Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2013 August 30

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August 30

Traditional Pop/Pop Standards/Etc. Versions of Songs

Paul Anka did a version of Wonderwall, Dean Martin did a version of I'm So Lonesome I could Cry; I liked both. Are there other songs, especially modern ones or ones from in-congruent genres, that have been redone in a Pop Standards/Swing/Big Band/etc. style? I'm a fan of most of the music that came out between the late 30's to early 60's and, personally, I think it's neat to hear other genres, especially more modern ones, done in this style- like an inverse of Pearl Jam redoing Last Kiss. The artist redoing the song does not need to be from this period, I'd be happy with anything that is a decent approximate to the style (if something kind of seems to fit, I'd rather just listen to it than not hear about it :-) ). Thank you for any suggestions:-)Phoenixia1177 (talk) 07:23, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Paul Anka did a whole album of covers of rock songs in a big band style including 'Jump' and 'Eye of the Tiger'! Most songs by Nouvelle Vague (a French band) are jolly, upbeat covers of 80s goth/punk/indie songs. They a have a 1960s French pop sound to them with bossanova beats and breathy female vocals.83.104.128.107 (talk) 13:33, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Ray Charles put his own twist on "Louise", most famously done by Maurice Chevalier. The Beatles did a cover of "Till There Was You" from The Music Man. I recall an album by 101 Strings called The Best of Simon and Garfunkel, or something like that. One of the crazier things I've ever seen was Ethel Merman doing (or trying to do) Glen Campbell's big hit "Gentle on My Mind". The list of crossover covers is endless. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:48, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Sing Something Simple used to feature easy-listening arrangements that all came out sounding exactly the same. Sometimes they would give this treatment to songs from the milder end of the pop specturm, e.g. Beatles classics. Also, though it's perhaps not the best moment to mention it, there's Rolf Harris's version of Stairway to Heaven. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 13:56, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Pat Boone did an album of Heavy Metal songs, In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy. There's also the entire catalogue of Richard Cheese. In the other directions, there are bands like Hayseed Dixie (bluegrass covers of heavy metal songs), Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (punk rock covers of 70's easy listening), and Dread Zeppelin (reggae/Elvis mashup versions of heavy metal songs). --Jayron32 14:08, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

I'll second Richard Cheese. Good stuff, and to me seems just like what OP wants, even if it is a little silly :) SemanticMantis (talk) 16:34, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Then there's Union Avenue, who specialise in rock covers done in the style of a young Johnny Cash. I heard their version of The Ace of Spades on the radio once, but missed the DJ announcing who it was, and was convinced for a while that Motorhead must have covered a Johnny Cash original. Other than that, my favourite crossover cover is Turisas' utterly demented metal version of Boney M's Rasputin.

For something a bit closer to the original question, here's the Divine Comedy's chamber pop cover of the Queens of the Stone Age's No One Knows. --Nicknack009 (talk) 20:15, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Wonderwall was also covered by the Mike Flowers Pops, whose output you will be interested in. --TammyMoet (talk) 18:48, 30 August 2013 (UTC) And how could we forget the special contribution of the James Last Orchestra? (but our article could do with some work I see) --TammyMoet (talk) 18:51, 30 August 2013 (UTC) And while I'm at it, the Tori Amos version of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit is much better than the original IMHO. <gdr> --TammyMoet (talk) 18:53, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Tori Amos' version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is not a pop/swing/big band version. It's a very stark, minimal arrangement. --Viennese Waltz 19:53, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Mentioning them mainly because I know a couple of the members, The Arrangement (band) (video) perform[ed] hip-hop songs in a pseudo-classical/operatic style. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 21:04, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Thank you all, you're all awesome:-) I picked up a copy of Paul Anka's versions today (I didn't realize he did a bunch of these, though it was just a one off type of thing). That link to Richard Cheese made me happier than when I found out James Darren was playing a recurring character on Star Trek (weird reference, but true:-) ). I'm going to try and pick up copies of the rest (all of these piqued my interest) this weekend. On a side note: I liked the Tori Amos version better too. Thank you again; if anything else comes to mind, please post more if you have the time:-)Phoenixia1177 (talk) 05:13, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

Thanks to this thread for bringing Richard Cheese to my attention. Can I also mention the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, who don't exactly come under "pop standards" but whose deadpan reworkings of classic tunes from the rock, punk, pop, classical and other genres are a joy to witness - Karenjc 08:22, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester have recorded and performed 1990s/2000s songs such as "Sex Bomb", "Oops!... I Did It Again", or "Let's Talk About Sex" in the style of 1920s/30s German cabaret music. Variation on your theme: Ensemble Ambrosius recorded an album of Zappa songs, not necessarily in baroque style, but played on baroque instruments exclusively. ---Sluzzelin talk 20:42, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

It's also worth mentioning Ted Templeman who recorded 1960s hits done in a 1920s jazz style as ""The Templeton Twins" backed by "Teddy Turner & his Bunsen Burners". Another hilarious crossover is Cathy Berberian's album Beatles Arias, where she sings Beatles songs in an operatic style ... her version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is just delicious. There's also The Ethel Merman Disco Album. Graham87 12:22, 3 September 2013 (UTC)