What?! Oh Hell No! Hold up. Huh? Oh Ok

(Or, what’s that song really about?)

Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day

So, we hear this song every year when a football team starts out 0 and 4.

We also hear it when we are seeing tributes to the September 11^th attacks.

It was used as a tribute to Hurricane Katrina

The video itself is a long sweeping love story about a young couple torn apart by the war. The sadness of waiting for a loved one to come home, and everything we feared during the Iraq war.  

Obviously none of that is what the song is about at all.

But the band never told anyone not to use it.  I think good musicians are aware that, even when their words are misconstrued, they can still help others heal.  (ok maybe not the football stuff)

The song’s real meaning came from Billie Joe Armstrong’s childhood.   They mention it in one line in particular, but at the age of ten Billie Joe lost his father in September of 1982.  So the line “Like my father's come to pass”  is the whole meaning behind the song.

The video was okayed because Billie Joe felt that it still conveyed loss, along with their disdain for the war.

Closing Time – Semisonic

20 years later, bars are still playing this song as they turn up the lights.

Seems simple enough, we all know the bar culture, “you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here“ has been around for years, hell, it’s in the Blues Brothers

So, ok, what’s the song really about?

Childbirth.   Yep, just listen to the damn lyrics, take the bar context out of it, and realize that the bar is a womb, that  “won’t be open until your brothers or sisters come”    

It’s the baby that knows who it wants to take him or her home. 

Yep. 

Don’t believe me, Singer Dan Wilson breaks it down line by line in the video below.

Say It Ain’t So – Weezer

I don’t get to talk about this song enough, and more people should know what it’s really about.

So if you don’t understand the importance this has to me, recognize that the symbol on the bass drum head is on my arm.  Or realize that when I am talking about Rivers the next couple of lines, I am talking about the leader of Weezer; not my son, but recognize where I got my son’s name.

So I don’t know what you think the song is about, I’ve known for years, so I don’t know what people think it’s about.

Anyways Rivers’ real parents split when he was a kid, and when that happened Rivers believed it to be due to the fact that his father was an alcoholic.  I can’t confirm that he was, only that this was what Rivers believed.

Flash forward to Rivers in High School and he comes home and there is beer in the fridge, So Rivers immediately thinks of the worst.  He now thinks that his step father is going to become an alcoholic and leave his family just as his real father had done.

So, listen to the lyrics now, it’s all there,  a Heineken in the fridge,  “like father , step father”   really the words were there the whole time, so if you missed it, well yeah  I can understand.  That’s a lot of personal history to know about. 

Damn.

Semi- Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind

You didn’t realize what this was about because on the radio and video edits, they backmask  the word, and in the video, lead singer  Stephan Jenkins covers his mouth .

But if you watch the video, he also walks backwards as he says it, which, means nothing, but come on, backmasking and showing that you did it.

Fucking genius.

The radio and vide edits also take out the post bridge.  I mean, you aren’t missing much, but the lyrics make sense if you know what you are hearing.  

There are other edits that take a shit ton more out. They use those on “light” radio stations nowadays, and those edits make it impossible to understand the true meaning.

Ok fine, I’ll tell you

Crystal Meth.  The song is about  a downward spiral into a slow addiction to Crystal Meth. The original chorus was, “I want nothing else”

So, yeah, he says “Doing Crystal meth will lift you up”

Drugs man, drugs.  Has anyone ever written a straight up song about drugs and got it on the radio?  Maybe someday soon. 

So here is the official video

Here is an unofficial fan made lyric video of the whole song intact as it appears on the album 

Love Song – Sara Bareilles

So, you may think that it’s a break up song, or a fuck you to a former lover.

It’s actually a fuck you to her record label.

She was trying to make an album and she was writing song after song, and the label, Epic, was still looking for a hit.  They weren’t ready to put out an album without a radio hit.

She was running into writer’s block and just became frustrated.

So Bareilles just wrote out the way she felt about the record label’s pressure and the way that they would just offer no help other than to shoot her down.  They wanted a love song.

That’s exactly what they got.

The Freshmen – The Verve Pipe

Depending on who you ask, the song means a lot of things. 

Only two of them are acceptable answers. 

The song is usually referred to as a song about suicide, and lyrically that’s what it’s about, the lead singer’s ex committing suicide.

Except that it never actually happened. 

The girl in question did have an abortion, and that’s what the song is really about.  There’s only 1 line that truly refers to it, but it’s there and you probably never  noticed it. 

