Cover Mania

Everyone knows I’m a fan of unknown music; well, at least not mainstream music. That’s not because I don’t like mainstream music. In fact, I love pop and I love Britney and I love the jink that’s going down on the radio. What I hate is the ever so obsessive rotation of popular songs. It does ruin the mood if you’re hearing the same track gazillion times in a row.

So that is why I like discovering new stuff, preferably by artists who’re never going to make it to the surface, no matter how good their music is. I like to call them “my precious”, and I hate sharing (unless I get to take the credit for my great discovery, which never happens, so I quit that too). I will share with you though.

Today’s theme is: famous songs covered by unknown artists OR known artists who’ve made absolutely awesome acoustic covers. I’ve already picked some in my last posts, but I’m sharing them again for the sake of it. Have fun! (Links are all Mediafire).

I Call Shotgun – Ride With Me (Nelly Cover)
Yeah, I found this one by accident and guess what, it’s awesome. I still remember when I first heard the Nelly track on MTV. It’s one of the rare hip hop/pop songs that still makes me smile (probably also induced by the use in one of my favorite TV shows, Scrubs, in a really light-hearted scene). The singer messes things up by the end, he starts doing the chorus to “Cupids Chokehold” by Gym Class Heroes. I do like that song, too.

Bat For Lashes - totally missed her concert last month

Bat For Lashes – Use Somebody (Kings of Leon Cover)
I will make an individual entry for both Bat For Lashes and Kings Of Leon soon, but for now enjoy this glorious combination of awesome singer and awesome lyrics. Use Somebody is probably going to hit the Top 10 of the most inspiring songs of my twenties (mind you, I’m not even 21), and this cover does it. Still not hitting the original mark, but good enough.

Lykke Li – Hustlin’ (Rick Ross Cover)
The transition of rap song to a hyped indie track seems to be very popular these days. This one’s especially charming because I’ve seen the video to it (which I’m too lazy to look up right now, google it), and I love how Lykke Li starts posing like a bonafide rapstar.

Goldfrapp – It’s Not Over Yet (Klaxons Cover)
Awwww. This is a cute one because I don’t like the original song that much (correct me if I’m wrong, but I think even that one is actually a cover of another song), but Alison Goldfrapp does some magic with her voice and voilá… although, I suppose the reduction of those scary keyboard sounds that Klaxons have overused on their album(s) might also be a reason.

The Gossip – Are You That Somebody (Aaliyah Cover)
A tribute post-mortem is not always the best option to go, especially when you’re a lesbian indie-rock band attempting to cover one of the greatest R’n'B songs created to this day. But what can I say? It’s a good cover, it’s not too much, not too strong, goes with the flow and gives it a different, yet subtle new touch. I approve.

Cat Power – Wonderwall (Oasis Cover)
I won’t dare comparing anyone to the genius of Oasis (well- Oasis from “back then”, anyway). This song is untouchable. I’m a huge skeptic when it comes to Cat Power, which adds to my opinion about this cover. Yet I wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t something great, good enough at least. Cat Powers songs might sound almost the same, but sometimes I find a pick like this and remember why everybody loves her so much. She makes me want to die inside, a little bit.

Klaxons – No Diggity (Blackstreet Cover)
What is it with the hip hop covers, again? Now that Klaxons have been done, they’re probably taking on that cover-level, too. I don’t know how old this cover is, but it’s a good change to the even older (but still good!) and classic Blackstreet track (I’m ashamed to say it’s also the only one I know or remember). They really hit it on the second verse!

Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)
There she is again, our beloved Katy Perry. Seriously, I love her. She rocks at covering music, I’ve mentioned that in my post from a week back- “Hooked on Katy Perry“. She kind of jumped on the acoustic-cover-of-hyped-bands bandwagon, but I don’t mind as long as she stays fresh.

The Kooks – Crazy (Gnarks Barkley Cover)
Oh damn, that one’s seriously old. I know I heard it first before I heard the actual Gnarls Barkley, which then became crazy famous. I still prefer this cover over the pop-track with the terrible video. It’s also pretty much the only song by the Kooks that I like (except for Naive, also one of the greatest tracks I’ve ever heard).

Hot Chip – Wearing My Rolex (Wiley Cover)
Not an acoustic cover, I know, I cheated. But I suppose it’s unplugged so that makes it fair again. Also, I can’t think of another theme that I would put this one in, I saw this fit. There you go.

Radiohead - Greatest Band Alive

Milow – Ayo Technology (50 Cent & Justin Timberlake Cover)
This one’s relatively new and going through German radio station’s like swine flu through Mexico. This one, you don’t listen to the lyrics very much, because if you would, it wouldn’t sound so grown up anymore. I have never heard a mommy-track like that. It’s for grandmothers, seriously! … I dig it.

