Category: Song of the Day

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New Wave Post Punk Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Queens Of The Stone Age – Never Say Never

Day 24. It was a toss up between their version of The Kinks’ classic Everybody’s Gonna Be Happy & this, their cover of the ’80’s Post-Punk/New Wave classic Never Say Never by Romeo Void.

Queens Of The Stone Age imbue the Post-Punk rhythms with a hard Rock muscularity that a) makes the song rock harder than the original & b) adds a layer of sleaziness which the original doesn’t quite match. In fact I’d argue the original has a sense of wide-eyed innocence which Josh Homme’s fuzz-laden lead guitar steamrolls right over. A great cover of a great song.

If time itself was his demeanor
There’d be no sunlight or a glimmer
Of sunlight landin’ on the street
Some say girls must be discreet
Some say girls must be discreet
Nursing their fathers locked inside
They masqueraded as his bride

I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
But there’s somethin’
In your eyes that says
Maybe that’s never
Never say never

They slump by the courthouse with windburn skin
That man could give a fuck
About the grin on your face
As you walk by, randy as a goat
He’s sleepin’ on papers
But he’d be warm in your coat

I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
But there’s somethin’
In your eyes that says
Maybe that’s never
Never say never

There’s no easy way to lose your sight
On the street, on the stairs
Who’s on your flight
Old couple walks by, as ugly as sin
But he’s got her, she’s got him

I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
But there’s somethin’
In your eyes that says
Maybe that’s never
Never say never

I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together

Looking for some great music? Check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist.

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Grunge Indie Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Dinosaur Jr – Just Like Heaven

Day 23. Here’s another excellent cover of a Cure song by an American Indie Rock heavyweight. This time it’s Dinosaur Jr’s rollicking version of Just Like Heaven. The romantic Pop brilliance is translated smoothly into the band’s fuzzy, Grungey style & Lou Barlow’s screaming chorus elevates it into another realm entirely. & If you’re not sold by that, & the awesome video, surely J Mascis’s incredible guitar work should win you over.

Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream she said
The one that makes me laugh she said
Threw her arms around my neck
Show me how you do it and I’ll promise you
I’ll promise that I’ll run away with you, I’ll run away with you

Spinning on that dizzy edge
Kissed her face and kissed her head
Dreamed of all the different ways, I had to make her glow
Why are you so far away she said
Why won’t you ever know that I’m in love with you?
That I’m in love with you?

You, soft and only, you lost and lonely
You, strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
You’re just like a dream
You’re just like a dream

Daylight licked me into shape
I must have been asleep for days
And moving lips to breathe her name
I opened up my eyes
And found myself alone, alone, alone above a raging sea
That stole the only girl I loved and drowned her deep inside of me

You soft and only
You lost and lonely
You just like heaven

Looking for some great music? Check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist.

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Indie Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Cake – War Pigs

Day 22. ’90’s geek rockers Cake (famous for their amazing single The Distance) recorded this lo-fi, Indie Rock version of Black Sabbath’s anti-war anthem War Pigs in 2007. They ran a competition for fans to make a video for the song & there were many to chose from but I thought this one was pretty good.

This song has been in my thoughts recently actually. Black Sabbath recently released some official Black Lives Matter t-shirts (in the classic Black Sabbath logo font) & a lot of ignorant “fans” called them out, saying things like “you were cool before you tried to be political.” I guess those fans have never listened to the lyrics. As working class artists, Black Sabbath have always displayed left-leaning political opinions in their lyrics & long may it continue.

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerer of death’s construction

In the fields, the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh lord, yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor, yeah

Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait till their judgement day comes, yeah!

Now in darkness, world stops turning
Ashes where their bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour

Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing, spreads his wings
Oh lord, yeah!

Looking for some great music? Check the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist.

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Dream Pop Indie Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): The Raveonettes – I Wanna Be Adored

Day 20. Early ’00’s Garage Rockers The Raveonettes stretch their Dreampop muscles with this cover of The Stone Roses legendary album opener. Added layers of Shoegazey fuzz & reverb both compliment & contrast with the narcotic ebb & flow of the original.

I don’t have to sell my soul
He’s already in me
I don’t need to sell my soul
He’s already in me

I wanna be adored
I wanna be adored

I don’t have to sell my soul
He’s already in me
I don’t need to sell my soul
He’s already in me

I wanna be adored
I wanna be adored
Adored

I wanna be adored
You adore me
You adore me
You adore me

I wanna, I wanna
I wanna be adored
I wanna, I wanna

I wanna be adored
I wanna, I wanna
I wanna be adored

I wanna, I wanna
I gotta be adored
I wanna be adored

Looking for some great music? Check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist.

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Indie Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Yo La Tengo – Friday I’m In Love

Day 19. I’ve ended up missing a couple of days (for entirely boring reasons) but I’m back today with this upbeat Jangle Pop version of The Cure’s classic Friday I’m In Love by Yo La Tengo.

Yo La Tengo have tried their hands at so many different genres over the years that this could have quite easily ended up as Noise Rock or Punk, but it works incredibly well in this style. The video adds a level of menace which is welcome too.

I don’t care if Monday’s blue
Tuesday’s grey and Wednesday too
Thursday, I don’t care about you
It’s Friday, I’m in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Oh, Thursday doesn’t even start
It’s Friday, I’m in love

Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate

I don’t care if Monday’s black
Tuesday, Wednesday, heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It’s Friday, I’m in love

Monday you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday, stay in bed
Or Thursday watch the walls instead
It’s Friday, I’m in love

Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate

Dressed up to the eyes
It’s a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throw out your frown
And just smile at the sound
Sleek as a shriek, spinning ’round and ’round
Always take a big bite
It’s such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It’s Friday, I’m in love

I don’t care if Monday’s blue
Tuesday’s grey and Wednesday too
Thursday, I don’t care about you
It’s Friday, I’m in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday, break my heart
Thursday doesn’t even start
It’s Friday, I’m in loveDo-do, do-do, do-do, do
Do-do, do-do, do-do, do
(Oh, oh, whoa, whoa)

Looking for some great music? Check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist.

