FC/OT: Weezer's new album 'Teal' is all covers....

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

And the songs they picked are pretty interesting. So far, their version of Toto's 'Africa' was released as a video and was sort of startling in that it was nearly identical to the original. Word is all the songs they cover will be treated in that way and won't differ much if at all from the original. Any big Weezer fans?

https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/24/688131461/hear-weezers-surprise-new-covers-album

Sweet Dreams, by Eurythmics



Other songs: a-ha’s “Take on Me” and the Turtles’ “Happy Together.” The LP spans Eighties pop (Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”), vintage metal (Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”), art-rock (Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky”), classic soul (Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”), Nineties R&B (TLC’s “No Scrubs”) and, naturally, “Africa.”

 

[Chickenman Testa]

If the covers aren’t going to differ that much, what’s the point? That Toto cover was atrocious and boring - much like the original.

I like Weezer, but that seems pointless

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

If the covers aren’t going to differ that much, what’s the point? That Toto cover was atrocious and boring - much like the original.

I like Weezer, but that seems pointless

Dunno. If you're gonna do it, at least make it interesting. Like Ryan Adams' cover of Taylor Swift's '1989' album.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Dunno. If you're gonna do it, at least make it interesting. Like Ryan Adams' cover of Taylor Swift's '1989' album.

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He does a great cover of Wonderwall.

Almost nothing I like more than a cover song that does the original justice, but takes a different tack, and almost nothing I hate more than a cover that butchers a great song.

Sheryl Crow’s First Cut is the Deepest makes me want to throw her off a Malibu cliff. Rod Stewart gave that song true soul in his cover - she turned it into some bland, airheaded glop

 

[cavic]

He does a great cover of Wonderwall.

Almost nothing I like more than a cover song that does the original justice, but takes a different tack, and almost nothing I hate more than a cover that butchers a great song.

Sheryl Crow’s First Cut is the Deepest makes me want to throw her off a Malibu cliff. Rod Stewart gave that song true soul in his cover - she turned it into some bland, airheaded glop

For my taste, Adams is near Richard Thompson level as far as mastery of covers. From Vampire Weekend to Hank Williams, Sr. to Maiden

 

[NewEra 2014]

If the covers aren’t going to differ that much, what’s the point? That Toto cover was atrocious and boring - much like the original.

I like Weezer, but that seems pointless

Haha I was thinking the same thing. The original "Africa" was a pointless, atrocious and boring song that never needed to be made in the first place. So Weezer remakes it. And even better, they remake it so that it sounds just like the original. You have to give Weezer some credit for trolling everyone, which is what I think they are doing with this album.

 

[Connorpozlee]

I’m generally not a fan of cover songs. I am a fan of Weezer, but don’t really plan to give this album a shot.

 

[sss]

If the covers aren’t going to differ that much, what’s the point? That Toto cover was atrocious and boring - much like the original.

I like Weezer, but that seems pointless

Agree completely. Never understood that concept. Metallica's mos recent cover album was the same deal. Why do I want to hear James Hetfield sing Turn the Page or Simple Man? Now their old cover albums where they do Am I Evil, or Crash Course in Brain Surgery etc. are fantastic. They are Metallicaified and sound nothing like the original, in fact are much better than the originals.

 

[nitanee123]

If the covers aren’t going to differ that much, what’s the point? That Toto cover was atrocious and boring - much like the original.

I like Weezer, but that seems pointless

When I first heard Weezer's version I thought it was just a re-mastered Toto.

 

[rmem]

Weezer has a really good CD of Christmas songs. But they're not originals so I guess there's no point right?

 

[Lion84]

He does a great cover of Wonderwall.

Almost nothing I like more than a cover song that does the original justice, but takes a different tack, and almost nothing I hate more than a cover that butchers a great song.

Sheryl Crow’s First Cut is the Deepest makes me want to throw her off a Malibu cliff. Rod Stewart gave that song true soul in his cover - she turned it into some bland, airheaded glop

Interesting fact that "The First Cut is the Deepest" was written by Cat Stevens and he sold it for 30 pounds or $39 US Dollars.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

One of the best things Weezer did



And a hilarious Aerosmith cover

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Interesting fact that "The First Cut is the Deepest" was written by Cat Stevens and he sold it for 30 pounds or $39 US Dollars.

Oh god. That really cuts deep doesn’t it.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Weezer has a really good CD of Christmas songs. But they're not originals so I guess there's no point right?

 

[ram2020]

Weezer was a great band, for literally 2 albums. After that, they embraced some sort of "nerdism," and I find their music boring and forced.

