chris on a bike - check out these cover versions for the new Warchild compilation

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Starsailor - 'All Or Nothing' (The Small Faces, 1966)
Feeder - 'The Power Of Love' (Frankie Goes To Hollywood, 1984)
Sugababes - 'Killer' (Adamski, 1990)
Muse - 'House Of The Rising Son' (The Animals, 1964)
Stereophonics - 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (Sinead O' Connor, 1990)
Faithless/Dido - 'Dub Be Good 2 Me' (Beats International, 1990)
Oasis - 'Merry Xmas Everybody' (Slade, 1973)
Elbow 'Something In The Air' (Thunderclap Newman, 1969)
Ms Dynamite - 'Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) (Soul II Soul, 1989)
Manic Street Preachers - 'Out Of Time' (Chris Farlowe, 1966)
Badly Drawn Boy - 'Come On Eileen' (Dexy's Midnight Runners, 1982)
Prodigy - 'Ghost Town' (The Specials, 1981)
Jimmy Eat World - 'Firestarter' (Prodigy, 1996)
McAlmont And Butler - 'Back For Good' (Take That, 1995)
Darius - 'Pretty Flamingo' (Manfred Mann, 1966)
More Fire Crew -'Dreams' (Gabrielle, 1993)


who let Darius in eh? lookin forward to some, dreading others...just not sure which

blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Might Be Good:
Sugababes - 'Killer' (Adamski, 1990)
Prodigy - 'Ghost Town' (The Specials, 1981)
McAlmont And Butler - 'Back For Good' (Take That, 1995)
More Fire Crew -'Dreams' (Gabrielle, 1993)

Don't Actually Need To Hear Them, Do You?:
Starsailor - 'All Or Nothing' (The Small Faces, 1966)
Oasis - 'Merry Xmas Everybody' (Slade, 1973)
Elbow 'Something In The Air' (Thunderclap Newman, 1969)
Ms Dynamite - 'Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) (Soul II Soul, 1989)
Manic Street Preachers - 'Out Of Time' (Chris Farlowe, 1966)

Proof That There Is No God:
Feeder - 'The Power Of Love' (Frankie Goes To Hollywood, 1984)
Faithless/Dido - 'Dub Be Good 2 Me' (Beats International, 1990)

Proof That There Is A God And He Has Abandoned A Fallen World To Eternal Suffering:
Stereophonics - 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (Sinead O' Connor, 1990)

Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:11 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm sure the Faithless/Dido cover of Norm's Clash-bothering classic will be competent and faithful to the original rather than actually awful in itself

you're otherwise OTM in my book sir, esp, with Kezza & The Stezzas - intangible to say the least

blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:18 (twenty-two years ago)

and this is now just screaming for a thread about 'which songs SHOULD bands cover for charity/tribute albums in general' thread

blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Badly Drawn Boy - 'Come On Eileen' (Dexy's Midnight Runners, 1982)

I might be being dumb, but I can't remember any cover versions of Dexy's songs apart from this. Can someone put me right?

Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:38 (twenty-two years ago)

thats sposed to say 'christ on a bike' - bah

blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

its much better as chris on a bike

gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree w/gareth.

I think the McAlmont/Butler version of Back For Good has the potential to be really great, the rest is sort of meh (I like the Sugababes but I never liked Killer).

Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Bluetones did Don't Stand Me Down.

Mr Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

really nicole, i think the mcalmont/butler back for good would be a mistake. it would be like that arab strap spin off thing of whole again by atomic kitten

gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

the problem with the covers on this album is that you can predict exactly how most of them will sound esp. Mcalmont & Butler....you cant quite do that with Roots Manuva's 'Yellow Submarine' (well you can try but you aint gonna win!) - see my new thread...

blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

32 potential achieved redemptions!! huzza!!

mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:54 (twenty-two years ago)

the point of covers is if you can make a song say something else. the band doing it see something in the original that is at first not there.

you could buy it but don't expect to be any good.

Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 12:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Stereophonics - 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (Sinead O' Connor, 1990)

Is this really one of the tracks? God.

Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 12:58 (twenty-two years ago)

no its asick joke eyeball...it has to be.

Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

At first I thought the Stereophonics song would be something I'd really wanna hear in a standard peering at carcrash way. But now I can hear it in my head and it's not exciting and bad, it's only bad (and boring). The chorus I still don't quite imagine, but I know precisely how the opening will sound ("It's been seven hours...", the throat of that bitch really opening on "seven", nondescript strumming behind him).

Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh dear God, I just heard the end of the Stereophonics on Radio One on the Interweb. It's unsettlingly awful -- truly worse than I had imagined.

scott pl. (scott pl.), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Arab Strap were clearly taking t'piss, though. I think they were, anyway. Been a while since I heard it. Personally I think McAlmont and Butler would do a fantastic version - it would probably sound like all their other songs ever, but that's not really a bad thing...

Mr Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Prodigy of ten years ago doing 'ghost town' could have been good.

Prodigy of today doing 'ghost town', with horrible punk shouting, no doubt - all the clubs being shut down would be a blessed relief.

adam b (adam b), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

On the other hand, Prodigy gone emo... "I'm a firestarter/tender firestarter"?

