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September 13, 2002

Pop Songs In Need Of An Island Band

Since I did start that thread on the Lame Cover Versions by Hawaiian Bands (which, I should now admit, were not really lame so much as they were overplayed and oh-so-slightly annoying) I figured I'd just take the original premise and flip it around - basically, to ask people which pop songs are just waiting for a local band to cover them Jawaiian-style.

Now, I know that recording rights have only gotten harder to come by recently, so it's clear to see why there aren't that many songs getting covered by any band in any genre these days. And many local music critics (among them Star-Bull's John Berger) have been vocal quite recently about the need to go beyond traditional Top 40 fare as a source for "island" reinterpretations. Like I've said in the original thread, it's not so much that the bands are not doing original material so much that they're just 1) taking old songs that were sappy to begin with (ahem, "More than Words" and "Kiss Me") and making them sappier or 2) recycling the same standard source material over and over again (ahem, "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Sharing The Night Together").

The point being that we're talking about more than a century's worth of music to play around with, some of which might even lend itself well to an `ukulele arrangement or a reggae beat. One of the reasons why I love Iz's version of "Starting All Over Again" - even though I hated the original song and still wish that other people would stop covering it - was that he basically strips the whole thing down to an essence that's totally original, the same way he does with "Over the Rainbow" - to the point that he starts owning the song, instead of the other way around.

On my list of fantasy Jawaiian covers:

- "Fields Of Joy" (Lenny Kravitz)
- "Sing" (Travis)
- "Hymn of the Big Wheel" (Massive Attack)
- "Why Can't We Be Friends" (War)
- "Suspicious Minds" (eh, don't laugh!)
- "Caress Me Down" (yes, the infamously dirty song by Sublime)
- "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin and Tammi's version, not Diana Ross')
- "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
- and, in a strange sense, anything written by Paul McCartney. (I mean, really - how hard is it, really, to play "Band On The Run" or "No More Lonely Nights"?)

Posted by Stella at September 13, 2002 07:12 PM

Comments

 
Posted by mel on September 13, 2002 8:36 PM:

Generally I stopped listening to Jawaiian music years ago because most of the stuff are covers and unoriginal.

That said, there are many obscure songs and almost hits that could be covered not only by local Jawaiian bands, but by local artists without a jawaiian spin. Who would do a good cover of the following songs is beyond me.

I do offer these for consideration (some may have already been covered, but since I hardly listen to Jawaiian, I may not have heard them)....

I'll list the song titles and the artist who made it a hit.

There, this list is long enough just thinking of songs from the top of my head.... How many of you actually remember the above mentioned songs?

Next....

 
Posted by Tom on September 13, 2002 10:52 PM:

I can see all the local bands drooling over "Underneath It All".

 
Posted by Stella on September 13, 2002 11:05 PM:

Yee-up, Tom, I could see 'em lining up for that, too. It's funny because every time "Underneath It All" comes on the radio, my sister always mistakes No Doubt for a local band.

And, Mel - Jim Photoglo? My God, does that mean I'm not the only one on the planet who remembers this guy? :) (Even though I only know him from "Photographs and Memories.")

 
Posted by mel on September 14, 2002 6:45 AM:

The song "Photographs and Memories" was done by Jim Croce, who died in 1973.

Jim Photoglo had two other hits. One of them was "We Were Meant to Be Lovers" and I forgot what the other one was now...

 
Posted by Stella on September 14, 2002 8:57 AM:

Which reminds me (on a soft-rock tangent): Has anybody covered "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight" just yet?

And I don't know if I've told this story before, but I once heard a bunch of guys do a really riotous cover of "Bye Bye Bye" using nothing but an uke, a guitar, and a calabash.

A few more choices if anyone decides to cover Lenny Kravitz: "Again," "Let Love Rule," "Heaven Help."

Wild card choice for a cover: "Find Yourself Another Girl" by The Hives.

 
Posted by Fat Jeff on September 14, 2002 9:41 AM:

Good thread Stella!

Here's a few nuggets off the top of my head...

"Cry" Godly & Creme (the old 10CC guys) Great lyric with a melody that would transfer to the almighty skank quite well.

"I'm Not In Love" 10CC (see previous old guys) Again a decent lyric and a skankable melody.

"Time Will Let You Know" Robin Zander (Guess who that is?) A good weepy ballad that could highlight a great voice (Amy are you listening?).

and the wild card...

"Hit Me With Your Rythm Stick" Ian Druy and The Blockheads - Hey kids, show you are down with that New Wave Old School and cover this quirky one! Droll humor and a bumpy rhythm...everyone under 30 will think it's an original!

But please...Sudden Rush...stay away from "The Message"...can't mess with a classic.

 
Posted by NemesisVex on September 15, 2002 8:06 PM:

I dare a local band to cover Sugarcubes' entire Life's Too Good album in Jawaiian style and tack on Björk's "Venus as a Boy" and "Enjoy" as bonus tracks.

 
Posted by ruth on September 16, 2002 4:39 PM:

Does anyone remember "Oblivious" by Aztec Camera? I remember this from the early MTV days. An '80s delight with fun guitar riffs, breezy background vocals and room for nice solo lines on guitar or ukulele.

 
Posted by Stella on September 17, 2002 1:58 PM:

From the Advertiser, a review of the band Cool Change by Wayne Harada:

A tropical version of "Karma Chameleon," the Boy George hit, has appeal, introducing the '70s hit to a new audience. The chameleon aspect spills over into the repertoire — different shades of music from different genres.

And about time, I should say - though how on earth did Culture Club become a '70s band escapes me...

 
Posted by ruth on September 17, 2002 3:36 PM:

Stella - nice catch. What's funny is that I don't know how anyone could've written that little passage with a straight face.

 
Posted by NemesisVex on September 17, 2002 5:38 PM:

Wayne Harada. Enough said.

 
Posted by Stella on September 18, 2002 1:08 PM:

Wayne Harada, poet and prophet.

 
Posted by NemesisVex on September 18, 2002 7:04 PM:

But no Prophet Zarquon!

 
Posted by Raevyn on September 19, 2002 10:02 PM:

Not totally off-topic, but I am so tired of hearing those faux nursery school songs in which the singer is SPELLING words out over and over. I know how to spell ALOHA and LOVE and KISS and even KALAUPAPA! C'mon, I graduated from Waiakea High!

 
Posted by Ryan on September 19, 2002 10:17 PM:

I hear you, but I'll tell ya, I doubt the nursery-ish nature of those tunes are accidental. They infect the minds of kids, and kids in turn annoy the hell out of parents until they buy the CD.

There was a brief period when Katie insisted on hearing "Spread a Little Aloha" every day. Twenty times a day. I'd hear it in my sleep!

Local covers? I'm still not much of a fan (except for one song as of late). What I want to see is some Hawaiian techno!

 
Posted by song lyrics on September 21, 2005 5:30 PM:

I realise I might be out of topic but check out this collection of best song lyrics http://www.lyricshosting.com

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