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  #16  
Old 11-10-2019, 03:08
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Originally Posted by Marat Sar View Post
Hot take time!

"Feels Like Heaven" is the best manics cover.

Yup.

The chorus is incredible. James' voice, the harmonies, the skyscraping falsetto. The whole thing is just perfect. Also, people love it. Play it to anyone, any normie on the street and they will dig it, guaranteed. Also, Hold Me Like A Heaven, a magnificent song, is very much informed by this cover. They recorded it about a year later, it has a similar astral chorus, similar 80s sound, and also features the word Heaven. Even the key might be the same...

Raindrops is nr 2 for me. Always liked Take The Skinheads Bowling too.
Yeah, I love Feels Like Heaven too.

Which *version* of the Take The Skinheads Bowling cover do you/everyone prefer?

I would really like them to do studio covers of Bright Eyes and Sweet Child O’ Mine at some point.
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  #17  
Old 11-10-2019, 04:10
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Haha, glad this stirred a bit of debate!

Re: Umbrella... actually, I should clarify. I think it's the acoustic version that I think is masterful, and I'd rather listen to that than the original. But I like guitars, and I like JDB's voice, so go figure. Not that I'm downplaying Rihanna's version at all - obviously a cracking pop tune.

And Pennyroyal Tea (or Penny Royalty...!), I just think the guitar work on that is superb, along with James' vocals. The little changes from the original, the ups where it should go down, etc. The guitar solo. It just works so well. The Nirvana version is obviously a classic, but for the Manics version just has some urgency to it.

Red Sleeping Beauty just sounded over-worked. The McCarthy original was quite simple and raw. But then Charles Windsor, turned from a jangly jolly affair to this machine gun attack - that was inspired.

Just remembered Rock N Roll Music. I could live without that in my life.

And...

What does anyone think about Wrote For Luck? Haha.
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  #18  
Old 11-10-2019, 09:14
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Question: in terms of covers, do you prefer James's acoustic versions or the full band versions?

I generally believe that James's acoustic versions are usually far superior. Their stripped down nature seem to demonstrate the feeling and affection James has for the songs where as the studio versions feels a bit like by the numbers with the passion softened by the studio environment and possibly trying to get something to go on a b-sides. The best examples are Red Sleeping Beauty and Plain of Endless Fortune where James gave some of best vocal performances for the acoustic takes but by the time it goes to the studio, the magic is lost.
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  #19  
Old 11-10-2019, 10:15
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Originally Posted by Routine Builder View Post
Question: in terms of covers, do you prefer James's acoustic versions or the full band versions?
Personally I prefer a full band studio recording over anything else, not that acoustic and live performances can’t be lovely too.
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  #20  
Old 12-10-2019, 09:57
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Originally Posted by Porco View Post
Which *version* of the Take The Skinheads Bowling cover do you/everyone prefer?
The first one. The second one (which if memory serves is essentially the original with beefed up/re-recorded parts) lacked the innocent sound of the first for me. Both were fun though, and it inspired me to play a shoddy version of it at the FD band night!
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  #21  
Old 12-10-2019, 13:45
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The first one. The second one (which if memory serves is essentially the original with beefed up/re-recorded parts) lacked the innocent sound of the first for me. Both were fun though, and it inspired me to play a shoddy version of it at the FD band night!
I agree, I like both but favour the first one too.
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  #22  
Old 12-10-2019, 16:38
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For me, I love it when the Manics do Clash and GNR covers, but there's no way they're better than the originals. Sweet Child, It's So Easy, Train In Vain, What's My Name? etc are fun when you see them live, but listening to them at home on a playlist, there's no comparison.

James' acoustic version of Last Christmas wins over the original. So does Skinheads. And Umbrella. And Bright Eyes electric from the original Holy Bible tour.

That cover of Fairytale Of New York can absolutely fuck off. That song is perfect and shouldn't even be allowed to be covered.

Last edited by starfucker; 12-10-2019 at 16:42.
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  #23  
Old 12-10-2019, 17:22
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Anyone have links to the two Skinheads Bowling versions? I think I only know the album one that was a hidden track on KYE I think...
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  #24  
Old 12-10-2019, 17:31
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Originally Posted by Marat Sar View Post
Anyone have links to the two Skinheads Bowling versions? I think I only know the album one that was a hidden track on KYE I think...
The hidden track on KYE was We Are All Bourgeois Now.

Take The Skinheads Bowling was originally a B-side on CD One of the Australia Single release.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv-GXAfB040

Then a different version was included on Lipstick Traces...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayLV1SvZaGA
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  #25  
Old 12-10-2019, 17:50
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Oh that one! Oh, the Lipstick Traces one is much meatier and also funnier. JDB sounds quite humorous
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  #26  
Old 13-10-2019, 20:26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Routine Builder View Post
Question: in terms of covers, do you prefer James's acoustic versions or the full band versions?