“Stop a baby's breath and a shoe full of rice”

I don’t know what the rice part means.  But yeah, it’s a really deep dark song.

And here’s the darkest version out there.

And here’s the brightest:

Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler

So the song was written by Jim Steinman, the man who wrote and produced Meat Loaf’s Bat out of Hell.

So right off the bat (no pun intended) you know it’s going to be some crazy shit.  The song was originally longer, I mean you’ve heard Paradise by the Dashboard Light, Jim Steinman writes some long ass crazy songs. 

The video is crazy as fuck too, and if you haven’t seen the Literal version, you owe it to yourself to see it. Click Here.   Watch other literal videos too.

So anyways, the song is a love song, but it’s not just any love song, it’s a vampire love song.

I would’ve watched more of Twilight had they used it.

So yeah, it’s a god damned Vampire love song.  So it’s about literally living in the dark all the time and that will be the only time for love or anything. 

Obviously the eclipse represents that moment of darkness in the middle of day. A brief moment where you can be totally out and free.

Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams

Seriously?

Bryan Adams was 10 in the summer of 69, you really think he had a band then?

And that one of the members would have left the band to get married?

Sex.   As in the sexual position of 69ing.

There’s some nostalgia in there and you can say it’s about young love, but 69 is there on purpose.

So that’s it for today.

 I’m sorry if I ruined your ideas as to what this music was really about, I know that you probably won’t look or hear the songs in the same way again.

But hey at least you know the truth right?

One last fun story,  Randy Bachman of Bachman Turner Overdrive has a brother named Gary.   Gary had a stutter. 

So when BTO was making the Not Fragile album the guys were playing around with a fun song, it was a nod to The Who, with the chorus progression being the same as Baba O’Riley. 

The song was not supposed to be a part of the album and Randy Bachman stuttered through the chorus as a joke to his brother, Gary was supposed to get the only copy of this song.   

Well, the rep from their label was still looking for a hit, and this was proposed, Randy re-recorded the lyrics without the stutter, but no one liked it, so they used the original with the stutter, and they had a number 1 song. 

Ok, Bye Now, 

See you later.

Woops??!?

Ok, bye now,  see you next week or something .

Celebrities in Music Videos

So, not to get all preachy, but weezer has a new music video, for their song, I Love the USA, and it is really a nice video for a great extra song.  

Which yes, I now need to buy the deluxe version of the White Album, (weezer’s not The Beatles).  

Anyway, as you will see below, the video features Patton Oswalt, and it is not the first time that Weezer has had a celebrity in their video.

There was Elisha Cuthbert in the Perfect Situation video.

Or every single YouTube sensation in the video for Pork and Beans

The Muppets were in the Keep Fishin video.

There were more, but I don’t want to bore you.

So, I thought I would take a look at other celebrities in music videos.  I won’t have a lot to say about them, but I will let you know who and what to look for.  But we are going to skip past Cortney Cox in Dancing in the Dark, everyone knows that one.   I was hoping to find you some you didn’t know about

Counting Crows – A Long December

Speaking of Courtney Cox, in 1996 she was in the video for Counting Crows A Long December. 

She had dated Adam Duritz (Vocals, Piano for Counting Crows) 

This was after she was with Batman, so, I mean; she really got around for a while there.  She was in a few other music videos too.  But who has the time.

Michael Jackson – Remember the Time

There were multiple stars in this video, and that is what makes it so great.  

It’s Egyptian, it’s fun, it’s hip and it stars, Eddie Murphy, Iman, and Magic Johnson.  

I mean really could it get any better than that?  

Certainly I don’t think so.  Not to mention this is a good jam. 

Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al

Paul Simon did a whole ton of great shit on Saturday Night Live. He could have been a comedic actor, I honestly believe that.  He plays the straight man well, and has great timing.

“I can't fit through the door!”

 In this video he plays backup singer and instrumentalist to SNL’s own Chevy Chase. So you know damn well it is going to be a fun great time. I have always also loved the way they move together whilst playing instruments.

Also, if you don’t get the “I can’t fit through the door” reference, I dislike you, but look it up please.

The Offspring – She’s Got Issues

You might have to pause it, if you really want to see it, if you don’t believe me, but the heroine of this video is none other than a 19 year old Zooey Deschanel.  

It’s actually, pretty easy to see.  I just want you to watch a cool music video that you forgot about or never saw.

I’m not sure how this came about; it may have just been an acting gig for her.   But hey, it’s also a great song with some really good animation. 

