For a while now, I've had the weird feeling that this cover might be one of the all-time greatest recorded pop songs. Then the other day I happened to hear the song again for the first time in forever (in Barnes and Noble, of all places), and it struck me how improbable its greatness is, considering the many things working against it:
1. The Bangles...
2...covering a Simon and Garfunkel song...
3...that's from the soundtrack to a shitty movie ("Less Than Zero")...
4...that's based on a shitty Brett Easton Ellis novel.
I even like the hoakey flange-like sounds throughout and the synthetic "whoosh" that starts the whole thing off.
Is it just me?
Song: The Bangles Version of Hazy Shade of Winter
2gmilner wrote:Is it just me?
It's not just you. That song's a gem.
Add The Cyrkle's version of "Red Rubber Ball" and The Lemonheads' version of "Mrs. Robinson" and you'll find Paul Simon songs well represented in my pantheon of extraordinary covers.
Song: The Bangles Version of Hazy Shade of Winter
3This fits that category I proposed: great songs by godawful bands. Except that this is a great song by TWO godawful bands.
Song: The Bangles Version of Hazy Shade of Winter
4Heard the Bangles' cover of September Gurls?
Not so good.
Not so good.
Back off man, I'm a scientist.
Song: The Bangles Version of Hazy Shade of Winter
5Yikes, no, I haven't. I imagine it's pretty cloying, though.
I wonder if I can think of any other great songs by two not-so-great artists...
Oh, and speaking of Paul Simon covers, does anyone remember the Coolies' all-Paul "Dig?" album? All Paul Simon songs plus Paul Anka's "Having My Baby." I remember thinking it was pretty funny back in the day...
I wonder if I can think of any other great songs by two not-so-great artists...
Oh, and speaking of Paul Simon covers, does anyone remember the Coolies' all-Paul "Dig?" album? All Paul Simon songs plus Paul Anka's "Having My Baby." I remember thinking it was pretty funny back in the day...
Song: The Bangles Version of Hazy Shade of Winter
6in my mind's ear, this cover song is good. but i haven't heard it for many years, so i can't say how it is in 2004 for me.
Song: The Bangles Version of Hazy Shade of Winter
7I thought "Hazy Shade of Winter " was by The Moma's and The Popa's? Or were they just the ones to make it famous?
My folk-rock soft white underbelly is showing here.
-Miles
My folk-rock soft white underbelly is showing here.
-Miles
Bill Hicks once told a story about an American friend of his who complained about the USA. When told, "well, if you don't like it then move somewhere else" the friend's reply would be, "What? And become a victim of our foreign policy?"
Song: The Bangles Version of Hazy Shade of Winter
8Snuff does a great version of this song on one of their older EPs.
The Bangles' version sucks.
The Bangles' version sucks.
Song: The Bangles Version of Hazy Shade of Winter
10Jeff wrote:The Cyrkle's version of "Red Rubber Ball"
What a great pop song. You should check it out.
Just Better: Gary Lewis & The Playboys - "This Diamond Ring"
Just Worse: Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon - "Palisades Park"