Cover Art, Continued
It’s been said that Japan is a testing ground for new material. That can be good or bad, but one of the things I look forward to each year are cover songs – many bands include at least one. Some are staples of a band’s repertoire, while others are being tried for the first time.
You can tell a lot about a band by the songs they cover. Cover songs can indicate a band’s influences, aspirations or sense of humor. Here are a few from this year’s Fujirock:
Ego Wrappin’:
“Girls just wanna have fun” by Cyndi Lauper
The Gossip:
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Like a Virgin” by Madonna
“Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads
Presidents of the USA:
“Kick out the Jams” by MC5
“Dueling Banjos” from the movie Deliverance
Hocus Pocus:
“The Message” by Grandmaster Flash
Ino Hidefumi
“Summertime” by George Gershwin
Sunshinse love
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the Wizard of Oz
Galactic
“Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin (a sax played Plant’s vocals)
Bootsy / Undercover Express
All of them (James Brown covers)
Youmoutoohana
“An Englishman in New York” by Sting
Scroobius
“Cream” by Prince
Double famous
“Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones
Janet Klein
All of them (she only sings songs from the 1920’s and 1930’s)
Ben Folds
“Such Great Heights” by the Postal Service
Breeders
“So we’re classy, so we know a Beatle’s song”
“Happiness is a Warm Gun” by the Beatles
RYG
“Battery” and “Orion” by Metallica
“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
“Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple
“Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix
Flying Padovanis
Wipeout & Peter Gunn
Reported by Jason Jenkins (2008.07.30 / 22:25)