy coming from anyone who is not a bona-fide hormone-ridden dramatic-romantic teenager?”
You just have to do it right.
posted by koeselitz at 11:53 AM on October 23, 2010
You just have to do it right.
posted by koeselitz at 11:53 AM on October 23, 2010
I guess this is a good place to post this metal version of Bad Romance which is fairly epic, and certainly less "manufactured"
posted by delmoi at 12:01 PM on October 23, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by delmoi at 12:01 PM on October 23, 2010 [9 favorites]
They're talented, no doubt, but this is dull in comparison to Perry's version. Sure it's manufactured. It's also upbeat, affectionate, and shows the beauty of a minimal & simple application of electric guitar. This version sounds like something that'd be playing in the background of a film where someone is next to their spouse's deathbed.
I'm sure they've got much more enjoyable music than this. Maybe I'll go check them out. But outside of "California Girls," I adore Katy Perry and I don't see any particular reason to rip on her. She's honest with what she is.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:19 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm sure they've got much more enjoyable music than this. Maybe I'll go check them out. But outside of "California Girls," I adore Katy Perry and I don't see any particular reason to rip on her. She's honest with what she is.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:19 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Nerds! That video was great. I'm in a band where everyone sings - it's one of our band rules. And I was amazed to hear such wonderful intonation from four very distinct voices - any one of them could sing lead in a band with only one singer.
The performance is good. Agree with you completely about the four distinct voices. But it's at best a trite teenage lust song. Fair enough. Rock and Roll was built on them. The video on the other hand is not remotely special; just your basic lip-synch (but pretend it isn't) performance, except they don't even bother to cover some of the instrumentation. (ie: where did those strings come from?)
Give me the group performing the song live, proving they can do it all together in real time, with no overdubs, no retakes, no tricks. Give me all that and I might get excited.
posted by philip-random at 12:19 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
The performance is good. Agree with you completely about the four distinct voices. But it's at best a trite teenage lust song. Fair enough. Rock and Roll was built on them. The video on the other hand is not remotely special; just your basic lip-synch (but pretend it isn't) performance, except they don't even bother to cover some of the instrumentation. (ie: where did those strings come from?)
Give me the group performing the song live, proving they can do it all together in real time, with no overdubs, no retakes, no tricks. Give me all that and I might get excited.
posted by philip-random at 12:19 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
... but the song would still be average.
posted by philip-random at 12:19 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by philip-random at 12:19 PM on October 23, 2010
The "not manufactured" descriptor is especially hilarious when you notice that the video is directed/produced by something called THE ALES GILCHRIST MACHINE whose motto is apparently "strategic in bed with creative."
posted by speicus at 1:01 PM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by speicus at 1:01 PM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
Ugh. Really?
posted by dunkadunc at 1:03 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by dunkadunc at 1:03 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Attack of the angry hipsters!
posted by joost de vries at 1:15 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by joost de vries at 1:15 PM on October 23, 2010
You mean the people in the video? They don't seem angry at all. That's the problem.
posted by philip-random at 1:22 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by philip-random at 1:22 PM on October 23, 2010
Why aren't there Juggalo remixes of pop songs? Juggalo threads beat hipster threads.
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:25 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:25 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Maybe it's just me speaking, but I like it best where it's from the guy's perspective and it seems like he's just gonna stay sexually frustrated. And crazy reverby guitars.
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:33 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:33 PM on October 23, 2010
Also, here's Lady Gaga sung by some nice Canadian girls in a less manufactured manner. I think they should do the full song, but they're too busy writing songs about hockey <3breaks.
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:37 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:37 PM on October 23, 2010
Young, white liberals playing earnest, milquetoast pop-rock? MIND BLOWN.
posted by ixohoxi at 6:20 PM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ixohoxi at 6:20 PM on October 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
wow - what is it about music in general that divides people so?
I swear, if religion (and oil) didn't exist, people would kill each other over music and whose music is better.
Anyways, I liked this arrangement. Thanks!
What music is not "manufactured," please? Do you mean to compare this with celestial harmonies?
Basically, if you don't like a particular type of music, it's manufactured. If you do like a genre of music, it's authentic. Kinda like the "right" religion (no matter what it is) vs. everyone else.
My favorite band as a kid was Def Leppard. I loved them - I had their name written all over my pencil case
Do kids these days have pencil cases?
Anyways, it was so painful to hear people refer to these guys as "commercial".
I never understood what that meant.
