WHERE THE HOKEY POKEY "IS" WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
ivylander
ivylander
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Sunday Under The Covers: You may hate this. I understand, but I love it.

Posted about 1 year ago
  • Artist:
    Cristina
  • Album:
    Doll In The Box
  • Track:
    Drive My Car (single version)
One good working definition of a good cover, I would argue, is that it understands the song - perhaps even better than the original artist did. That's what made that Sebastian Cabot version of "Like A Rolling Stone" that deadman posted earlier (to name an example that comes readily to mind) so awful: the poor bastard just didn't get it.As counterpoint, I offer this cut from the premier diva of the Eighties, the Thinking Person's Madonna, the unjustly neglected Cristina. She grasps and underlines all the sexual manipulativeness and cynicism that lurked just underneath the surface of the original - of which Lennon and McCartney were absolutely aware. When you think about it, this was meant to be sung by the woman, not the man. And the August Darnell production is impeccable and filled with clever touches. Beatles purists are very likely to loathe this. As a former Beatles purist, I get it. And yes, her voice is technically negligible. But life is too short to rule out pleasurable alternatives, in music and elsewhere. As far as I'm concerned, this "Drive My Car" gives reinvention a good name.
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Comments (26)

  1. Masoo
    Masoo says Sorry, but Madonna was/is the thinking person's Madonna.
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  2. Baudolino
    Baudolino says Sorry, but I found that totally unlistenable (more because it's yet another Lennon/McCartney abomination mind you - I simply do not *get* the Beatles in any way, shape or form, and had to turn off the great Esther Phillips earlier as she did her best on another ghastly Liverpudlian dirge)
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  3. ivylander
    ivylander says No knock on Madonna, as she is both smart and shrewd. But I don't think she could have come up the feather-light but lethal "Disco Clone."
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  4. deadmandeadman
    deadmandeadman says Well, where to begin? >>>I agree with you Bill, This interpretation adds (enhances) certain aspects of the lyric here-to-fore unconsidered, and in retrospect its like, "how did we not see this?" . With you on that, but I'm right there with **Masoo** when he asserts **Sorry, but Madonna was/is the thinking person's Madonna.** I have expressed my admiration of the lady here myself. Baudolino, I'm surprised at you! You'd dismiss their whole catalog? You'd decide ??ahead of time?? that because its a Beatle tune you don't like it? You're prejudiced, my friend, and that's not very MOGish. LOL
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  5. Spike
    Spike says deadman, I'm agree with your first paragraph, but as for your third one, we're all prejudiced, and allowed to confess it here. I ask Baudolino: how close to the Beatles do your tastes come? ivylander, Cristina now has me. Where else have I heard her "Drive My Car"'s amazing beat?
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  6. wassonii
    wassonii says hmmmm I'm a purist of the Beatles, but the kitsch involved in this track, let alone your tracking it down and having the cajones to put it out there....it's kinda catchy. Particularly with her added vocalisations and that dude's voice. No baby, I won't stop.
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  7. deadmandeadman
    deadmandeadman says I don't know Spike, I cannot dismiss a song out of hand because its performed by, say Sting.....Oh, nevermind.
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  8. scotfree
    scotfree says Hey, I'm all for creative reworks and I'm no Beatles purist by any means - but I found this a tad, uh, boring? While the vocal is at times creative ( loved the Ggrrruuffff!) there are so many off key choices in both vocal and arrangement that I find it distracting. Really irritated by that tin can guitar. I get that the song was always from the female viepoint, but if my chaufferess sounds like this, the soundproof wall is goin' up!
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  9. Baudolino
    Baudolino says Sorry Ivylander - like most people of my era I was brought up with the Beatles, and have known this song for nigh on forty years. Hated it then, hate it now, and I don't think this young lady does anything to enhance what (in my opinion) is a very banal song. Basically, my tastes very seldom touch the "rock" or "pop" fields at all - Almax of this parish posts tracks by the likes of the Left Banke and Todd Rundgren on his blog, and without exception I remain underwhelmed. I'm the same with the Beach Boys I'm afraid - I recognise both their talent and their cultural importance, but would never play one of their records for pleasure. Btw, i wasn't saying that I'd decided ahead of time that I didn't like it - after all Wilson Pickett and Rahsaan Roland Kirk nearly made "Hey Jude" tolerable, and I can cope with Aretha singing "Let It Be". Trouble is, IMHO you need to be blessed with an astonishing talent to make a Beatles tune resonate to my ears, and this lady ain't got that. Believe me, I have spent countless hours trying to see what the attraction is of the Beatles, but they just don't float my boat
