1. John Lennon's ode to blue collar America is no doubt great. Period, point, blank. However, the stripped down lyrics could have used a little more grit than Lennon's normally melodic voice could provide. This is where Greenday frontman Billie Joe Armstrong steps in. With the help of grayscaled visuals, this classic punk band dedicates this 70s anthem to the Genocide in Darfur. The lyrics mesh insanely well with this reincarnated concept. "When they've tortured and scared you for twenty-odd years; Then they expect you to pick a career; When you can't really function you're so full of fear." Sorry Yoko but I have to hand this one to the Anti-American idiots.
2. Dolly, Dolly, Dolly, they say no one pens pain like a country singer and it must be true. Jolene stole your man and Whitney bodied your greatest hit. Just kidding but honestly who even knew it was Dolly's song, to begin with. Whitney Houston's smash hit was amplified by her blockbuster movie "The Bodyguard". Released in 1992, it was the peak of Houston's career and the perfect time to sweep the 1974 original out from Parton's grasp.
3. This is the opposite case of "Working Class Hero". Whereas that song needed a sprinkle of edge, "Simple Man" got a smooth ballad treatment from Knoxville native Brent Smith of Shinedown. The power in Smith's is unparalleled and perfect for this cautionary tale to young men. Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd fans will disagree however at least you still have "Sweet Home Alabama" and no one can touch that...no one would want to.
4. Tina Turner is well known for her powerhouse vocal performances but this cover track didn't make much of a splash. I guess you are now wondering why I have ranked her above Memphis blues star Ann Peebles. I'll have you know I am a huge Tina Turner fan and relevancy is everything. If I mentioned the name, Ann Peebles to you, would you bat an eye? For popularity's sake, I think Anna Mae Bullock takes the cake.
5. Rihanna is Queen Chameleon the fact that she can take any song and own it was proven with the track "Same Ole Mistake". This single placed on her "Anti" album blended in seamlessly with her other dark, hallowed out alternative R&B records. Nearly a carbon match to Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala's prototype, BadGal RiRi sweetens the deal with her sweet intoxicating vocals. Rihanna is in first place again...what's new?
6. Calum Scott tackled 90's Swedish pop star Robyn's bubblegum dance track and steamrolled it into an easily digestible pop ballad. Scott made sure to change the gender aspect of the song to a heterosexual male's perspective. The premise of "Dancing on my Own" is about a girl in a club that is being dissed by her beau. However, with electronic disco bass blaring over the heartbreaking narrative, you would never get the whole emotion. "I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, I'm right over here, why can't you see me, I'm giving it my all, but I'm not the guy you're taking home, I keep dancing on my own." Calum for the win. The irony is that Tiësto remixed it back into a dance track.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Post a Comment