Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.
Last time: The Church to Kate Bush
Gah. It's a difficult one today. Kate Bush is one of those artists I'd happily listen to sing the phonebook. And yet today's cover, her take on Rocket Man... well, I like that she tried to make it an Own Stamp, to a degree, but the UB40 stylings of the chorus just don't wash for me. A big shame, because the verses work just fine. Indeed, this was a single release in 1991 and made it to #12 in the UK and #2 in Australia, so clearly was well enough received. However, it also won The Observer's readers award for "best cover of all time" in 2007... this seems specious at best. Fun fact: Kate directed this video herself.
Disclaimer time: I'm not a massive Elton John fan. I own a CD-R copy of a greatest hits album and I'm Still Standing on 7" that I got for free by collecting promotional packs of something or other back in the day, and that's about it. But this is alright, from all the way back in 1972, and long before Elton's voice (in my view) began its gradual decline. This video is far more recent though, from Iranian filmmaker and refugee Majid Adin. It feels quite sad, I think, and the song is too. Mars really isn't any kind of place to raise kids, after all.
Next time: Reg take forever being sinful.
I heard this on the radio some time back but the memory has obviously scarred me for life - horrified!
ReplyDeleteIt's not her finest hour, is it? On the plus side, I really like the new video for Elton's original, more than I like the song, I think.
DeleteI'd rather not comment on Bush if that's alright with you. Give this a listen and see what you think. Bob James can do no wrong in my book...
ReplyDeleteJM
Nice! Like that.
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