I can't even remember if we were lovers

[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 [mp3 download]

That was The Wannadies covering Blister in the Sun, originally by the Violent Femmes.

OK, ok, if you know the song you'll have recognised it in the first two seconds, tops. This is something I'd class as a "straight" cover - it's not doing anything particularly new or subversive - but it isn't a slavish cover. No one (in their right minds) would ever have accused the original of being poppy - yet I think the Wannadies carry it off with aplomb.

Also, it contains the best ten seconds of silence ever :)

When you think of the Wannadies - if you think of the Wannadies, these days - I imagine you'd think of the weekday grind of Hit. This cover was the b-side to the fabulously sunshiney You & Me Song.

The world needs more Swedish indiepop, in my opinion. I think I ought to go and chase a Wannadies album or two for myself. Maybe starting with this one.

Additional: since my website was playing up last week, last week's Underneath the Covers post is still available. Contrary to vicious rumours spread by zotz it does not in my opinion sound like bloody Coldplay ;)

Comments

[lnr]

I think I prefer the original (and sorry, but I do find it quite poppy :) but yeah, I like this as a cover. I think the guitar/bass sound in the original just has something to it that grabs me a bit more.

I have to say Hit seems pretty perky to me too, though not quite so much so as You & Me Song - although that's quite quiet up until the chorus. I think you may be right about needing to buy some though. Great stuff, though it does make me feel awfully old now :) I ♥ a bit of indiepop.

[venta.livejournal.com]

As it says at the beginning of (?) Add It Up "you do not fuck with the Violent Femmes". In particular, I'm sure you don't call them poppy :)

I think I also prefer the original, but I'll let this one have its little bit of shelfspace too.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Or maybe it says you "can not" fuck with them. Will have to check.

[lnr]

:)

Yeah, I'd definitely keep both too.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Excellent, that's great, hadn't heard it before. I like it as much as the original, but in a different way.

Iirc Be a Girl had You and Me Song on it, but it was also shunted onto the follow-up album (Bagsy Me) which also had Hit. So that might be an alternative place to start work.

[ulfilias.livejournal.com]

Silence is sneaky....Reasonable. But give me the origional anyday and yes i find the femmes version poppy and upbeat !

[venta.livejournal.com]

Well, there was never any question of you being in your right mind!

Upbeat, yes. Poppy, no.

[zotz]

Bloody does, you know.

Mmm. Should get some Wannadies.

[venta.livejournal.com]

So does not.