Nate Patrin, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Reel Big Fish have covered 'Come On Eileen' in a predictable 'skapunk' style in answer to Tim's query

blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

am i the only one excited about the jimmy eat world firestarter!!! also i like ms dynamite shes very cute

simon trife (simon_tr), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

she is cute that is very very true.

Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah but I think Back II Life is a drab tune anyway. Mind you the last time I heard it I thought the Wonder Stuff were a good idea.

Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

my dream redemption flowchart =

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mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

(haha i nearly broke ilxor then)

mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Back II Life - drab tune? mmmmm, sacrilicious....it HAS been done to death tho

blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Popbitch reckon Faithless chickened out and removed the "Tank fly boss walk jam nitty-gritty" bit entirely...the only bit I wanted to hear in the first place! Bah!

Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

ironic as the voice behind that lyric does not sound a million miles away from Maxi jazz himself

blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Bluetones did Don't Stand Me Down.

nar that was a 'tones original with the same title

electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I might be being dumb, but I can't remember any cover versions of Dexy's songs apart from this. Can someone put me right?

Besides Reel Big Fish, I think Save Ferris covered "Come On Eileen." Same "predictable," "skapunk" whatever, but the gurl had a nice voice.

And shoot me, but I kinda wanna hear Elbow do the Thunderclap Newman.

wl (wl), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought that said Oxbow, not Oasis... Damn.

That i would've paid money to hear.

Jerry (Jerry), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 23:49 (twenty-two years ago)

just had a quick listen to my promo copy. Sugababes' version of Killer is hugely disappointing. a unique opportunity lost. having said that, if they'd wanted to do a Seal song surely Future Love Paradise would have been a better bet? Prodigy's Ghost Town predictably takes out all of Terry Hall's indieboy shit in favour of their predictable cyberfunkwank. More Fire Crew's Dreams is entertaining, but would be more so if they'd taken the Gabrielle bits out.

there's nothing as good as the Sick Anchors' Whole Again (which, incidentally, is so not ironically done..). haven't heard Back For Good yet.. which, potentially, could be soul saving.

Wyndham Earl, Wednesday, 2 October 2002 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

NME put up the Warchild comp on streaming audio for today only. So, because I’m a nice guy and I know that other people are busy, I’ve listened to the whole thing for you. Enjoy!

Starsailor – All or Nothing : I thought the idea of covering a song was to make it sound like your own band, not identical to the original. This twat with the big forehead and chin has nothing on the greatness that was Steve Marriott, rest in peace. Neither does this song.

Feeder – Power of Love : I think someone from this band died last year. Anyway, they turned Frankie Goes to Hollywood into fairly predictable alt-“electronica.” Not the worst thing I’ve heard. It would probably sound good in a beer commercial or over the credits of a movie.

Sugababes – Killer : Breakbeats and synths. Pretty flawless. Sounds like a Hit actually. Best track on the comp.

Muse – House of the Rising Sun : Can Muse get a guitar sound other than THAT guitar sound? Can the singer do anything other than THAT Thom Yorke-lite yodel? Why did they pick this song? …. Why why why why why why why why why why why… oh thank god it’s over now.

Stereophonics – Nothing Compares 2 U : You didn’t think this song would be good, did you? Ahhhhh… Stereophonics. Thank you for not letting me down! You will haunt me in my dreams. I will no longer see Sinead O’Connor’s crying face when I hear this song… Instead I will hear this GODDAMNED voice and this INSIPID production. Suggestion: make the fade out at the ending much faster!

Faithless/Dido – Dub Be Good 2 Me : This is the sound of a million listeners falling asleep.

Oasis – Merry Xmas Everybody : Will they ever run out of Slade songs to cover? It’s Noel singing. I’d say they’re just going through the motions but, hey, kind of pointless, eh?

Elbow – Something in the Air : People either love or hate Elbow. I like ‘em, although I must admit they are ugly as sin and this will prevent them from ever having the sales of Coldplay/Travis/Starsailor. Those bands could, however, learn a lot from Elbow’s ability to use, oh, dynamics. This song never really explodes like you expect it to, and that frankly makes it all the more interesting.

Ms Dynamite – Back 2 Life : Old school synth strings, cowbells, was that scratching? Not horrible, not really exciting either, and exactly what you might expect.

Manic Street Preachers – Out of Time : Best thing I can say is that it sounds a lot more like the ‘60s than the Manic Street Preachers (until that guy sings). I bet they recorded it on original ‘60s equipment to “stay true.” Right on.

Badly Drawn Boy – Come on Eileen : Damon Gough is one of the few true entertainers alive. Too bad he’s just going through the motions on this one. He also sounds very drunk, and not in a good sort of way.

Prodigy – Ghost Town : At times it sounds a bit more like a remix than a cover. With all the half-assed production thus far, it’s actually a breathe of fresh air. That’s sad.