Aerosmith – Crazy

So this was Alicia Silverstone’s third video for Aerosmith. 

Which by the way, let’s talk about the fact that in 1994, Aerosmith was still relevant. How many bands from 1970 can say that?

So, let’s get back to the video, this was Liv Tyler’s first video, and she was cast from her prior work in a shampoo commercial. The director found out later she was the bandleader’s daughter. 

Which, by the way, who allows their daughter to be the sex appeal of their own video?  Which is even weirder because, Liv Tyler was originally Todd Rundgren’s daughter, but that’s another story.  Anyways yeah.

Mumford and Sons – Hopeless Wanderer

So, what we have here is a song that is already good as hell.  If you haven’t acknowledged Mumford and Sons as a good band, then give them some time.

This is just a case of some great comedic presences acknowledging a great band and playing them in their video.  Basically, the band is not there, they are instead played by Arrested Development’s Jason Bateman, SNL’s Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte, and ED Helms, that dude from the Office.

The video is as great as you might be thinking.  If you haven’t seen it, watch the whole damn thing right now.

Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass

I think I have shared this video before,

Truth be told, I love Annie Lennox, with or without Dave Stewart.

This video was directed by Sophie Muller, who directed tons of great videos, including weezer’s Say it Ain’t So.

I digress; this video stars John Malkovich and Hugh Laurie, now that is a lot of star power. (Two guys, I wouldn’t stop from grabbing my pussy)  So Laurie is just reprising his role as Prince George.  Look it up

Malkovich is just being his cool ass self as a dude who just got married, but used to hook up with Lennox’s character. 

Ok it’s English, so it doesn’t make sense, just watch it.

Hanson- Penny and Me

This is one of those, “It’s my blog so shut up” moments. 

So first off, yes, Hanson had more songs than MmmBop.

Secondly, yes I think Samaire Armstrong is a celebrity.  You may know her from Dirty Sexy Money, or Not Another Teen Movie, but I remember her best as Anna from The OC, and if you don’t know about The OC, well that’s your problem.

I mean seriously, it was produced by McG, yeah that same McG who’s Supernatural you love.

Ok, so also, this video was hard to find, but here is a link to it.  

 http://www.mtv.com/videos/hanson/29855/penny-me.jhtml

Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy

Ok, so this one might be hard to stomach, and, honestly I am choked up by the irony/foreshadowing. 

This is a very happy song, and how can you not enjoy it.  It stars, Bill Irwin, who, does tons of work as a clown and has been in so many movies that when you see the video, you will be like “I know that guy “

It also stars Robin Williams.

There is so much that I would like to say right now, but this isn’t the right venue, or the right place.

But folks, the world is real and it sucks and you have to take care of yourself and those around you.  Depression is real. Dementia is real, and they can both do some nasty things to you.  So, sorry for being a downer, but, if you or someone you love needs help.

You're not alone. Confidential help is available for free.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-8255

Available 24 hours everyday

We aren’t going to end on that note though.  There’s still one more.  Plus hundreds that I did not even talk about. 

Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice

Did you really think I would leave this one out?

Christopher Walken epitomizes coolness.  Sure there are some stunt doubles involved, but Walken was a dancer in theatre before he was an actor. 

The video won 6 MTV awards and a Grammy.  What more can you want?  Walken even took home a Moonman from the VMA’s.   How many people have won them at the age of 58?  That’s the other thing, he is 58 in this video, and doesn’t speak a word…  Not to mention, this was not his first music video.

This was voted as the best video of all time in 2002 for Christ’s sake. 

What more do you want from me people?

So, there it is, that’s today’s list of things.   I apologize if I left out your favorite, but make your own damn list then.   I know, I say that every time.   I left out a few on purpose, like Ben Affleck in Jenny from the Block.  Or that guy that plays Hawkeye in Pink’s video for Trouble.   I also didn’t mention any of the Cyndi Lauper videos starring Captain Lou Albano.  So there.

Anyways, as long as they keep making videos for songs, celebrities will continue to be in them, so if your favorite Actor isn’t in one yet, well then give it time.

Ok. Bye 

Odds and Ends (What the Fluffs and Other Stuffs)

Hey folks!

Welcome back.

Where the fuck have you been.

Ok, so anyways, as you can see by the title, this one is going to get a little out there.

So, you know how my blogs are all full of hyperlinks and random shit, or just the occasional jimmy fallon video?  Well, today is a day that is just plain out dedicated to that stuff.  I am going to just ram your throat with videos that I want you to see. 

