Yes, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's lovely rendition.. I've heard it many times before. But, it's 'message' I think carries more of the credit for this version's impact/worth than it's music and vocal projection (Which I always felt was very Nina Simone-with-a-ukulele like).
Yeah.... You know, I just can't bring myself to like Eric Clapton.. Just don't see what the big deal is about this guy's guitar work.. I think "Leyla" is an awful, awful, AWFUL mess of a song.. His life's work of blues covers only serve to add to his repertoir as a great blues guitarist.. and horrible blues singer.. fine, I get it.. move on.. no wait, he's tried and I didn't like it.. oh well..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIK2_7_MLWk <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cts1wGVlq3I"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cts1wGVlq3I" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Not a cover that many bands could pull off... <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qVF66GVj8zU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qVF66GVj8zU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
This was a cover right? <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XXpU_otPpwc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XXpU_otPpwc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
ZZ Top started their set with this last night. It wasn't very good. Thank goodness the rest of the show was. YMCA should never be covered. Ever.
I think covers are an important part of music, though not the way it was done in the 80s with songs like c*m on feel the noize and smokin' in the boys room. I mean more like Hendrix doing Hey Joe and All Along the Watchtower.
Tough question...to me there are 2 categories: 1) Songs by any artist that were made definitive by that artist 2) Artists that were so unique that every song they did made it hard for anyone else to cover it. To me, Queen and Pink Floyd are examples of #2. I just can't imagine someone (no matter how talented) doing a version of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". The Band is another example although Joan Baez had a big hit with "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (but her version sounds utterly ridiculous compared to the original). Radiohead, Sigur Ros, and Led Zeppelin are a couple of others. As for #1, I could not imagine anyone covering "Layla" and coming close to making it sound decent. However, there are other Clapton songs that would make fine covers (just like Dylan and Neil Young).
Check out the horn section during the climactic conclusion... <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7vEmQnExY0c"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7vEmQnExY0c" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
hmmm...cute. learn something new everyday. But do you honestly believe they ever played a cover... live?
