When you're all argumentative and you've got a face on

[venta]

It's Friday, it's about 3 o'clock. It's time to go underneath the covers (with the lights out).

I always recommend listening to a cover version without knowing what or who it is, so click on the link before reading ahead...

Today's cover version [link to cover version expired]

That was the Sugababes covering I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, originally by Arctic Monkeys.

Who knew the one day I'd be reviewing mp3s on a Friday afternoon and would find myself spoilt for choice over which Sugababes track to post[*].

Yes, don't worry, I'll be taking myself round the back of the bikeracks later and giving myself a good kicking.

So, it's October 2005. Push the Button by the Sugababes is at #1. Along comes a bunch of nobodys from Sheffield who swoop in to the charts and knock the Sugababes off the top spot.

The Sugababes bow out gracefully, declare it's a great song, and promptly shove a cover of it onto the b-side of one of the later singles from their album. They may be manufactured, rubbish pop but at least they're manufactured rubbish pop with a bit of a sense of humour.

[*] For the terminally curious, the alternative was Killer, by Adamksi/Seal. Which is mostly rather dull but has a great bit in the middle.

Comments

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

The original is obscure, but familiar enough I knew the Sugababes were a cover. Then the original is a response to a Bootsy Collns tune, and so a reworking too. I thought this was one of the best things the Sugababes ever did; it certainly got my attention. If I was quibbling, I might make a distiction between a mash-up and a cover...

While looking for info on Numan, I came across http://www.coversproject.com/. Many fine things!

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Great, that looks like an excellent resource!

*wastes half an hour browsing it*

[venta.livejournal.com]

If I was quibbling

Yes, several people have suggested very fine "covers" for me to post here, and I've declined because I think they're mash-ups or songs-which-just-have-a-lot-of-sampling in. I don't want to end up with a steward's enquiry :)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

The Sugababes song in question started life just as a straight cover of Freak Like Me. This was then subsequently mashed up with the Gary Numan material to create the version that became a hit. So I would say it is a legit cover of Freak Like Me, but definitely not a cover of Are Friends Electric. (I agree with your policy, and think that generally it is pretty clear which is which.)