Started on the Far Away Series, and refined by the bloggers noted below, I've been somewhat of a wannabe player in the Battle Of The Bands blogfest, which happens on the first and fifteenth of each month. These guys are to blame for this foolishness:
Far Away Series
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Tossing It Out
Your Daily Dose
The way it works is, I put up two versions of a song and you tell me which one you like better.
Simple right? If you look at past comments, some people agonize over this decision, but I'll let you in on a little clue.....there's no wrong answer! Whatever you like IS the right answer!
There's supposed to be a post in five days or so where I tally up the votes and disclose my preference, but I'm generally not motivated enough to do that second post. Plus, if you can sit infront of a computer, I am assuming you can count.
Sometimes, a cover song becomes more popular than the original-in fact, sometimes the original goes largely unheard and people assume that the cover is the original.
A really good example of this phenomena is Joan Jett's cover of "I Love Rock 'N' Roll."
The song was initially recorded by the London-based band The Arrows in 1975, but the song went largely unheard, at least on this side of the pond.
Former Runaways member Jett resurrected the song as the title track for her second solo album in 1982 and took the song to number one for a whopping seven weeks.
It's become her signature song.
So here is the original version from The Arrows...
And here is the version you know by Ms. Jett:
There you have it...you know what to do and where to do it....or did you forget already?
LC ~
ReplyDeleteIn my op, this is your best 'BOTB' installment yet. Why? Because I learned something startling from it!
I had no-flippin'-idea that Joan Jett's version was a cover. I had never even heard of The Arrows.
I'll tell you the truth, I thought The Runaways were a bullshit novelty act. And I thought Joan Jett wasn't much more than that (just a repackaged Suzi Quatro, as far as I was concerned).
But I did always like her 'I Love Rock 'N' Roll'; I thought it was tough-sounding and a great sing-along-song. I never felt any need to buy it, because I was sure I wouldn't like much else on her album and, hell, one heard her version of 'I Love Rock 'N' Roll' pretty much all the time, everywhere.
Listening to The Arrows version, I realize that the cover didn't really do anything other than amp-up the volume a bit and shout the lyrics a little louder.
I think The Arrows got ripped off, because they deserved to have a hit with their original. (Of course, they've made plenty of money off it due to writing royalties from the Joan Jett hit, but still...)
Hearing just how similar the cover is to the original... I may be the only one to do this but... I'm going to vote for The Arrows. It's my little way of righting a wrong.
Yes, I've been a fan of the Jett cover for a long time, and it's obviously the version I know best but... damn it! The Arrows got ripped off! And I'm voting for them because Joan Jett didn't do much more than just re-record their song and turn up the volume a little.
And incidentally, Joan Jett's second biggest hit was ALSO a cover - 'CRIMSON AND CLOVER' - originally recorded by Tommy James And The Shondells. And she didn't do much different with that one either.
Put me down for two votes: One for The Arrows, and one for Tommy James And The Shondells.
"Imitation is the sincerest form of plagiarism."
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Imitation is also the sincerest form of laughing all the way to the bank in this case.
DeleteI love rock and roll, but I've never particularly liked "I Love Rock and Roll". At least not by Joan Jett--I'm not a fan of her or her music.
ReplyDeleteNever heard The Arrows version, but I like it much better than Joan Jett even though the two arrangements are essentially the same. Maybe it works better as a male sung song? Less heavy perhaps, but still maintaining the drive of the song's spirit?
Whatever the case, my vote goes to the Arrows.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Hmm...I thought you were the one who made reference to the Arrows and reminded me of this band....guess not.
DeleteYes, I had mentioned The Arrows and their version of this song sometime in the past, but to my recollection I'm not certain that I had ever actually heard their version. I don't recall what had brought up the topic, but I do vaguely remember the discussion. Now where did I put my car keys?
DeleteLee
Tossing It Out
I have them....but about your car....
DeleteNot a song that ever really grabbed me, I must confess. It's got that,"hey let's write a 'rock and roll anthem' song and try to make a hit!" feel. I'll stick with "Rock and Roll All Night" by Kiss or maybe "Rock On" by David Essex, thank you...
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of The Arrows and have never been a big Joan Jett fan, either. Even both guitar solos are kind of lame...
But I'll grudgingly go with Joan Jett - hers has a little more energy at least.
Sheesh, I sound grumpy don't I??? "You darn kids! Get off my lawn! And take your stupid "Rock and Rol"l with you!!!"
Actually, Chris, having the words "Rock And Roll" in the title or chorus is usually a big turn-off for me..I always thought it was the musical equivalent of television's evil twin episode (you've run out of every other idea).
DeleteI agree with you and Stephen T that Joan's version breaks no new ground-but considering back then the only other female rockers with edge were Heart, maybe just the act of going into the studio qualifies as breaking new ground.
I'd never heard the Arrows' version either. I liked it. It's a song better suited with a dude singing. Yes, Joan Jett is ingrained in my brain, but I have to give it to the Arrows on this one.
