Friday 13 March 2009
Who are your Heroes?
Though imitation may be considered the sincerest form of flattery, cover songs are often derided for being abominations of the original source material, and the last refuge of musicians who can’t get there own ideas down on tape. The artist being covered often tries to save face by either not commenting on the hideous debauchery that was their original tune, or by saying they haven’t heard it yet. My favourite response to what I admit is not the greatest cover song, is U2′s statement after Pet Shop Boys covered “Where The Streets Have No Name”: “What have we done to deserve this?”
(photo: Wikipedia)
It appears U2 are a bit more open to the idea of reinterpretations of their work these days. They are just one of the bands who’ve contributed to the latest War Child compilation album, Heroes, but don’t go there looking for a new U2 track. War Child asked Bono & Co. to select a song from their catalogue they would like covered, and then asked the band to handpick who would do the covering. Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Roxy Music, Stevie Wonder, and The Clash are among the senior statesmen of rock to participate, choosing some great songs, and fantastic new artists to reinterpret them.
Beck was handed the reigns to “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” by Dylan; Duffy was asked to rescue “Live And Let Die” from Axl Rose-induced oblivion by Sir Paul McCartney, and Leonard Cohen, consummate gentleman that he is, asked his son Adam Cohen to cover “Take This Waltz”. Scissor Sisters kick up Roxy Music’s “Do The Strand”, while fellow glam rock veteran David Bowie asked his pals in TV On The Radio to blast their way through the album’s title track, “Heroes”. It’s an album impossible to fault. The songs are tried and tested, the artists respected for their craft and ability by those that nominated them, and the cause for which the funds are raised is legitimate and very necessary.
Wondering what song, and just who U2 picked? That honour went to Guy Garvey and the boys of Elbow, who turn in the album’s stand out moment, a poignant and wonderful reworking of “Running To Stand Still.”
MP3: Elbow “Running To Stand Still”
Video: U2, Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno on making of “Running To Stand Still”
Buy: War Child: Heroes
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