I mean, sure they might have been a studio band - great on tape, but horrible live - but commercial?
posted by bitteroldman at 6:35 PM on October 23, 2010
I swear, if religion (and oil) didn't exist, people would kill each other over music and whose music is better.
Anyways, I liked this arrangement. Thanks!
What music is not "manufactured," please? Do you mean to compare this with celestial harmonies?
Basically, if you don't like a particular type of music, it's manufactured. If you do like a genre of music, it's authentic. Kinda like the "right" religion (no matter what it is) vs. everyone else.
My favorite band as a kid was Def Leppard. I loved them - I had their name written all over my pencil case
Do kids these days have pencil cases?
Anyways, it was so painful to hear people refer to these guys as "commercial".
I never understood what that meant.
I mean, sure they might have been a studio band - great on tape, but horrible live - but commercial?
posted by bitteroldman at 6:35 PM on October 23, 2010
the original is a good song for spinning class, this isn't. 1-0.
posted by facetious at 6:58 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by facetious at 6:58 PM on October 23, 2010
I really liked it. While I understand some of the comments about it being as "manufactured" (which I am personally reading as "produced") as the original I really thought it added a lot and made for a great cover.
The lyrics are sappy for sure, but I also think they are somewhat clever and evocative of the naivety and innocence surrounding losing your "innocence". I thought the treatment in this cover did a great job of highlighting that juxtaposition. It actually made me feel the nostalgic for some of the feelings that go along with teenage sex, which I normally just think of as embarrassing and cringe-worthy. I also thought some of the layered vocals were really pretty. Thanks for the post.
posted by DanielDManiel at 7:11 PM on October 23, 2010
The lyrics are sappy for sure, but I also think they are somewhat clever and evocative of the naivety and innocence surrounding losing your "innocence". I thought the treatment in this cover did a great job of highlighting that juxtaposition. It actually made me feel the nostalgic for some of the feelings that go along with teenage sex, which I normally just think of as embarrassing and cringe-worthy. I also thought some of the layered vocals were really pretty. Thanks for the post.
posted by DanielDManiel at 7:11 PM on October 23, 2010
Life was scary back in the eighties, and "Let's go all the way" was more teenage nightmare than dream.
posted by drlith at 7:14 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by drlith at 7:14 PM on October 23, 2010
(Sorry for the typos; I swear I preview)
posted by DanielDManiel at 7:14 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by DanielDManiel at 7:14 PM on October 23, 2010
I liked it. I also thought at first it was going to be a version of Teenage Queen by Johnny Cash, which is...different.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:34 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:34 PM on October 23, 2010
i'm partial to boyce avenue's rewrite of teenage dream - it's got more soul and less creep now.
posted by be11e at 10:58 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by be11e at 10:58 PM on October 23, 2010
I don't really understand why some of the reactions here are so rude and unkind. You don't like the song? Well then, you didn't have to click on this link. Not everyone has the same tastes, and that's okay. Me? I like Sigur Ros...and Debussy, and Johnny Cash, and Top 40 pop. That's what's awesome about music, there's something for everyone.
I thought this was an interesting take on the song. It lacks some of the pop feel, which I like in the original, but it is good for a calmer mood.
I love the lyrics. They apply to me as someone who is in love and is realizing that, in my early 20's, I'm still young and I won't be forever. But it sure feels like it sometimes. "No regrets, just love. We can dance until we die. You and I will be young forever." Very simple yes, but that doesn't mean that they can't be meaningful, or at least something fun to sing really loud.
posted by delicate_dahlias at 12:16 AM on October 24, 2010
I thought this was an interesting take on the song. It lacks some of the pop feel, which I like in the original, but it is good for a calmer mood.
I love the lyrics. They apply to me as someone who is in love and is realizing that, in my early 20's, I'm still young and I won't be forever. But it sure feels like it sometimes. "No regrets, just love. We can dance until we die. You and I will be young forever." Very simple yes, but that doesn't mean that they can't be meaningful, or at least something fun to sing really loud.
posted by delicate_dahlias at 12:16 AM on October 24, 2010
delicate_dahlias: “I don't really understand why some of the reactions here are so rude and unkind. You don't like the song? Well then, you didn't have to click on this link. Not everyone has the same tastes, and that's okay.”
I have to admit that I've reread my comment above a few times and wondered. But it's just music criticism, and I tend to think music criticism should be harsh – music is important, and I'm a musician myself (not a very good one, either).