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  10. bradfox
    bradfox says Hey Pal, You're way off the mark on this one. I will admit though, it's not as bad as William Shatner's cover of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. Brad
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  11. Baudolino
    Baudolino says Fairy nuff - each to his own and all that. I've given my opinion, that's all
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  12. mktackabery
    mktackabery says ivy, never start a post with "i know you'll hate this but . . ." stick it out there! screw anyone who doesn't get it! Having said that . . . I don't get it. I can see where the sexual undertone comes in, but to me if you take that argument to its logical, you get . . . a guy should be singing it.
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  13. ivylander
    ivylander says What's interesting to me about the song - and sorry if I sound like I'm overthinking this - is that the woman in the song is the one who's in control of the relationship. She's the driver. It's all about asserting her control over the guy. In some weird way, this song is the anti-"Under My Thumb." So what could make more sense than to put the manipulator at the center of the song? She's the one initating the action, the guy is only responding.... Scot, I gotta say that the guitar sounds a lot worse in this compressed file than it does when you're listening on a decent system. In fact, there's generally a little too much going on in this mix to make it a good listen under these circumstances. You don't get a lot of separation. At the same time, it's clear that this recording could not come from any decade other than the Eighties....
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  14. dermahrk
    dermahrk says Wow. I never thought I could laugh and retch at the same time.
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  15. darmuzz
    darmuzz says I bet you'll all like this song much better ::wink::
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  16. ivylander
    ivylander says Mark, at least you get it. Darmuzz, what on earth was that? I'm not up on Nashville these days.... .
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  17. bradfox
    bradfox says darmuzz can drive her car or mine. Who's the singer?
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  18. ivylander
    ivylander says By the way, Baudolino, you don't have to justify any of your opinions for my sake....
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  19. Dzendvokh
    Dzendvokh says well ... that was pure fun if you ask me thanks ivy
    Permalink posted 03/30/2008
  20. Hermes
    Hermes says Haha, what a funny thread. As I'm far from beeing a hardcore Beatles fan, I have not problem with this track. Could have also been posted by Fistula IMHO. Would the reactions have been like that, if that would have been the case? I doubt that. If a woman has that kind of voice, or uses it like that, I always feel some sexual connotation independent of the content. Reminds me a bit of the French remakes of famous American songs in the sixties like "Jeu du telephone" of Natacha Snitkine, though this here for sure sound more 80s like. Ahh, no idea, just a funny track for me.
    Permalink posted 03/31/2008
  21. darmuzz
    darmuzz says That was "In My Car (I'll Be the Driver)" by Shania Twain.
    Permalink posted 03/31/2008
  22. chandlersford
    chandlersford says This is actually a rare recording of Prince! The 'don't stop' is clearly in reaction to August Darnell (aka Kid Creole and the Coconuts) the sound engineer reaching for the desk to stop this abomination. And Ms Monet (Cristina Zilkha) really didn't perform any better as a coconut! (or in them). or is it No don't stop - Don't Stop, No! - Stop! - No Don't!!!! Didn't do anything for me either except remind me how much I don't miss the 80's
    Permalink posted 03/31/2008
  23. deedee
    deedee says Love the Beatles; not a purist re them; think this cover is kind of darling.
    Permalink posted 03/31/2008
  24. ivylander
    ivylander says It's pretty amazing to me that this track has gotten the range of reactions that it has. It seems to be some kind of Rohrschach test, though I don't know what is being tested....
    Permalink posted 03/31/2008
  25. Spike
    Spike says And the cherry on top was jarmuzz's perfect introduction to Shania Twain.
    Permalink posted 04/04/2008
  26. ivylander
    ivylander says Amen to that.
    Permalink posted 04/04/2008

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