Bohemian Rhapsody

I was going to post this after about ten other blogs I have down the hatch, but, in light of recent events, I thought now my be a better time.

“Bohemian Rhapsody”: It’s shocking to think now, but when I first heard The Braid’s version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” (made for the movie High School High), it sounded like this totally original ode to the urban struggle. When my dad told me that a British band named Queen had done it first and the song was really almost six minutes long, I was defensive of this version I saw as perfect and new. But now, while I still mildly enjoy the other version, I have come to regard the original as one of the greatest songs ever made.

The Braids’ version:

The Muppet’s version: When this was posted on YouTube on November 23, 2009, it quickly amassed over a million views in 48 hours. Because it’s pretty much hilarious and the Muppets rock. At the time I’m posting this, the count has reached over 5.6 million.

Queen’s version:

Feelin’ Good

In today’s musical climate, pop music can mean anything from Mariah Carey to Miley Cyrus. But, in the 1940s, 50s and even into the 60s, it largely referred to what we now call standards—the crooning melodies of classy dames and dapper dandies sung in smoke-filled venues like the Copacabana. These songs were meant to be covered, and a multitude of artists have taken a stab at them pretty much nonstop since that time. This will be the first in a series on standards. Today’s installment: “Feeling Good.” The song was written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd and was first performed by Gilbert Price of the original Broadway cast. Wikipedia holds that this song has been covered no less than 31 times, and the genres vary wildly. But below I have included three that I find entertaining.

The original:



The (arguably) definitive version by Nina Simone:



My personal favorite by Michael Bublé:

Take Me Home Tonight

Let’s start out with a fun one, brought to you by my sister. Eddie Money is probably best known for his 1986 pop hit “Take Me Home Tonight.” In the song, Eddie sings the virtually incomprehensible line “Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang,” just before a female vocalist belts out, “Be my little baby.” Who is Ronnie and what did she sing? Well, “Ronnie” is none other than Ronnie Spector, ex-wife to the murderous Phil Spector and lead singer of the 1960s girl group, the Ronettes. The Ronettes biggest hit was the song—you guessed it—“Be My Baby.” Eddie chose Ronnie to sing the iconic line in his own song some 23 years later, and she makes an appearance in the video. The 1963 Ronettes single can be found here.

In the beginning...

...there was folk music. People who had access to talent, instruments and an audience would play songs they'd written or heard somewhere, often before a few family and friends, or—if they were fortunate—in some community venue. They would strum, pick, puff and belt out these ditties to the best that their abilities, or memories, allowed. With the prevalence of the gramophone and radio, commercial music became commonplace and, initially, was often the first time a tune had ever enjoyed a mass audience. But now, you can barely listen to the radio or YouTube a video without hearing sampling, stolen chords, tributes, remixes and covers of songs you’ve heard before. And too all of that I say...

Bring it on. I love a good cover. I've even liked a bad cover or two. And I get absolutely giddy when I discover that a great cover has replaced the original as the elusive "definitive" version. This blog will chronicle the life of songs that have the nasty habit of shamelessly taking up with new artists—to varied results.