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defrogI’m not reclaiming the Bad Cover Version series from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bedsitter23 (though I’ve been coming across some great candidates lately, so there may be a co-op deal in the future), but his recent Beatles episode called my attention to VH1’s list of the ten worst Beatles covers ever.
And for the most part I can’t argue with it (though personally, I’m sure there must be much worse covers than Kylie’s take on “Help!”). But I’m going to make a case for William Shatner’s “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds”.
Why? Because (1) it always makes “Worst Beatles Covers” lists to the point where including it is borderline laziness and (2) it’s not nearly as bad as everyone says.
Obviously I can’t prove that, because all music is subjective. Even the Beatles had (and still have) their share of detractors.
But I think the redeeming quality of Shatner's version of “Lucy” is what everyone else seems to hate about it: that demented overacted loopiness that’s so over-the-top that I’m positive Shatner et al intended for it to be hilarious.
In fact, I’m reasonably sure they were taking a cue from Peter Sellers’ brilliant Shakespearian cover of “A Hard Day’s Night”.
It’s just that people don’t expect Shatner to do comedy, so they don’t know when he’s doing it. Maybe it would have helped if he’d had the right visuals to go with it.
Like this.
Admit it. That’s funny.
BONUS TRACK: For more Beatles cover commentary, feel free to visit the Bad Cover Version Archive (Episode 004).
Carry on.
Waiting to take you away,
This is dF
bedsitter23 (though I’ve been coming across some great candidates lately, so there may be a co-op deal in the future), but his recent Beatles episode called my attention to VH1’s list of the ten worst Beatles covers ever. And for the most part I can’t argue with it (though personally, I’m sure there must be much worse covers than Kylie’s take on “Help!”). But I’m going to make a case for William Shatner’s “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds”.
Why? Because (1) it always makes “Worst Beatles Covers” lists to the point where including it is borderline laziness and (2) it’s not nearly as bad as everyone says.
Obviously I can’t prove that, because all music is subjective. Even the Beatles had (and still have) their share of detractors.
But I think the redeeming quality of Shatner's version of “Lucy” is what everyone else seems to hate about it: that demented overacted loopiness that’s so over-the-top that I’m positive Shatner et al intended for it to be hilarious.
In fact, I’m reasonably sure they were taking a cue from Peter Sellers’ brilliant Shakespearian cover of “A Hard Day’s Night”.
It’s just that people don’t expect Shatner to do comedy, so they don’t know when he’s doing it. Maybe it would have helped if he’d had the right visuals to go with it.
Like this.
Admit it. That’s funny.
BONUS TRACK: For more Beatles cover commentary, feel free to visit the Bad Cover Version Archive (Episode 004).
Carry on.
Waiting to take you away,
This is dF
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no subject
on 2009-09-22 11:43 am (UTC)Oh, and I suggest if you haven't, go back to my post for a second and check out the Day in the Decade. Jimmy Carter singing "Mother Nature's Son" ftw!
no subject
on 2009-09-22 09:22 pm (UTC)