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BAD COVER VERSION 020: THIS WILL BE THE DAY THAT I DIE
This week’s episode looks at a song that almost everyone knows and many people have covered whilst drunk in karaoke bars, but only a few have been brave enough to actually try to record. It's also the only song to inspire a movie series about horny teenagers coming of age by having sex with a pie.
THE SONG: “American Pie”
THE ORIGINAL: Don McLean
COMMENTS: By anyone’s standards, summing up the history of rock from the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper to the end of the 60s in metaphors is a major achievement. So was taking an eight-and-a-half minute song to #1. Who would have the courage to even try to make this their own song?
THE COVER: Madonna
COMMENTS: Not surprisingly, Madonna goes for a disco-pop version, since she was having a career resurgence thanks to collaborating with William Orbit. She did this for her film The Next Best Thing, and evidently it was Rupert Everett’s idea. Not bad, but it sounds too pristine and clinical for a song that demands a bit more passion in the vocals.
WINNER: Don McLean, no contest. I think Madonna is great, and maybe it’s because McLean's version is integral to my childhood – my sister and I knew all the words to the song when we were still in primary school – but Madge’s version does nothing for me.
Next week: Patti Smith vs 10,000 Maniacs!
I saw Satan laughing with delight,
This is dF
THE SONG: “American Pie”
THE ORIGINAL: Don McLean
COMMENTS: By anyone’s standards, summing up the history of rock from the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper to the end of the 60s in metaphors is a major achievement. So was taking an eight-and-a-half minute song to #1. Who would have the courage to even try to make this their own song?
THE COVER: Madonna
COMMENTS: Not surprisingly, Madonna goes for a disco-pop version, since she was having a career resurgence thanks to collaborating with William Orbit. She did this for her film The Next Best Thing, and evidently it was Rupert Everett’s idea. Not bad, but it sounds too pristine and clinical for a song that demands a bit more passion in the vocals.
WINNER: Don McLean, no contest. I think Madonna is great, and maybe it’s because McLean's version is integral to my childhood – my sister and I knew all the words to the song when we were still in primary school – but Madge’s version does nothing for me.
Next week: Patti Smith vs 10,000 Maniacs!
I saw Satan laughing with delight,
This is dF
no subject
The original is so unique that covering it is too much of a challenge. In a way, Madonna's cover actually works, though I am not sure it works the way she planned it.
It's a breezy pop tune. I am not going to say she does better than the original (she doesn't), but she did have the hubris to try.