Katy Perry – Black & Gold (Sam Sparro Cover)
… and there she is again! Black & Gold, a very intruiging (what the fuck I won’t even try to spell that) song, can’t be beat in it’s original version, but give this one a shot for more KP love.

John Mayer – Kid A (Radiohead Cover)
Alright, so this one’s a no brainer. Again, I have no clue how long it’s been cruising the interwebs, but I’ve had it in my music library for a really, really long time already. I’m a day one Radiohead fan. I even bought their give-away album, that’s how much I love them. On the other hand, I hate John Mayer. Come on- Your Body Is A Wonderland? I’m this close to calling Nickelback better than that! … though, on another thought, forget that. Anyway. Kid A. Great song. Guess what? It’s even better now.

A honorable mention is reserved for Jay Brannan, who covered “Straight Outta Compton” from NWA. What a daredevil! I couldn’t find the mp3 to it, so here’s the video. Be cautious though, he didn’t censor the swearing.

If you have any more good covers to suggest, don’t hesitate dropping a line!

Hooked on Katy Perry

Katy Perry (also unconventionally hot for a pop chick)

One of my favourite (German speaking) music commentary blogs just gave me a heads up on a new Katy Perry cover. Okay, hold your breath about Katy Perry – yes, I’ve heard better music. I know her from her “old days” where she tried to pull an Alanis Morrissette rather than a Christina Aguilera, but I like her much better that way. She just didn’t convince me of her indie roots, but she does produce pop at it’s finest. So alright, it’s still pop music, but what the hell.

Anyway, Katy Perry has me hooked on her songs. They’re so easy to sing a long, you can’t blame me!  Like in the case of Mr. West, I prefer her remixes and covers over her original songs (with exception of “I Kissed A Girl”, which is pretty much a good reason to go back into my 13-year old state of mind where it was fun to be bisexual;  and in any case, it’s just a fun song). So here’s a collection of my favourites:

Katy Perry – Hot’nCold (Yelle Remix)

Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)

Katy Perry – Use Your Love (The Outfield Cover)

Katy Perry – Waking Up In Vegas (Calvin Harris Remix)

Katy Perry – Black and Gold (Sam Sparro Cover)

Speaking of Sam Sparro: That dude is just awesome. He makes the finest synthpop music you’ve ever heard, I promise. Whenever I hear that song – Black & Gold – I shiver from excitement. Also, because I think he’s gay and I have an uncertain attraction to gay guys. Err.

Well, one for the record:

(That video is blocked on YouTube for copyright restrictions. You say limit, I say piracy!) On another note: A heads up for Drop Box, one of the coolest services in the history of the web. Synchronizing was never easier. If you’re considering a Drop Box account, please use my referral link, it will get me more storage, which ultimately gives you more music (and unless I am mistaken, all very legal).

Veronicas – Untouched

Why am I always late for the poppish girl-songs that get stuck in the head? Damnit. Anyway, here it is:

Uh Huh Her

Got another one. Granted, the video could be better, but I like the Uh Huh Her album (found out about them through the L Word, lez show with awesome soundtrack and also, the blonde girl from the video is part of the cast) and the song is okay.

Daniel & Bees

Found a new love for the weekend. I’ve tried my best so far to ignore the hype around Bat For Lashes, which I thought was just another hipster indie thing to avoid. Turns out, I was wrong.

I stumbled upon a video of “Daniel”, one of the newer songs (I guess?), and there you go, it is amazing music. I got the whole album half an hour later and what can ya say, it was my greatest mistake not giving this more attention.

Download Bat For Lashes – Daniel

 
There is yet another track that got me swooning in soon-to-be-summer thoughts, Mr. Hurricane by BEAST. I haven’t heard of this artist before and I’m looking forward to finding more of their stuf. It’s exquisitely delightful. And also, I like the bee concept of the video.

Übrigens: Auf nfon.net gibt es die skalierbare, virtuelle Telefonanlage als Teil der Bürotechnik. Auf Nfon bin ich über Käuferportal gestoßen, wo man Anfragen stellen kann (auch zu Bürotechnik; halt sowas wie Telefonanlagen oder Plotter oder auch so ganz ganz andere Sachen, wie z.B. der Koffeinschub durch den Kaffeevollautomaten oder ‘ne Werbeagentur wenn man mal wieder ein bisschen Promo braucht; ist ja auch super für Musiker!).

The Clash – Bank Robber

The Clash

The lack of updates cannot be justified, I’m just busier with work than I thought and I’m having a hard time even finding good music. Nevertheless, I’ll try and update stuff every now and then. I just wish I had a better way to upload songs (which can then be downloaded without risk). But using zshare and yousendit is just a crappy and long winded way.

For now I’ll simpy post You Tube videos until I’ve found a better way. So long, and I leave you with: The Clash – Bank Robber.