Robin (Your Daily Dose)
I stowed away on their cruise featuring Todd Rundgren songs covered by other artists, and since that well has run dry, I am continuing with songs by other artists that Todd has covered.
On his 1989 masterpiece Nearly Human, Todd Rundgren included one cover, Elvis Costello's "Two Little Hitlers."
I never thought the song fit with the rest of the album, but will leave it up to you readers to judge the merits of his version.
First, Elvis' original.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsBgOxrnXR4
and now Todd's cover...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKocjAlOD80
What'cha think?
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Right now all I see are two empty white squares where there should be video clips. I'll have to go down and fix breakfast and then come back to see if it's better. Or maybe go to YouTube and find them myself.
ReplyDeleteLee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Not sure what the problem is, Lee-I see them both when I go look.
DeleteIt's still the white squares. Or are the clips taken from each of the artist's White Album? So I went to YouTube.
ReplyDeleteTodd's version is very well done. If it were the only version I'd say it was the best. But as it is I think maybe the over production detracts from the song.
I like the choppy ragged nature of the Elvis version. You're going to start thinking I don't like Todd. Honest I really do.
But sorry, my vote goes to the Elvis Costello original.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Lee-not sure what the problem is, but I added the You Tube links in case other people have the same trouble (the lack of comments makes me think they have had trouble).
DeleteYet I see the videos perfectly displayed in my browser.
Your vote does not come as a shock-the song always seemed out-of-place on the album to me, and Todd (in his usual fashion) did not do much to alter the song when he covered it.
Mine played just fine. I think you were sabatoguing Arlee in case he voted against Todd, lol! I'm with Arlee on this one. It sounds natural for EC, forced for TR.
ReplyDeleteApparently my scheme did not work on you, CW-you got in an Elvis vote anyway!
DeleteSee my comments to Lee re: my take on the Todd cover (and Todd covers in general).
I am in the enviable position, in this case, of this song being new to me. Never heard the original by Costello or the remake by Rundgren before today. So, I am not biased by having expectations that it "should" sound a certain way. That said, I didn't much care for the Costello song. I preferred Todd's remake. I like his voice better and I preferred his interpretation with the instrumentation. So my vote goes to Todd on this one!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteRobin-I wonder what your take might be if you heard both versions in the context of the album they came from?
DeleteElvis's version fits right into Armed Forces (a great album, by the way), and Todd's seems a little out-of-place (at least to me) on Nearly Human (an album everyone in America should own-and I do not say that just as a Todd fan).
You comment re: Todd's interpretation interests me.
I wonder if I am too "loose" when interpreting what has been done with a cover-when I say 'I hear no difference,' it's not that I cannot tell the difference (which was what a few people seemed to think I meant on the Good Vibrations post), it's simply that the song was played no differently than if I assembled my old high school band and we learned it.
Many of the other BOTB posts find excellent examples of cover versions where a listener almost cannot tell it is the same song, and Todd only seems to do that when he covers himself (the Nazz version of Hello It's Me versus his solo version that became his signature hit).
PS-I deleted the first comment because I spotted a bunch of typos-it said the same thing, but I'd have flunked if it got graded for grammar.
DeleteI was also having some trouble getting the videos to play here. Funny thing, on all of the BOTB the only two sites where I had a problem were yours and mine. BUT, I'm persistent or stubborn or something - actually I just shut everything down and came back and suddenly, like a miracle, there they were; two little videos.
ReplyDeleteOK enought of the joshing around, Let's get serious. When it comes to original Todd, nobody does it better than 'your man' ,but when it comes to Todd covering someone else, he's comes up like the 'poor man's' version of whomever he's trying to cover.
Sorry, but I gotta make mine a vote for Elvis. I know, I know; don't every vote against the family again and now I'm banished.
Wow...twist the knife some more!
DeleteI kid...I've had instances where when I try to play a video in the blog I get a message that I have to go to You Tube to view it (I assume it's so they can make we watch an advertisement, which seems to always be the case), but no problems viewing.
Interestingly enough, I seem to have issues uploading You Tube video from my personal PC and have to use my work PC.
