Cover Me
My wife doesn’t like cover bands. She’d rather hear an original, badly written song than hear a re-tread.
Me? I like a good cover band. I like to hear a song I didn’t like in its original version covered well (think Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” covered by Alien Ant Farm). And I like to hear a very good original song covered in a style I normally wouldn’t listen to (think Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” covered by Steve & Edie).
Ever since the Wife-Beast and I happened upon a bad (she says “not-that-bad”) cover band last week I’ve been thinking about what songs I’d play if I were in a cover band. My thoughts have gotten no farther than the first song.
As far as I’m concerned that first song has to startle you, kick you in the teeth. These are the three songs I’ve come up with — and you have to do a kick-ass version, go loud or go home:
- “Love Removal Machine” by The Cult. Too obscure? Try;
- “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC. Or almost anything by AC/DC;
- “LA Woman” by The Doors.
You should end with a ballad. Something you can slow dance to with that last chance chick.
NEVER, EVER end with Semisonic’s “Closing Time.” EVER. If you do, you and your band-mates are humps.
Around here, the Jersey Shore, you have to end with Springsteen’s version of Tom Waits’s “Jersey Girl.” It makes every drunk girl in New Jersey feel special. You can put your arm around her and sway to it — you don’t even have to dance! And if you can walk out the door with your arm around her, there’s a good chance that you’ll at least get to second base. Even if you’re married to her.
Yes, I called bands that close with “Closing Time” humps.
If you liked that, maybe you will like this:
- American Idol Blog Final 8
- Cape May Post Mortem
- Nonsequitors for 2008-06-06
- Me-me-meme
- Rush To Rock Band
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