My goal is to have no random links or anything

A lot of the videos will just be still pictures accompanying music, give it a shot.

I’m going to explain some of them, but not all of them, because some of them need to be seen on their own.   Many of them are just “other” versions of stuff that I just couldn’t figure out a way to squeeze in.  There’s going to be some covers some alternate takes and just whatever. 

There is no reason for any of these videos to be shown together.  But here they are. 

Why am I doing so much prefacing, I don’t have to explain myself to you?  But I do love you, despite what you think.

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Hava Nagila

If you know the Gimmes, then you know that I could have just done a whole blog of all their covers, because that is all they do.

So, for those of you that don’t know the band, Who the hell are you? 

The Gimmes are a punk supergroup featuring members of Swingin’ Utters, NOFX, Foo Fighters, Lagwagon and, No Use for a Name.

Oh, you only recognized Foo Fighters?  You must be that also trying to kill punk, but as everyone knows Punk’s not dead!

But seriously, check them dudes out.

Ok, so anyways, sometime in 2004, the band played a real Bar Mitzvah, If I remember correctly, there was a contest, or maybe he was just related, clearly, I don’t remember correctly.

The released an album called – Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Ruin Jonny’s Bar Mitzvah

Anyways, they played a Bar Mitzvah, the adults and most of the kids didn’t get it but they all indulged.  The CD that came from it was also incredible as it was just a straight beginning to ending recording, including false starts, fuck ups, and whatever else happens in a live setting.  They even left the tape going as they took a break, so you get like 15 minutes of people mingling and shit. 

So they play a bit of everything, and I mean everything!

But I want you to hear is their second take of Hava Nagila, they do a traditional-esque version and then they do their new version.

So here is some actual video of the gig, including the first version of Hava Nagila.

Here is their second more “original” version of Hava Nagila.  This is what you’re here for.  Stay for the banter after the song.

Weezer – Brain Stew

Again, I could do a whole blog on weezer’s covers and alternate takes, and everything else they’ve done.  But I will try to not overburden you with too much weezer.  But I can’t make too many promises.

So, really, this can’t be considered a weezer song, but it is.  It’s really just Rivers, some random dude on Piano and Josh Freese on drums.  First off, I honestly have no idea who is playing piano.  Josh Freese on the other hand became a touring member of weezer, when Rivers decided to just be a singer and had Pat play guitar. (Hence the line in Back to The Shack where Rivers says, “Maybe I should play the lead guitar and Pat should play the drums”  

So, anyways, the boys in the =w= camp always do like some sort of AOL session, or Shazam or Yahoo or whatever whenever they put out a new album.  So that is where this came from.  You can find other songs from this session all over the internet.  The band (except for Rivers) all where the same jacket that Freese is wearing.

This song was on none of their albums, and if you didn’t know, it is a Green Day song.  But it is so stripped and slowed down in this that it becomes a completely different song.

Hey remember when this was in an episode of Supernatural?

Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin – Me and My Shadow and Sam’s Song – Live

So, if you have never seen the picture, the sign at The Sands in Vegas; it said Dean Martin Maybe Frank Maybe Sammy.

They all did their small residences there; sometimes Joey Bishop would be there too. Basically it was their own little playground to do whatever they wanted.  It didn’t hurt that Sinatra was a small but partial owner of the place.

So the guys would just be there and perform and by the end, they would all be on stage, drinking and smoking and going on.   The shit was awesome.  Sadly I was born 40 years too late, but hey at least someone was smart enough to record it.

These were songs that they had already recorded these in the studios, hell; they were old songs by the 60s.   Still they put a new spin on them.

The guys played with the lyrics and had fun with each other.  They all truly loved each other and were very liberal and made fun of each other. I don’t know how else to explain it,

Also, if you have ever wanted to know more about, melody, harmony, counter melody and the such…

This is a decent starting point.

Me and My Shadow

Sam’s Song (I apologize that the audio clicks, it’s old)

Elvis on Elvis

So, I was originally looking for something else, someday I will find it and give it to you.   Somewhere there exists a video of Elvis Costello playing Alison, but he gave the words a new melody.  But that’s what I couldn’t find so fuck it, here’s this instead.

This has no reason being on this page at all, but it might just be the best thing you see today

The Blues Brothers – Rubber Biscuit

What’s that?  You don’t know The Blues Brothers?

Take that rock you’ve been living under and smash yourself to death!!!

Was that too harsh?