The vote for Elvis does not shock me.
LC ~
ReplyDeleteI'll vote for your Toddgod on this one.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I am a little surprised by that (since I did not think Todd did much different than Elvis), but I think I remember a discussion we had about you liking the inclusion of the song on Nearly Human where I did not.
DeleteWell, a few things contributed to my vote:
ReplyDelete1: Toddgod has a little more going on musically (particularly with the horns).
2: Toddgod has a better voice than Elvis Costello.
3: I wanted to display my credibility via an honest vote, although you were unable to do so, breaking your own rule in the 'Good Vibrations' contest just because... it was godd.
[:-)}
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Comment number three first-how many late night conversations did we have in the Grove parking lot where you would try to get me to waver from my opinion that I liked the Todd version better since I'd heard it first?
DeleteSo now my integrity is in question?
I amcredible-in my consistency!
I can't argue with #2, although I have always liked Elvis Costello...
Regarding comment number 1, check out my comment to Robin-I am wondering if I do not give enough credit to variations covers-I would have bucketed this one as identical, same as I did for Good Vibrations, since the arrangement is essentially the same.
And for the record, I have never once in my life uttered the "Todd is Godd" line....
...although an Airheadzonan I know who is planning on moving to Nevada is trying to get a quote on moving his stone idol of Brian Wilson.....
LC
Stephen-
DeleteI almost forgot-did you happen to read the recent New American article regarding popular music?
I was wondering what you thought of it.
While I would agree with the author in some degree, I thought he laid a little too much blame for society's ills on music.
LC
DR. DISCDUDE ~
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase the patriarch of the Darling Family ('The Andy Griffith Show'), "Are you arguing with me?"
>>... So now my integrity is in question?
"Now"? No. Your integrity was ALWAYS in question.
Nah, just kidding. It's only "now" that your integrity is in question.
Why? Because your own rule is that when a cover is very much like the original, you have to give the credit (and your vote) to the original artist.
You have broken your own rule only once... for Toddgodd.
>>... And for the record, I have never once in my life uttered the "Todd is Godd" line....
True that. But... you didn't need to say it. (After all, Obama has never publicly said he's a communist either. Do we need him to actually SAY IT in order to discern the underlying truth about him... that he is indeed a communist?)
Only a "god" is above all the rules. You've broken your own "musical rule" for only one performer: Todd. Thus, by simple logic, it's clear that Todd is godd. (Or, maybe it would be more accurate to call him "Toddallah", since a real God needs no defense from mere mortals, but a pseudo-god like allah needs his Muslim followers to fight for him. ...NO! I did not just call you a Muslim. ...Well, maybe a "MusicMuslim". Ha! Smile, Doc! And just enjoy the fact that I'm on a roll here.)
>>... I would have bucketed this one as identical, same as I did for Good Vibrations, since the arrangement is essentially the same.
The tempo is the same, and the arrangement is very similar, but there are still some very discernable differences (same as with 'Good Vibrations', which is why the Beach Boys version was superior... beyond just the fact that it was the original creation of Wilson and not Rundgren).
>>... although an Airheadzonan I know who is planning on moving to Nevada is trying to get a quote on moving his stone idol of Brian Wilson.
First of all, the person who is leaving Airheadzona because he absolutely cannot stand living in the state is, by definition, NOT an "Airheadzonan". However, the person who can stand to REMAIN in the state because he doesn't think it's intolerably bad... well, that person probably IS an "Airheadzonan".
Secondly, Brian Wilson is not and never has been my idol. Karen Carpenter, now that's a different story - clearly she is my goddess. But, Brian Wilson? Nah, no idol, no godd, no allah... just a musical genius, and nuttin' mo'.
>>... I almost forgot - did you happen to read the recent New American article regarding popular music? I was wondering what you thought of it.
No, I'll have to go to the website and check it out. Many years ago, when I used to subscribe to the magazine, they published an article on Rock music and its negative influence on society. I wonder if this is truly a new article or just a reprint of the previous one.
