Imagine, if you will, a Finnish Country Band pulls millions of views playing a bluegrass version of a well-known rock/metal song. As the summer of 2014 rolled around so did Steve ‘n’ Seagulls.
From the album “Razor’s Edge” the unmistakeable sound of AC/DC. Just so happens a near death experience propelled the genius behind the song. Guitarist Angus Young was traveling by plane when a violent thunderstorm struck. The shear terror he experienced inspired the title.
Every now and then a very different version of a well-known song comes along. Such is the case with this New Englander, born in New Hampshire and inspired to write music after listening to a Stephen Stills album. The distinctive voice of Ray Lamontagne.
Cee-Lo Green is the man behind Gnarls Barkley who penned “Crazy”, the thin line between being nuts and being convinced you’re right. According to Green or Gnarls “you can be crazy and lose your mind. It was ’04, I was going through a divorce, I did not have a deal – things were bleak at the time and I was going through a personal trial. But it was an opportunity to be expressive.”
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. They covered one of the biggest songs of the decade.
Unlike early R.E.M. songs, “Losing My Religion” features lyrics you can understand. And yet, they were largely misunderstood anyway. Sacrilegious? A kiss off to the establishment? The song is based on an old southern expression for being at the end of one’s rope. Lead singer Michael Stipe, comes from a long line of Methodist ministers and is a fan Buddhism, was merely giving a little known saying a bit of a rearrange, “I thought that I heard you laughing, I though that I heard you sing.” When he gets to the line “oh no, I’ve said too much,” it sounds devastating.
The song would be heard from Dubai to Des Moines, and became R.E.M.’s biggest hit. and the group never had another hit quite like “Losing My Religion,” though they’d rule the radio consecutively for years, with modern classics like “Man in the Moon” and “Everybody Hurts.”
If you would like to request a match-up drop me a line music@bassbeat.net. Hear all six tunes wherever you find your podcast. Thanks!
- Credits
- NME.com
- Story of Song.com
- Wiki
- YouTube
- American Songwriter
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