I think what set a lot of us off is that this was presented with an air of hip snootiness; it was presented as "not Katy Perry," as "not-so-manufactured" as her. That is, it was presented as: 'look at this, isn't it so much better than that awful pop star that originally did the song?' They may not come out and say that, but I have a hard time not getting that message, particularly considering the very different style they took and the completely different aura and feel they have. And in the face of the question – 'gee, aren't we so much better than that crass Katy Perry pop?' – it's sort of irresistible for people to answer with a resounding 'NO.' So a lot of people here have.
I don't think I'm alone in seeing something somewhat cheap about the whole gosh-aren't-we-doing-this-awful-pop-song-in-such-a-creative-way thing. Write your own damned song. The way they've done it, the only immediate statement the song makes at all is that pop music is wrong, that it's recorded and 'manufactured' wrong, and that anybody that likes it is wrong, too. How is that not rude?
posted by koeselitz at 12:34 AM on October 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
I have to admit that I've reread my comment above a few times and wondered. But it's just music criticism, and I tend to think music criticism should be harsh – music is important, and I'm a musician myself (not a very good one, either).
I think what set a lot of us off is that this was presented with an air of hip snootiness; it was presented as "not Katy Perry," as "not-so-manufactured" as her. That is, it was presented as: 'look at this, isn't it so much better than that awful pop star that originally did the song?' They may not come out and say that, but I have a hard time not getting that message, particularly considering the very different style they took and the completely different aura and feel they have. And in the face of the question – 'gee, aren't we so much better than that crass Katy Perry pop?' – it's sort of irresistible for people to answer with a resounding 'NO.' So a lot of people here have.
I don't think I'm alone in seeing something somewhat cheap about the whole gosh-aren't-we-doing-this-awful-pop-song-in-such-a-creative-way thing. Write your own damned song. The way they've done it, the only immediate statement the song makes at all is that pop music is wrong, that it's recorded and 'manufactured' wrong, and that anybody that likes it is wrong, too. How is that not rude?
posted by koeselitz at 12:34 AM on October 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
– and you can say that that's not the message they meant to convey. But what other message can someone who is, say, a Katy Perry fan get, on seeing these people that are so utterly different from her, and who are clearly not influenced by her or excited by her music in any way, aside from covering this one song? It doesn't really matter what they intended. There's still something pretty rude about ironic covers.
posted by koeselitz at 12:37 AM on October 24, 2010
posted by koeselitz at 12:37 AM on October 24, 2010
delmoi: "I guess this is a good place to post this metal version of Bad Romance which is fairly epic, and certainly less "manufactured"
Wow, "epic" is exactly the right word to describe that. Well played, sir.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:57 AM on October 24, 2010
Wow, "epic" is exactly the right word to describe that. Well played, sir.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:57 AM on October 24, 2010
Again, they're clearly very talented, but what I think I really meant to say was Fuck You Hipsters
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:12 AM on October 24, 2010
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:12 AM on October 24, 2010
The FPP was a little thin, but the thread is awesome - I get the feeling the OP, Han Tzu, knew this would happen.
Just enough snark, some good observations, and links to other wonderful covers of this great pop tune. I think Katy Perry hit the ball out of the park with her version in the Letterman video, but it's so great to hear earnest, honest versions done with...I hate myself for saying it, but done with love. The heavy metal Bad Romance was awesome, as well. A real tribute to the song and the singer without abandoning the heart of metal genre.
This is why music is so cool.
posted by Xoebe at 7:14 PM on October 24, 2010
Just enough snark, some good observations, and links to other wonderful covers of this great pop tune. I think Katy Perry hit the ball out of the park with her version in the Letterman video, but it's so great to hear earnest, honest versions done with...I hate myself for saying it, but done with love. The heavy metal Bad Romance was awesome, as well. A real tribute to the song and the singer without abandoning the heart of metal genre.
This is why music is so cool.
posted by Xoebe at 7:14 PM on October 24, 2010
i'm partial to boyce avenue's rewrite of teenage dream - it's got more soul and less creep now.
Let's talk all night? Ugh.
posted by empath at 8:58 PM on October 24, 2010
Let's talk all night? Ugh.
posted by empath at 8:58 PM on October 24, 2010
I liked it, went to itunes and purchased it, and will enjoy listening to it on Saturday morning...
Thanks Han Tzu!
posted by analogtom at 11:42 AM on October 25, 2010
Thanks Han Tzu!
posted by analogtom at 11:42 AM on October 25, 2010
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
posted by smfullman at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by smfullman at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
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posted by gcbv at 6:53 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]