ReplyDeleteWow-so far a surprising outcome, as I figured due to familiarity, JJ would run away with it.
ReplyDeleteMy first concert was a Joan Jett concert with some douchingtons called the House Of Lords. It was just to do something with my future ex-wife. She claimed to see someone she didn't want to see. Left before the douchingtons were done. Not a good memory. If the Arrows sucked, I'd have voted for them. As it turned out, I liked them better anyway.
ReplyDeleteWow...I like House Of Lords...am I a douchington groupie?
DeleteTheir keyboard player was Greg Giuffria (from the 70's band Angel and 80's Journey sound-alikes Giuffria).
I like Joan Jett, only saw her once as part of the Police stadium tour in 1983 (ish-for the Synchronicity album).
Wow, shows what I know- I never knew they had someone relatively famous in that band. Consider it more a commentary on the night than the band, who I heard precious little of and was able to pay attention to less.
DeleteThey were also a sound that was very common at that point-typical eighties "metal."
DeleteI can see where you would have reached the "enough is enough" point.
I'm not really sure if I like this song or not,but I have to honestly say that if I'm in the car on the open road, listening to it I will be signing along at the top of my voice and trying my best to NOT put the pedal to the metal. It's just that type of music.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of The Arrows before, but although I guess I DO like the song I have never cared to Joan Jett. You have have them 'tough chicks', they scare me.
So, I'm gonna vote The Arrows, besides they're (all of 'em) prettier than Joan by far.
Wow-I'm gonna tell Joan you said that!
DeleteBetter watch your back!
Only since you want my 2 cents will I offer it... I think that so many successes are Right Time, Right Place. I see that The Arrows recorded this in 1975... well, even though I am no expert on 70s music this doesn't sound 70s. It sounds 80s.... ergo that was the Right Time, Right Place.
ReplyDeleteEven though Joan Jett didn't do much to change it her musicians did fill out the guitar work. I don't enough to know if it was simply a change to electric guitar, more guitar, bass guitar... someone who knows more about it would have that answer, but it sounds fuller right out of the chute than the original.
So I will give Joan Jett the vote for hearing something and knowing the bells and whistles to add to really make it 80s and Her Signature Song.
I don't remember saying I wanted your two cents, Robin, but after that comment I probably owe you change!
DeleteYou may have something there-The Arrows were a little bit late for the garage rock era and a little too early for the eighties.
LC
I think FAE mentioned one time in a BOTB that she questioned whether people voted for a song because it was better or simply out of familiarity. And, well, I guess there aren't really any specific "rules" for voting on BOTBs, but I've always tried my best to rule familiarity completely out of voting.
ReplyDeleteLike, if I listen to each song back to back without much thought, I give it to Joan Jett because that's the definitive way I've always heard it. The other one, even if it's the original (as with the others above, I never even knew Joan Jett's WASN'T the original), it sounds odd to me because it's not hers. But I can't let that bias my pick because the contest isn't really "which one sounds right?" it's "which one sounds better"... right?
So after a few more listens, it's much easier for me to decide that I like The Arrows' version better. No contest. It's not just that, to me, it sounds better with the male sung lead, but the music itself is a little cleaner. I don't think you have to have such a "gritty" sound to be rock and roll.
I don't know that there is a right or wrong answer, Bryan...in my mind the contest is "which one sounds better....to you."
DeleteFunny thing, this song was originally released as a B-side by the Arrows.
Certainly Jett deserves some credit for recognizing the potential of the song (she heard it on a television show while on tour in the UK)-without her cover we'd be talking about something else!
I have not heard of Arrow. Geez, where I have been? Under a hiding in a cave? Actually that's precisely how I feel regarding to most music THAT I've lived in a cave most of my life. I love the get up & dance beat of this song when I first heard it by Jett, but I have this thing about female artists. I can't stand it when they aren't very feminine on stage. I guess that takes the edge off their rockin' style, I guess. While I like the song, I was turned off by Jett's stage presence. Her vocals are okay, but nothing special, in my opinion. I'm giving Arrow my vote. They did it first, it's very similar to the 80s hit, and I don't have to worry with a woman performing like a guy. Just call me old fashion. Good song choice!
ReplyDeleteJoining the BOTB for the first time today, I hope you’ll decide to hop over to vote at <a href="http://curiousasacathy.com/2014/08/botb-last-kiss/“>#BOTB:The Last Kiss</a>
Cathy-
DeleteI must have pasted the link wrong because I did not see a BOTB post... will try again when I get home
Larry
Wow...that was enjoyable! I didn't know that this wasn't Joan Jett's song. Anyhoo...I think I prefer Joan's version...only because it's a bit grittier. And I like my rock n roll with a bit of grit :)
ReplyDelete~Katie
TheCyborgMom
Thanks for stopping by Katie...I, too, do not mind women rockers showing a tough side. There's room for all sounds!
DeleteHmm...a "CyborgMom..."
Are you from the future? Were you sent back in time to eliminate me?
Nice. Thanks for sharing both versions. It is amazing how one song can be interpreted so many different ways.
ReplyDelete