Is there a song you'd like to hear someone cover? I'm your man. I can never promise quality. And I certainly can't promise you'll like it. So suggest a song and if I pick it, you'll hear my interpretation.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

May's Challenge

1) Working Class Hero by John Lennon. John Lennon does a great cover of this Green Day classic.
2) Kiss From a Rose by Seal. I've always loved the melody on this song. From that magical time when soundtracks made more money than the crappy movies they supported.
3) I Wanna Pick You Up by The Beach Boys. Stop what you're doing and throw this up on the YouTube. I'd never heard it before. It's crazy, sweet, and still totally brilliant.
4) Some Song by R.E.M.. Sorry. I can't remember the name of this song. Joe will correct me and I'll fix this tomorrow.
5) Manic Monday by The Bangles. This is the first of a few great tunes penned by Prince. And the Bangles had it going on. Hotties with Rickenbackers? I'll take 4, please.
6) Sexy M.F. by Prince. The irony of me performing this song is not lost on anyone.
7) Morning Train by Sheena Easton. Or, if you're from across the pond, "9 to 5" by Sheena Easton. They had to change the name in the States so people wouldn't go to record stores for Sheena and end up with Dolly. But it's a win/win, really.
8) Slide It In by Whitesnake. When my brother-in-law suggested this song, I thought he made it up. Too perfect. But silly me in forgetting that 80's rock made a living out of crossing every imaginable line. This song is very real.
9) Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley. If you ask my wife, this is the "we caught a trout" song, Which is awesome. It was a favorite when my dad would play his Elvis tape.
10) "Anything" by New Kids on the Block. Though they may have a song called "anything", this suggestion was more about me getting to pick anything from their vast, respected catalog. Kid in a candy store.
11) Disco Duck by Rick Dees. A testament to the fact that Americans will buy ANYTHING.
12) Besame Mucho by Various. I wanted to say that it was by "Various Rucker", but people probably wouldn't get that I was making a joke. Or it's just a dumb joke. This song has been covered by everyone. It also failed to land the Beatles a record deal. I'm looking at you, Decca.
13) Eternal Flame by The Bangles. Yum. More Susanna. I made a cd for my wife when she was in college. It was songs you'd hear in Cost Cutters or the Dentist. This track was on that disc and it was just as killer then.
14) Southern Nights by Glen Campbell. When the Rhinestone Cowboy isn't getting arrested in Phoenix for being out of his mind on fire water, he's slinging praises to those southern nights. Or doing concerts on PBS.
15) Sugar Shack by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs. If you've ever wondered why people went so bonkers for the Beatles in '63, listen to this track. The oldies station in town used to play this song a lot. I can only imagine what the beatniks thought about this song. But as much as it sounds like I'm ripping the song, I'd love to know how to get that bass sound.
16) Reading Rainbow Theme Song by Death Star. I don't know who actually did the song. Death Star would be a great name for them, though. And we're talking about the old school version. They've since changed the theme song. Same song, lamer version.
17) Diamonds and Pearls by Prince. I originally thought this track was the end of the funky Prince. But if you get the extended single for Diamonds and Pearls you'll see he still had the funk-o-meter dialed up to 11.
18) Raspberry Beret by Prince. The fourth (technically) Prince song and another absolute jam. One of my earliest memories is sitting in my oldest sister's room listening to music. Either Raspberry Beret or Yaz's "Only You" was my first favorite song.

Great suggestions everyone! I'll have my selection posted tomorrow!

2 comments:

  1. i want to pick you uppppppppppp
    i want to make you smilllleeeee

    ReplyDelete
  2. ah shirt, I am super late to this party, and have forgotten which REM song I suggested. I know it wasn't Tongue from the Monster album, but I'm saying it was that. All falsetto, repetitive piano, heavy on the b3, and dirty lyrics. Couldn't go wrong there.

    ReplyDelete