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Indie Rock New Wave Post Punk Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): The Fall – Victoria

Day 18. The Fall’s cover of The Kinks Psychedelic Jangle Pop hit & tribute to Queen Victoria (& Victoriana generally) adds a sinister, menacing overtone to the tune, befitting such a bloodthirsty & imperialistic monarch.

It was bad, called obscene 
And the rich were so mean 
Stately homes for the Lords 
Golden lawns, village green
Victoria was my queen 

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria 


I was born, lucky me 
In the land that I love 
Though I’m poor, I am free 
When I go I shall fight 
For this land I will die 
Let her sun never set on 

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria 

Canada to India 
Australia to Cornwall 
Singapore to Hong Kong 
From the West to the East 
From the rich to the poor 
Victoria loved them all 

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria

Looking for some great music? Why not check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist?

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Y1kY9MQAJnZljYtPqfZiH?si=Z-vsjMuuQvWIpgF7Lp2_nw

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Pop Punk Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Joey Ramone – What A Wonderful World

Day 17. This excellent cover of Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World appeared on Don’t Worry About Me, Joey Ramone’s solo album which was released posthumously as he sadly died during its production.

For my money, it’s an absolute tour-de-force of Pop Punk. Distorted Punk riffs, a powerful, simple rhythm section & Joey Ramone’s gloriously soulful vocals combine to make one of my favourite covers of all time.

The video also reminds me that I too used to own a green N64 controller.

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them blue before me and you

And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Or also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands, saying “How do you do?”
They’re really saying, I love you

I hear babies crying, I watch them them grow
They’ll learn much more and I’ll never know

And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Oh yeah

Looking for some great music? Why not check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist?

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Y1kY9MQAJnZljYtPqfZiH?si=rBmb97idTTCUaggd78mzQw

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Indie Rock Reggae Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Easy Star All-Stars – Electioneering (feat. Morgan Heritage)

Day 16. This amazing cover of the upbeat, cowbell-propelled Punk track from Radiohead’s landmark album OK Computer, is taken from a tribute album to that very album. Radiodread, Easy Star All-Stars’ follow up to their excellent Pink Floyd tribute Dub Side Of The Moon (I think you can guess which Pink Floyd album that is a tribute to), is a track-by-track cover of OK Computer.

Electioneering is probably my favourite tune on Radiodread, & that is a pleasant surprise because it’s probably the song on OK Computer which I thought would least work as a Reggae tune. Happy to be proved wrong. Like most of the songs, Electioneering features a guest vocalist, Morgan Heritage in this case.

I will stop, see I will stop for nothing
Say the right things when electioneering
I trust I can rely on your vote

When I go forward you go backward
Somewhere we will meet
When I go forward you go backward
Somewhere we will meet

Riot shields, voodoo economics, yes
It’s just business, cattle prods and the I.M.F.
I trust I can rely on your vote

Rockas

When I go forward you go backward
Somewhere we will meet
When I go forward you go backward
Somewhere we will meet

Rockas

Looking for some great music? Why not check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist?

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Indie Rock Post Punk Shoegaze Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Lush – Outdoor Miner

Day 15. Wire’s Colin Newman described the Lush version of their excellent Outdoor Miner as having “much confidence on show, plus they get the chorus right!” This is integral when you consider other covers of he same tune, like the one by Flying Saucer Attack. As much as I love it, the chorus sounds melodically miles away from this version or the original. He went on “It’s actually very satisfying to hear someone do a decent cover of a song you’ve written (and distressing to hear a bad one!).”

No blind spots in the leopard’s eyes
Can only help to jeopardize
The lives of lambs, the shepherd cries 

An outdoor life for a silverfish
Eternal dust less ticklish
Than the clean room, a houseguest’s wish

He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it’s the earth, which he’s known since birth

He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it’s the earth, which he’s known since birth

Face worker, a serpentine miner
A roof falls, an under-liner
Of leaf structure, the egg timer

He lies on his side, is he trying to hide?
In fact it’s the earth, which he’s known since birth

He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? 
In fact it’s the earth, which he’s known since birth

He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it’s the earth, which he’s known since birth (is he trying to hide?)

He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it’s the earth, which he’s known since birth (is he trying to hide?)

He lies on his side, is he trying to hide? (he lies on his side)
In fact it’s the earth, which he’s known since birth (is he trying to hide?)

Looking for some great music? Why not check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist?

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Categories
Indie Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): PUP – A.M. 180

Day 14. Some of you will know that Grandaddy are easily one of my top 5 favourite bands. I heard this new cover of their 1997 single, A.M. 180, on the recommendation of a friend & I have to say its a great version. I was vaguely aware of PUP before but hadn’t really listened to them much.

This version of A.M. 180 has a more lo-fi, fuzzy sound to the original, though is otherwise quite faithful. The big wall of sound towards the end shows that they understand the spirit of the song enough to deviate from it & without deviating from that spirit.

Don’t change your name
Keep it the same
For fear I may lose you again
I know you won’t
It’s just that I am unorganized
And I want to find you when
Something good happens

If you come down
We’ll go to town
I haven’t been there for years
But I’d be fine
Wasting our time
Not doing anything here
Just doing nothing

We’ll sit for days
And talk about things
Important to us like whatever
We’ll defuse bombs
Walk marathons
And take home whatever together

Whatever together
Whatever together
Whatever together
Whatever together
Whatever together

Looking for some great music? Why not check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist?

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