Salutations, traveler of The Internets! Welcome to William's Bloody Hell, so named after our founder, Sir Bloody William.
He is seen in the likeness above in a rare, 19th century woodcut. This
image was rumoured to have been
commissioned after a bout of unpleasantness
in the White Chapel district of London. Do enjoy your stay and peruse our many, varied offerings, much of which cannot be found elsewhere!
::Today's soundtrack: Bob Dylan "All Along the Watchtower" ::
I have been thinking about cover songs lately. I know there are some people who look down on covers. To some, the original is always best. There are also those who think that is someone covers a song then that someone is trying to put themselves "on par" with the original artist, almost a "who do YOU think you are to cover THAT song" mentality. Some covers are good and some covers are bad, but I personally feel that no song should be out of the reach of any performer to give it a try.
Think about the song "All Along the Watch Tower." A classic, right? But which version do YOU hear in your mind's ear? Do you hear Bob Dylan or Jimi Hendrix? Both versions are so radically different from each other, yet equally brilliant. Sure Dylan wrote it, but Hendrix brought in his own flavour, and Dylan himself was so impressed by Hendrix's version, that he soon incorporated Hendrix elements to his own live performances (and that is REAL).
I'm sure many were shocked and had their doubts when they heard Johnny Cash had covered Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt." An American country/folk artist covering a song by an industrial rock band? This is going to be terrible! But it turned out just the opposite. In fact, Cash's version of "Hurt" is also brilliant. A song about isolation with a simplistic melody turned out to be the PERFECT song for an elderly country artist to cover. Who knew? But that's just it... you won't know unless you give it a go.
Since The Cure is my personal favourite band, many people may be under the mistaken impression that I would be against other bands covering Cure songs. Nothing could be further from the truth! I actually quite enjoy seeking out Cure covers and have quite a collection. Some Cure songs I have three or four cover versions, even. I like hearing how another band will interpret the song, what instruments they will use on certain parts, and such. One of The Cure's popular singles is "Lovesong" and I have a version by Tori Amos because I knew she played piano and wanted to hear how she would adapt the music. I also have another version of "Lovesong" by Voltaire, also because I know he uses string instruments in his recording and wanted to hear an acoustical-string arrangement. I have Cure covers by goth-industrial bands, techno dance groups, and post-punk no wavers. It's fun to have such different sounds of what was originally all one band. I find this makes it easier to incorporate Cure songs on track lists: if I'm making a techno list, I have techno covers. Also, I have friends who don't appreciate The Cure like I do, and this way I can sneak in songs without them knowing it. Because I'm sinister like that.
I'm not saying that ALL COVERS are good. Heavens no. Some totally miss the mark. Of course they do. By sheer law of averages it has to happen. I have some Cure covers even that I absolutely despise and won't listen to ever again as long as I live. I'm just saying some folks shouldn't be so quick to dismiss based on the fact of it being a cover song alone. I mean, I wouldn't be queuing up to hear Gwen Stefani sing a Pearl Jam song (just as a random, nonexistent example), but I would at least listen to it once on YouTube or something before jumping on the "I hate it" band wagon.
Another point of consideration to give cover songs is that they can bring a song to a whole new audience. How many teenagers were introduced to "Tainted Love" and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" simply because Marilyn Manson covered them? Sure, I may not think these remakes hold a candle to the originals, but I like to think that at least a few of those teenagers may have looked up Soft Cell and the Eurythmics, something they would have had no cause to do without Manson.
You don't have to use the same instruments or genre as the original or even get it all 100% right to make a decent cover version. All you really have to do is capture the "essence" of the original and you've done it justice. Just give it a listen before writing it off all together. That's all I ask.
William the Bloody (coverage)
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