So, this, like all the other Blues Brothers songs was a cover. 

This is not the version that they recorded for the Briefcase Full of Blues album.  Remember, today is about other versions of stuff.   The cool thing to think about is that this was recorded about a year and a half before the movie.  And the single version cracked into the top 40 chart.  Not bad for a band comprised of session musicians and comedians. 

So take this for what it is, miscues, feedback issues. And all that other fun stuff.

Hozier – Take Me to Church

Acoustic backstage at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

So, I promised the wife she could pick a song, clearly, I shouldn’t have.

It’s not that I dislike this song; it’s not that I dislike my wife, sure, she has a crappy taste in music, and maybe she’s right and I am a music snob. 

That wasn’t a question.

Also, this is a 3 year old song that was rereleased so, I mean, I didn’t know about it then.

Speaking of which, how did the hipster burn his tongue?

He ate his soup before it was cool!!

Ok, so my lady’s taste in music isn’t crappy. Realistically, she’s recommended great songs for me, that I have enjoyed, but at the same time, I think music itself has changed and become crappy.  The problem is that in the end it’s a business and it is a product of supply and demand.

To prove my point; the top songs of 2006, so just 10 years ago, were:

1              Daniel Powter - Bad Day

2              Sean Paul - Temperature

3              Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous

4              James Blunt - You're Beautiful

5              Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean- Hips Don't Lie

6              Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten

7              Gnarls Barkley- Crazy

8              Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone- Ridin'

9              Justin Timberlake - Sexyback

10           Beyonce feat. Slim Thug - Check on It

Ok, so how many of these artists are still around 10 years later. And by around I mean relevant.  When you look at it like that, it’s dreary; I mean really, only Beyonce and JT are still making it big. And they came in ninth and tenth.

So my issue with modern music is that everyone is so quick to jump to the next big thing, that so many great artists are being swallowed up and not being given a proper chance.  

So it’s not that I hate my wife or music, I just don’t want to get behind something that will end. Television has taught me that. I mean, I always like a show and it fails.

Speaking of which, remember that show Arrested Development, That guy Michael Cera was on that show. 

Later he was mistaken for Jimmy’s brother the sing-ger

Puddles Pity Party and Haley Reinhart – Mad World

So, we saw Puddles very recently on my Happy Songs post.  Remember, he’s the 6 foot 8 clown with a voice that is as golden as his sad crown.  

That wasn’t supposed to rhyme, but that happens on accident from time to time.

Haley Reinhart, I can’t say I know who she is outside of this video, but I love her voice. Apparently she was on American Idol some while ago. 

The song Mad World was originally a hit for Tears for Fears, at that time it was like a synth prog pop sort of number and sounded nothing like it does now. 

Later on, it was covered by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules. They slowed it down and made into a much more beautiful song for the movie Donnie Darko, I never saw the movie, but I have liked this song since then.

So now fast forward to present day, but not quite, because present day is today, everything else is in the past. In fact this sentence you are reading is right now present day but it is past or history as soon as you read to the period. 

I have officially gone deep into the rabbit hole,

So anyways-

In the recent past Puddles got together with Haley and they put a vaudevillian spin on the whole thing. Vaudevillian like as in harkening back to Vaudeville, not the wrestling duo.

So here it is

I would keep posting Puddles’ videos if I could, but too many people are afraid of clowns.

I mean, what’s next, a singing spider?

Truthfully, they exist, but since I have to kill spiders for half the people I know, I won’t do it. But try googling it sometime.

 That’s some pig!

Speak of the devil.

Weezer – I’m Your Daddy

So, first off, it’s not as weird as you think.  This is actually from the same session that the Brain Stew video came from before.  Note the matching track jackets.

Now here’s the thing, I don’t remember this being a single, so I don’t know why they did this.

Not to mention they added another person who was not a part of the original recording, as you will see. It really and honestly makes no sense

But that’s also what makes it so cool. Like when a joke goes full circle and comes back out from the person the joke is about.

Like when Deadpool disses Green Lantern.  Or when Rick Astley shows up in the middle of a parade float to rick roll a shit ton of people.

So here you are.

Justin Timberlake – (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay

First of all, had he not had already brought Sexy Back; this certainly would have done it.

I mean, what do you have to do to get invited to sing for the president? I mean, how many people can say they’ve done that?  I mean Elvis and Nixon had that weird relationship, but that’s a whole other story.

