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defrogOne of the fun aspects of cover songs is what happens to them when they go cross-genre – for example, when punk bands take on stadium rock, either out of serious respect or ironic humor.
I’ve never really been sure which category this week’s cover song falls into, but it’s one of the first punk bands I ever heard covering a mainstream hit single, and it’s one of the songs that made me appreciate punk rock as a genre where you really could have a sense of humor.
THE SONG: “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”
THE ORIGINAL: Van Halen
COMMENTS: Say what you will about Van Halen, but their first few albums were pretty amazing, and their debut was one of the most innovative and influential of its kind (and not just because of their hotshot guitar player). This song didn’t even chart when it first came out, but it’s still one of their best-known songs, and one of their most sampled. Bonus points for inventing the backstage rider.
THE COVER: Minutemen
COMMENTS: Typically for the Minutemen, they distill the essence of the song into about 40 seconds of raw punk energy. Bonus points for inventing the “Jamming Econo” philosophy (sort of the antithesis of Van Halen’s extravagant shows).
WINNER: Van Halen. I like the Minutemen version better for sentimental reasons, but I’d never argue that they took the song as their own.
Next week: Van Halen vs The Kinks!
My love is rotten to the core,
This is dF
I’ve never really been sure which category this week’s cover song falls into, but it’s one of the first punk bands I ever heard covering a mainstream hit single, and it’s one of the songs that made me appreciate punk rock as a genre where you really could have a sense of humor.
THE SONG: “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”
THE ORIGINAL: Van Halen
COMMENTS: Say what you will about Van Halen, but their first few albums were pretty amazing, and their debut was one of the most innovative and influential of its kind (and not just because of their hotshot guitar player). This song didn’t even chart when it first came out, but it’s still one of their best-known songs, and one of their most sampled. Bonus points for inventing the backstage rider.
THE COVER: Minutemen
COMMENTS: Typically for the Minutemen, they distill the essence of the song into about 40 seconds of raw punk energy. Bonus points for inventing the “Jamming Econo” philosophy (sort of the antithesis of Van Halen’s extravagant shows).
WINNER: Van Halen. I like the Minutemen version better for sentimental reasons, but I’d never argue that they took the song as their own.
Next week: Van Halen vs The Kinks!
My love is rotten to the core,
This is dF