I generally believe that James's acoustic versions are usually far superior. Their stripped down nature seem to demonstrate the feeling and affection James has for the songs where as the studio versions feels a bit like by the numbers with the passion softened by the studio environment and possibly trying to get something to go on a b-sides. The best examples are Red Sleeping Beauty and Plain of Endless Fortune where James gave some of best vocal performances for the acoustic takes but by the time it goes to the studio, the magic is lost.
Acoustic versions can strip a song down to the soul in some cases. I think. This is awkward. Songs like This is Yesterday can reduce me to tears though that isn't strictly acoustic but quieter? Generally though I think the manics work best when loud. I don't think James has the range of say Jeff Buckley who could convey so much with his voice to the point you want to marry it James works better on the big songs the big anthemics which can be as affecting but i feel with no musical knowledge lies his strength. Sorry for the sin but then as i say he sings this is yesterday and I can't take it it hits so hard so could be i know nothing
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Last edited by raven; 13-10-2019 at 20:31.
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  #27  
Old 14-10-2019, 19:09
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For me it has to be suicide is painless. Always forgetting its a cover. Liked it so much at the time I put up with the cassette single rather than vinyl cos they'd sold out and I couldn't POSSIBLY wait another day.
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  #28  
Old 15-10-2019, 11:59
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The one cover which really bugs me is "Umbrella" because it's part of a trend I really hate - male guitar bands covering great pop tracks by women. It always comes with a whiff of irony and sexism which riles me. There is no way in which the Manics' "Umbrella" is better than Rihanna's original, which is an absolutely perfect pop song. I mean, I enjoy their version, because it's a competent take on a great song, but if I want to listen to "Umbrella" I'm absolutely going to listen to Rihanna, not the Manics.
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I agree with all of this so, so much. And, naturally, female dominated pop music is seen as worthless compared to male dominated rock music. Therefore people automatically say the rock version is way better than the original without so much as a second's thought.

While I'm sure this was not the Manics' intent, it plays into that mindset regardless. Female-sung pop song suddenly becomes culturally acceptable thanks to all male rock band cover version. Yeah ... no!
Yeah.. it's almost as if it's a joke or novelty with a lot of bands. Can't think of many specific examples off the top of my head, think the Radio 1 Live Lounge is quite guilty of it. Didn't Arctic Monkeys do Love Machine? Or someone like that did.. Futureheads can get right to fuck with their Hounds of Love though.

Suppose it depends on how and why you've done the cover. If it's a sincere tribute, great. I am leaning towards letting Manics off for that one though cos I love em and they wrote Little Baby Nothing. They're not cock rock. And to be honest, I think there are a couple of bits of Umbrella that read like they could've been written by Wire anyway!

"These fancy things will never come in between
You're part of my entity, here for infinity
When the world has took its part
When the world has dealt its cards
If the hand is hard, together we'll mend your heart"

It's quite a dark and bittersweet for a pop song really. I don't think they covered it for a laugh or out of any chauvinism but I wonder if it was their way of showing that they're not dinosaurs and they are aware of modern music. I sound like a grandad...

You forget just how many covers they've done. Wouldn't say there's any I think are particularly shit, they've made some interesting choices over the years. Think my favourite is probably the version of Clampdown James did on his solo tour.
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  #29  
Old 15-10-2019, 23:13
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Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke View Post
Yeah.. it's almost as if it's a joke or novelty with a lot of bands. Can't think of many specific examples off the top of my head, think the Radio 1 Live Lounge is quite guilty of it. Didn't Arctic Monkeys do Love Machine? Or someone like that did.. Futureheads can get right to fuck with their Hounds of Love though.

Suppose it depends on how and why you've done the cover. If it's a sincere tribute, great. I am leaning towards letting Manics off for that one though cos I love em and they wrote Little Baby Nothing. They're not cock rock. And to be honest, I think there are a couple of bits of Umbrella that read like they could've been written by Wire anyway!

"These fancy things will never come in between
You're part of my entity, here for infinity
When the world has took its part
When the world has dealt its cards
If the hand is hard, together we'll mend your heart"

It's quite a dark and bittersweet for a pop song really. I don't think they covered it for a laugh or out of any chauvinism but I wonder if it was their way of showing that they're not dinosaurs and they are aware of modern music. I sound like a grandad...

You forget just how many covers they've done. Wouldn't say there's any I think are particularly shit, they've made some interesting choices over the years. Think my favourite is probably the version of Clampdown James did on his solo tour.
They've never shied away from saying they like pop songs though have they....it possibly didn't run any deeper than reckoning that's a fine pop tune think we should have a crack

There's not many covers by male artists of songs originally sung or written by female artists when one thinks on.....although there's a cover of the Kate Bush song This Woman's Work by Maxwell which is a real tribute as well as making it his own
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There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more," - Byron

'I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.' (from Sea Fever - John Masefield)


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  #30  
Old 21-11-2019, 17:55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by darkanddivine View Post
Theme From MASH. It's basically the only one that has melded into their catalogue that it's easy to forget its a cover.
It's so different to the original too

Take the Skinheads Bowling and Out of Time for me.
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