The band that is backing JT up in this is iconic in its own way. Just a great jam band, including Steve Cropper of Booker T and the MGs or of course the aforementioned Blues Brothers Band.

When JT hits the falsetto…

I mean Come on…

Seriously, ladies be careful, you may pass out, or at the very least have to change your undies, I know I did the first time I saw this.

Of course the original is great too, but Timberlake really takes this and makes it his own.

Speaking of the President

Bayside – Megan

One of my favorite Smoking Popes songs, done by Bayside a really great band that you should really devote more time to.  Their singer Anthony Raneri has a very unique and good voice, he has a great range and just.. I mean he’s not JT but he has his own greatness.

Then you add the fact that Josh Caterer stops by to sing the second verse.   I mean I love that. Whenever an original artist shows up in the middle of a cover it’s always a good thing.  At the very least it counts as a blessing to the cover

Jimmy Fallon and a Bunch of Famous People – Any Damn Thing They Want

So, here’s the thing, I tried to choose just one, I really did, but how can you?

That’s why I saved this for the end.

Don’t think of it as a cop out, think of it as, I love Jimmy Fallon; you would know that if you have been reading this thing since the beginning.

And. You know all the old posts are right there at the side or in some spot, you can read all the old ones too you know. 

It would really make me happy. 

I don’t want fame or popularity, ok maybe a little, but I want a chance to talk to more people.

Hey do me a favor recommend me to a few of your friends.

So this is it, here’s where it ends  Thank you for reading today, I don’t know when I will be back, but in the meantime, here’s a shit ton of Jimmy Fallon videos. 

The Ragtime Gals

Hello

Russel Crowe, Balls

We Can’t Stop

Ice Cream

Impressions with Jamie Foxx 

On a Boat

Slow Jamming the News

Iko Iko with Queen Amidala

That Bass

Ok, if you are still with me, here’s one that’s not Jimmy Fallon, it’s not safe for work, and definitely not safe for small children or Mothers or Fathers- in- law,

Really, you might find this offensive, seriously

I can’t believe I am showing you this after having shown you The President.

Quack like a Duck

Ok, that’s it, We’ll see you later. I love you. 

Cover band Songs (A How To)

 9 Songs that every cover band should know.

   

And 4 that they should forget.

Ok this is going to be a weird list and a hard list to make sense of.  Keep in mind this is my own personal list, and these are my own personal feelings.  Some of these aren’t even  clearly about 1 song but I picked a song by certain   artists that cover bands should try to play at least one song by.

At the end of this I will also name a few songs that cover bands should stop doing. 

The Joker – Steve Miller Band

Why not? I mean it is a 3 chord song essentially, plus it features a great bass line that just stays true throughout the song. It’s heavy on the wah wah. And has a sweet solo.

Realistically you can change to any key to fit anyone’s vocal capabilities.

Not to mention something about the lyrics really turns on a lot of women. No joke. Next time you go out just walk up to a random girl and say “I really love your peaches I wanna shake your tree.” I swear on my life you will get a date.

And honestly, if a cover band does any song by The Steve Miller Band that is good enough for me.  The band as a whole has a great amount of hits: Jet Airliner, Take the Money and Run, Swingtown.  But with the simplicity of The Joker there is no excuse not to play it.

 Seriously!

Louie Louie – The Kingsmen

Another 3 chord song, this time with a minor thrown in, but nonetheless another very simple song.

The part that makes it ridiculously simple is that no one really knows the actual lyrics. There was an FBI case to find out the actual lyrics of the song.  But even the smart hard working men from Washington DC could not figure it out.  (There is a yelling of the word Fuck in the song too. But the FBI missed that as well)

This is a good thing because all you have to do is come close. Plus if you really want you can have anyone from the audience come and sing it when your vocalist has to pee or wants a cigarette.

Even me in the drunkest state of mind, do I still know the melody of Louie Louie, and as long as the Louie Louies hit at the right time. Then you will be fine.  Hell the lead singer of The Kingsmen doesn’t even start the third verse at the right time. (Extra brownie points to any cover band that recreates that moment.)

Ok Let’s give it to em Right Now!!

Rock N Roll all Night – Kiss

Still another fairly simple song. Are you beginning to see a pattern?

The drums on this song are the best part so why not let your drummer get wild for a while and play some nasty fills.

 The lyrics are simple but the cool thing about this song is that you can use it as homage to your audience. When the bass and guitar drop out, just let the audience sing the words, they are just on repeat at that point.

