Sunday Under The Covers: When Bad Songs Go Good
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Artist:
Annieander's ear-opening post earlier today, featuring Cake's cover version of "Guitar Man," got me thinking about songs that seemed lame beyond belief when they first came out, but were somehow rescued by a remaker. Marcis Griffiths pretty much made a career out of cutting improved reggae versions of mediocre songs. (Even so, I can't bring myself to toss up her version of Neil Diamond's "Play Me," which almost succeeds at making those lyrics not-risible.) But I will gladly introduce you all to Marcia's take on that great early-disco-era reflection on the undercurrent of need accompanying a one-night stand....
Locating MOG account...
Comments (7)
Spared the original, I can't thrill to some transformation, but can to the end result. Her voice shapes the melody and rhythm with effortless perfection, while exuding vulnerablity, great emotion under restraint, and hope.
A nice ska backbeat to it...plus her voice is nice with it.
Glad I inspired you to post this...thanks Ivy.
wow, this was really good and if you could throw up the neil cover. I happen to have a soft spot for Neil Diamond songs
holy smokes, that's gorgeous! I was raised on the version by the Three Degrees (which I still enjoy), but this one has a whole different feel to it ~ much more emotional and deeply touching. Thanks for the share ... and for inadvertently reminding me to look up the Three Degrees :)
Spike, you've described her vocal modus operandi to a tee.
Annie, you've hit upon one of the other things there are to love about this cut - the way the disco and ska/reggae elements are so well balanced. It's not a disco song with reggae flavoring or vice versa. It's a true marriage.
rawk, I'll see what I can do. Seems like you need a doctorate to post tracks in comments nowadays, but I'll give it a shot.
Cinful, I'm so glad this spoke to you....
Somehow reggae makes almost any song sound better. Until it vanished in someone's pocket, I had a cassette with a storming version of 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore'. I'd never heard the original and when it was played to me some months later it was such a bringdown. Funny how Marcia takes off here in such a 'showtune' way - she's got such great vocal chops.
Nice find. This has so much more UMPH than the disco-riffic version.