I still have the magazine, so I just now pulled it out. It's from April 8, 2002 (Vol. 18, No. 7), and the article - actually, it was three articles in the same issue - the articles were titled "Is It Only Rock 'N' Roll?'; 'Changing His Tune'; and 'Morality Of Music', all three by Steve Bonta.
I thought he made some very good points but that it was a bit too one-sided.
I'll have to go to The New American magazine website and see which one you're referring to.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I just see two white boxes too. But having clicked over to the actual Youtube videos, I've got to give this one to Todd. He really nails those two Hitlers.
ReplyDeleteThat didn't come out right. Still, I stand by it.
Because your own rule is that when a cover is very much like the original, you have to give the credit (and your vote) to the original artist
ReplyDeleteExcept wasn't that your rule? I know I did not make it up (although I probably cited it a bunch of times).
I am sure you remember those conversations I am referring to that pre-date this blogfest by several years. I am simply standing by what I said back them so you can't turn around and accuse me of flip flopping like a Republican governor.
the person who can stand to REMAIN in the state because he doesn't think it's intolerably bad... well, that person probably IS an "Airheadzonan"
I choose to remain and minister to the unenlightened...smeone's gotta try and save 'em! Or at least teach 'em to drive!
I'm sure I would have remembered a stone Karen Carpenter idol in your yard....
Actually, the New American article I am thinking of is recent....here's the link:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/item/17311-influential-beats-the-cultural-impact-of-music
I may have to check out that earlier issue (if they posted the articles online). I wonder if it the same article, updated.
LC
I must say that I prefer the original version.
ReplyDeleteLC ~
ReplyDeleteI just got done reading the article and I thought it was excellent! I wasn’t surprised though, because as soon as I noted it had been written by Selwyn Duke, I already knew it would be excellent.
If you go to my blog, you will find that under the category of “CHECK THESE OUT:” in the left column margin, I have SelwynDuke.com listed pretty close to the top.
(http://selwynduke.typepad.com/selwyndukecom/)
I don’t have the time I’d like to have to visit Duke’s website regularly, but I do check in every so often, and I consider him one of the most important (truly) Conservative voices in the media today.
I can tell you that Duke’s article is head and shoulders better than any of the three aforementioned articles about Rock music written by Steve Bonta and published years ago in The New American magazine.
Thanks for calling my attention to it, LC!
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
I liked the article, but I felt there was too much blame given to music (there is some music with a positive message out there) and not enough responsibility given to listeners (turn the crap off).
DeleteHe does make a point to say he's not blaming all of society's ills on music, but he trashes rock, a little bit too strongly (in my opinion)
Many people grew up listening to it, some of us still do, and we turned out ok...
Oh well, I guess I won't worry about it...I've got to figure out how to play an MP3 file backwards to get at the evil messages..
Where's the outcome? I guess I could count the votes myself but I can't get past everything Charlie McCarthy wrote--oops I mean Stephen.
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
Now, Lee, I never actually promised I'd tally up results-remember I crashed this party!
DeleteIf I were to vote Todd, we'd have a 4-4 tie....if I vote EC, it's 5-3.
And while Todd is my favorite composer, and normally his versions reign supreme (like Good Vibrations, for example), I always thought this song was out of place on the album.
I find myself skipping it when playing the CD, just as you might find me stalling in telling you my vote.
Sorry you asked?
Larry
Okay, for the Beach Boys' cover, I really found it very close and despite Mr. McCarthy's protestations, decided to go with my opinion of some thirty years, that I preferred the TR version (despite the conventional wisdom people have been throwing around about covers needing to do something different to beat the original). In that case, the song itself was such a strong piece of Todd's influences, I thought it worked, despite the various commenters who echoes your "thirty-nine cent" version opinion.
DeleteFor this one, even though I'd agree with the "yes" votes on the production and vocals, I find the song to the totally out of character for Todd. The vocal lines do not take advantage of his voice, the arrangement and the theme do not fit the album. Yet, on the Costello album, it fits like a glove, vocally and topically.
It's Elvis 5, Todd 3.
LC