Sure most cover bands don’t have the funding to pull off all the theatrics that Kiss could afford.  But just wear some heels a little facepaint and maybe your crowd will get the idea.

Kiss is another band that you can really play any of their songs and have it go over well. (Except Beth- Fuck that pussy ass song!!)  If you are in a town with a 2 syllable name, you can always do Detroit rock City.  Calling Dr. Love is another good and easy one. As is Love Gun.  

But if you do Rock and Roll all night, try to emulate this, (except for Paul Stanley’s screeching!)

I’m a Believer – The Monkees

I say the Monkees version because realistically theirs was the most known version until Smash Mouth came along.  So if you know their version you can easily branch out onto other versions.

 But unless you are playing for a group of ten year olds, odds are your crowd will still remember this version.

Plus this version is the most soulful to the point that Mickey Dolenz almost sounds like Aretha Franklin at the end.  It is also relatively an easy song to learn and play, so there is no excuse.

The Monkees catalog of songs is so big, and so good that I think they are another band that every cover band should take a crack at. I mean realistically, look them up on your own time, but they were pretty huge in their day and have a lot of hit songs. (And if I ever hear a band play zilch that would be the coolest thing ever.)

Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime

So this is an awesome song and it is a lot of picking and playing but tons of fun.

I have no idea really why I have never heard a cover band do this, but I haven’t.   I really think they should.

Yes part of me just wanted to listen to this song and have a reason for you to see how cool of a song this is. Plus the guys are really good looking.

Seriously though if you are in a cover band, and don’t consider this song once in your career, then you are taking yourself way way too seriously, come on just bust out the bottle. 

 Yes I think this can be done without a banjo, plus most lead guitar players have some effect that they can use to sound like they are playing the banjo.

                Also, this song gives your drummer a break unless they are the only person in your band that knows how to make a ch sound.

This is a fun- very fun song and a happy tune. So learn it!!

Cheap Trick – Surrender

You probably are thinking why not I Want You to Want Me.  And that is a great question with a simple answer - I have heard too many bands butcher it.  If there is one thing I hate in the world more than anything it is hearing a cover band play a song horribly.

Not to mention, Surrender is a bad ass song that deserves to come to prominence.  I will tell you this, I don’t think every Cheap Trick song is worth covering but this is a great one that is. 

Cheap Trick has always been a great band in my mind, but they play kick ass simplistic yet epic songs.  I mean their cover of Ain’t That a Shame is awesome as sin.

The band is still truly popular in the Midwest, where they got their start, so if you live in the Midwest odds are your fans are going to love this song. If they don’t--- Fuck them!

Wild Thing – Sam Kinison

I have never heard any band try to touch this, but I honestly think it would be the coolest thing in the world if a band covered this version of the song.   I have heard a lot of bands do the Troggs version, and that is cute.

But hardly anybody does a cover of the version of the song by X which is the version associated with Rick Vaughn in the movies Major League and Major League 2.  So even that version would be appreciated.

The original song was just a 3 chord or so ditty, so realistically just add a little bit of a hard rock twist to it and you have this version of the song.

But Kinison’s version of the song is fucking incredible.  It is actually a pretty hard edge song and a total reworking of the lyrics. But in my opinion Kinison has the perfect voice to shout this thing out. And really that is one of the things that he was known for.

The video depicts his band as one of the greatest super groups of all time. I have no idea who actually plays the music on the song but the video makes it look like it was an incredibly awesome party.  Jon Bon Jovi and Rodney are great in the opening and then I don’t have time to name all the people that are hanging around for the song.

Seriously though if you have a singer that can scream and sound good, you should consider this song. And if you are in a band that decides to do it please invite me to one of your shows, I want to see it.

Until then I will just watch the video on repeat…

Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones

Well let’s stick with the loud stuff for a while.  Another simple song. The Ramones were never known for wildly difficult guitar parts.  But I will be damned if they didn’t fuck shit up with some of the greatest 3 chord punk of all time.

So listen first thing first. Don’t try to emulate Joey’s voice you won’t ever sound like him and it is sort of Punk Rock sacrilege to even try.  Everyone will hate you for it. Even if you do it perfectly.

But most people know this song; it is probably one of if not the most known Ramones song.  This song will turn even Grandma Ethyl and Grandpa Leroy’s 50^th anniversary into a wild mosh pit. (Can you imagine getting hit by a walker?)  