Jimmy Eat World – Firestarter : “Hey Guys! Know what would be crraazy? What if we slowed Firestarter down and made it all emo!” “That’s a great idea, Chip!” If emo hasn’t hit the all-time low, then this must be it right here. And yet, amazingly, would not surprise me to hear this on the radio. Cuz you can pump your fists AND be sensitive! Must be heard to be believed. Also it lasts FOREVER (or it just seems that way).

Darius – Pretty Flamingo : This one’s live. Someone at NME must have liked this recording and said, “Hey, we should fit him into the comp!” I can’t help wonder why. Boring.

More Fire Crew – Dreams : It's UK hip-hop/garage. Too bad US hip-hop, even at its worst, is still miles ahead. But, compared to the rest of the comp, it’s pretty good.

McAlmont & Butler – Back For Good : Butler recently said he had made a mistake by quitting Suede. Sure, he could be smoking crack with Brett Anderson. Anyway, this is actually pretty good. Sounds pretty epic and uplifting (Britpop?), takes a crap original song and changes it up, but not in a Travis/Coldplay sort of way. Has soul. It’s just too bad no one cares about McAlmont & Butler.

So, Tom. Here’s my count:

Good: Sugababes, Elbow, Prodigy, McAlmont & Butler

You Don’t Really Need to Hear Them: Starsailor, Feeder, Oasis, Ms Dynamite, Manic Street Preachers, Badly Drawn Boy, Darius, More Fire Crew

Proof That There Is No God: Muse, Faithless/Dido

Proof That There Is A God And He Has Abandoned A Fallen World To Eternal Suffering: Stereophonics, Jimmy Eat World

Funny how I just wasted 70-odd minutes of my life to confirm what you had already guessed. Hmmmmm…

--Aaron

Aaron, Thursday, 3 October 2002 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I've got an mp3 floating around somewhere of The Prodgiy doing that track in a live show from (I think) '94.

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 3 October 2002 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

there was a rumour going around in '95 (I think) that the Prodigy would be releasing "Ghost Town" as a single.

robin carmody (robin carmody), Friday, 4 October 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The prodigy's Ghost Town reminds me of the Moog Cookbook - no bad thing, if they kept changing the style of cover every 30 seconds.

Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 4 October 2002 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

listenin to the Sugababes track now - its the epitomy of ALRIGHT, you couldnt get aggressive about it at all could you? its adequate, competent and over words that basically just describe mediocrity...just quite pointless, as are pretty much all the choices on here...i'm still looking forward to BDB's take on Dexy tho i'm sure it will disappoint

steve, Friday, 4 October 2002 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

that Feeder rendition of 'the power of love' (which it just occurred to me might actually be the best love song of the last 20 years) must rival the impending Stezza for worst cover on there, and possibly ever...it really is poor

blueski, Friday, 4 October 2002 13:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Just wait till you get further into the album... those Sugabages and Feeder tracks will start sounding better and better. Right around Track 4 & 5, to be precise.

aaron, Friday, 4 October 2002 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

arrrrgggh! the stezza have arrived...oh lord have mercy this is truly excruciating!

did all the bands on this thing choose which songs to cover themselves? thats outrageous

just had a thought tho - why arent super furry animals on this...if they were i think they should be doing 'Good Vibrations'

blueski, Friday, 4 October 2002 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

funny thing is, surely this would get a low mark in the NME itself were it being reviewed....will they review it? how could they give it anything higher than 5 out of 10? but what kind of endorsement would that be?

blueski, Friday, 4 October 2002 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not an NME album. It's a War Child album. Though it'll be hard to give it a low mark because it's for charidee.

Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 4 October 2002 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I take it back, I'm talking shit.

Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 4 October 2002 13:57 (twenty-two years ago)

but its in assocaition with NME...it'll have their name on it wont it?

and the very fact that it IS for charidee seems to be a perennial excuse to allow terrible music to be made, i cant think of one decent charidee (what do you mean thats not the correct way to spell/say it?) record evah and its high time this was put a stop to

blueski, Friday, 4 October 2002 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

the Stereophonics should be saying 'give money to charidee' or we will release this record....then again why cant the twats just give the proceeds from J.E.E.P. to good causes themselves

blueski, Friday, 4 October 2002 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Help's actually not bad. It got worse when you could get Radiohead's track on their own album, if you see what I mean.

And I liked the first Red Hot & Blue album. Or at least the bits of it that I taped. Er.

The Oasis track (Merry Xmas Everybody) is like having concrete poured into your lungs. It makes me love the original perhaps more than the it bears. I mean, how hard can it be to make a song that doesn't just sound like the original at the wrong speed.

I get a lot more longing out of BDB's cover than I heard in the original, which is a good thing. I do realise that I may be crime.

Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 4 October 2002 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

longing? you mean longing for it to end? its not that bad but i cant see how it can compare the the original!

blueski, Friday, 4 October 2002 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Andrew I think you are crime.

Tom (Groke), Friday, 4 October 2002 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

so who is law?

blueski, Friday, 4 October 2002 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

These guys?

Nate Patrin, Friday, 4 October 2002 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Judge Dredd? Anthrax?

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 4 October 2002 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)


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