BAD COVER VERSION 019: AND I TRY AND I TRY AND I TRY AND I TRY ...

[defrog]

As we’ve mentioned a few times in this series, any artist attempting to cover a song has a couple of options – stay true to the original, or rework it in their own style, possibly to the point where it’s almost unrecognizable. Either approach has its pros and cons, but one axiom that has emerged over the years is this: the more well-known and seminal the song is, the harder it is to get away with reinventing it. To the videos!

THE SONG: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

THE ORIGINAL: The Rolling Stones

COMMENTS: Well, what else can you say about one of the greatest rock songs ever written? Controversial lyrics, criticism of consumer culture, and one of the most recognizable guitar riffs ever. The Stones cemented their rep with this one. Who would dare defile it?

THE COVER: Devo

COMMENTS: Devo weren’t the first to cover it, but the song’s anti-consumerism verse fit perfectly with their de-evolution schtick. And leave it to them to deconstruct and distort the song into a robotic chant. In retrospect, of course, Devo built a lot of their early success on it, but in Nashville where I grew up, everyone I knew absolutely HATED Devo for this song alone. Personally, I was kind of intrigued by it, and would later become a big Devo fan. Bonus points for the HAZMAT suits.

WINNER: Well, this is a tougher call than it probably should be, but I’ll award this one to the Stones. The Devo cover is a great re-interpretation, but I wouldn’t argue that it’s the definitive version.

HONORABLE MENTION: Otis Redding’s version is worth a look, too – evidence that rock and soul once had more in common than it seems to these days.

Next week: Don McLean vs Madonna!

Trying to make some girl,

This is dF

Comments

[bedsitter23.livejournal.com]

Though, the Stones version is a classic, and the Devo cover is a definitve song in it's own right. I would be remiss not to at least mention the Residents cover.