Lyrically the song doesn’t change and the whole crowd is ready to scream the Hey Ho Let’s Go part so seriously turn the volume up and knock this bitch out.  1-2-3-4

Free Bird - Lynard Skynard

I am absolutely serious.  Why the fuck not.  You know damn well that some drunken guy or group of them, or any one of my dad’s lame friends just trying to be funny is going to scream it out.

Maybe you are not interested in indulging them, and find it annoying. But what would really shut them up is if you not only play this song, but if you play the ever loving fuck out of it.  I mean especially when you get to the end, by that point the assholes will just be staring in awe.

The other thing to think about is, who are you there to entertain?  I mean after all as a cover band if you book yourself into the kind of gig where people are shouting Freebird at you, then you should be prepared for it.

I have only heard a few bands actually do it and most of them sucked at it.  Some bands can do the ending but not the beginning but mostly it seems no one has the patience to play what ends up being a 9 minute song at the least. (And if anyone plays it in less than 9 minutes then they are cheating)

So seriously, check it out. Learn it and if you are at a concert scream it out. 

 So there you have it the 9 songs that I think every cover band should be playing or at least know and be able to add to their set list on a whim.  Maybe you disagree, maybe you don’t want to learn any of those songs, but I highly suggest learning at least one of them.

Now onto the songs that I think every cover band should forget.  Or at least never play again.

Twist and Shout – The Beatles

Everyone knows this song and it jumped the shark when it was in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  I mean that movie put the song back in the Hot 100.  That’s silly. I love the Beatles but the fact that one of their songs was in the top 25 of the Hot 100; 16 years after the band broke up, that’s messed up.

I mean first of all, The Beatles version is a cover version, and  beyond that it has been covered by so many artists and too many.  Seriously look it up, it is sad how many mainstream artists have done the song.

 And I don’t care what sort of spin you put on it; it will never be as cool as this….

Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Ok first of all, I am guilty of this one, but I will admit that when I do this song it is a softer slower version of the Me First and the Gimme Gimmes’ version.  And anyone else doing that version is allowed a pass, as is anyone covering Judy Garland’s version. (Realistically a lot of people have re done the Judy Garland version, and that’s ok by me.)

The key way to tell if someone is doing this version is listening to the tempo they sing at and you will notice the melody is a bit off. The even worse thing that some people do is they take off the s at the end of chimney tops.  Also listen to see how many syllables there are in Chimney

That really only works if you are a 700 pound man from Hawaii and let’s face it you aren’t.

Also, just because someone in your band knows how to play ukulele doesn’t mean they should get it out and play this song.  I once saw somebody do that the worst part was it was honestly right before they played like an 80’s hair rock song. I can’t remember if it was poison or Motley Crue, but you get the picture.

Either way, just stop. You can’t do it as good as IZ and you also are probably unable to do this…

Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard

I mean, come on, strippers don’t even dance to the song anymore.   The only people that want to hear it are the ladies in the back that nobody laid in the 80s and sure as hell no one would touch them with a 39 and a half foot pole now.

Another reason why I don’t particularly like hearing cover bands so it is because I have seen Def Leppard live and guess what I don’t care who you are, you cannot drum this thing with half the heart that Rick Allen has.  (The fucking guy only has 1 arm)  Sure it’s not crazy drumming but come on!

Really those are the main reasons.

I like the song I just prefer to hear the original. Maybe that’s a crazy preference; I just have never heard anyone really give the song any justice

Hell Def Leppard barely does the song justice anymore…

You Never Even Called Me by My Name – David Allan Coe

If you know who wrote this song then you have already heard it way too many times. (Some of you are trying to remember the talking part and remember who did write it)

First things first this is not the perfect country and western song, and if you really think so, then you need to broaden your musical horizons.  But that being said, it is a country song, and in my opinion like 65% of your set better be country if you plan on even trying this. (Most of the time it isn’t)

I hate when I hear cover artists do this, and mostly they are solo guys, I mean come on there are like 4 different guitar parts on the song. Not to mention, I hate when they do speak the spoken part as if they actually know Steve Goodman. 

The other thing that the cover artists try to do is match all the different vocal styling’s when mentioning all the other singers.  (You do a shitty Merle Haggard; please give me money back I just spit out all my beer.)

This is the only worthwhile cover of the song because of the appearance of the guys named….

So Please if you are in some sort of cover band and are looking for material, Learn the first set of songs and don’t you dare touch the last 4.

If you are thinking about starting a cover band, make sure you see enough of them. Make sure you are different enough from all of them but close enough to them that you will still get gigs.  

Have fun Rock On!!