Cover Charge

cover charge - sun 25th jan 2009 - 2-3 pm

Hey folks,

This week's Journeys is a bit of a strange one...

As a young fellow I abhorred the cover version. Mainly because those that I was most aware of tended to be by dreadful, middle of the road performers, who I despised for their very existence. Their modern equivalents are still plying the same vile trade - so many decent (and not so decent) songs murdered by the likes of Take That, Atomic Kitten, Girls Aloud, Westlife and Geri Halliwell. Don't even get me started on the whole Radio One 'Live Lounge' thing. Awful (I mean who wants to hear Keane singing 'Dirrtylicious' - a hellish clash of Christine Aguilera and Destiny's Child and f****ing Keane!?!?!?*). It's enough to make your blood boil.

On the other hand, there were a whole stack of great tunes that I only ever got to hear of because of the awful cover version that hit the charts...

And there are some really good, less obvious covers out there...

So, to cut to the chase, I have decided to confront my prejudices head on, and am devoting the whole show to the art of the good cover version.

Artists likely to feature include Isaac Hayes, Jackie Wilson, Canned Heat, The Byrds, Happy Mondays and Talking Heads - covering the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Al Green, Robert Johnson, The Temptations and more.

The Weird But Wonderful vote is between a couple of the most well known & often covered songs ever;

1. Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MPD-4HZtahM

From Whitney in the Bodyguard to every Karaoke machine in the Known World, this must still be the most sung song since 'Happy Birthday'.

2. Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WJTiXoMCppw

Lucky enough to be chosen as the 'X Factor' single this year, this song has also been covered innumerable times. Jeff Buckley did a great version. Alexandra (X Factor 'winner') not so much...

To decide which one plays the show out, get in touch during the live broadcast: studio@subcity.org or text 'subcity' then your message to 07766 40 41 42.

Journeys. It's a trip!

www.subcity.org Sundays 2-3 PM

Journeys Homepage @ Subcity Radio: http://www.subcity.org/shows/journeys

Check out last year's shows: http://www.subcity.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5829

If you want to suggest a Journey get in touch!

Stu. *Feel the need to punish yourself? Here it is, Keane go RnB: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zckEiqth2GQ

Posted at 20:36, 22nd January 2009