 

[BBrown]

And the songs they picked are pretty interesting. So far, their version of Toto's 'Africa' was released as a video and was sort of startling in that it was nearly identical to the original. Word is all the songs they cover will be treated in that way and won't differ much if at all from the original. Any big Weezer fans?

https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/24/688131461/hear-weezers-surprise-new-covers-album

Sweet Dreams, by Eurythmics

View embedded media

Other songs: a-ha’s “Take on Me” and the Turtles’ “Happy Together.” The LP spans Eighties pop (Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”), vintage metal (Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”), art-rock (Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky”), classic soul (Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”), Nineties R&B (TLC’s “No Scrubs”) and, naturally, “Africa.”

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Yes I am a big Wheezer fan and have been following this for awhile. That being said if its not going to differ then why?
Those guys are one of the most diverse "rock" bands I know of. Pretty much change style with every album.

 

[BBrown]

He does a great cover of Wonderwall.

Almost nothing I like more than a cover song that does the original justice, but takes a different tack, and almost nothing I hate more than a cover that butchers a great song.

Sheryl Crow’s First Cut is the Deepest makes me want to throw her off a Malibu cliff. Rod Stewart gave that song true soul in his cover - she turned it into some bland, airheaded glop

+1. The other cover that does that and then some is Gary Jules version of the Tears for Fears song Mad World.
Completely changes the mood and "feel" of the song. I think the first time I heard that version was in the film Donnie Darko. Creepy but I like it.

 

[BBrown]

I’m generally not a fan of cover songs. I am a fan of Weezer, but don’t really plan to give this album a shot.

Peter Gabriel did some interesting cover versions in his Scratch My Back release.

 

[Grant Green]

Dunno. If you're gonna do it, at least make it interesting. Like Ryan Adams' cover of Taylor Swift's '1989' album.

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Totally agree. Unless you are a cover band playing local bars, a cover song should typically try to put a different spin on the original. The Ryan Adams/Swift cover is a great example. And even cooler that he did the entire album.

I've found that trying to cover amazing original songs is usually a bad idea. It's hard to make it better. In my own personal experience, it's better to take a lesser known or average song and make it better.

 

[Tri-Power65]

Agree completely. Never understood that concept. Metallica's mos recent cover album was the same deal. Why do I want to hear James Hetfield sing Turn the Page or Simple Man? Now their old cover albums where they do Am I Evil, or Crash Course in Brain Surgery etc. are fantastic. They are Metallicaified and sound nothing like the original, in fact are much better than the originals.

My favorite Metallica cover:

 

[BBrown]

Totally agree. Unless you are a cover band playing local bars, a cover song should typically try to put a different spin on the original. The Ryan Adams/Swift cover is a great example. And even cooler that he did the entire album.

I've found that trying to cover amazing original songs is usually a bad idea. It's hard to make it better. In my own personal experience, it's better to take a lesser known or average song and make it better.

Pretty much agree unless its a completely different take on a great song.
Sort of like Wall of Voodoo or Social Distortions versions of Ring of Fire.
I especially like Wall of Voodoo's version but then I am a HUGE Stan Ridgeway fan.

 

[rudedude]

 

[rudedude]

 

[rudedude]

 

[Connorpozlee]

Here is a great cover:

And the original:

 

[PSUSignore]

I can't believe I'm in a thread about cover songs and this hasn't been posted yet. I like the live version even better than the album recording.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

We do have a thread for favorite cover songs - here: https://bwi.forums.rivals.com/threads/underrated-cover-song.160887/

Totally agree. Unless you are a cover band playing local bars, a cover song should typically try to put a different spin on the original. The Ryan Adams/Swift cover is a great example. And even cooler that he did the entire album.

I've found that trying to cover amazing original songs is usually a bad idea. It's hard to make it better. In my own personal experience, it's better to take a lesser known or average song and make it better.

This is mostly true - I will say one of my all time favorite cover's is Fiona Apple's 'Jolene'. It's damn near impossible to top Dolly, but the way Fiona sort of releases her vocals a bit on the fourth 'Jolene' is so unique and unexpected it adds so much to the song.

 

[PSUSignore]

We do have a thread for favorite cover songs - here: https://bwi.forums.rivals.com/threads/underrated-cover-song.160887/



This is mostly true - I will say one of my all time favorite cover's is Fiona Apple's 'Jolene'. It's damn near impossible to top Dolly, but the way Fiona sort of releases her vocals a bit on the fourth 'Jolene' is so unique and unexpected it adds so much to the song.

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I'm a big fan of Jack White's cover of Jolene.

 

[Lion Lineage]

If the covers aren’t going to differ that much, what’s the point? That Toto cover was atrocious and boring - much like the original.

I like Weezer, but that seems pointless

Reminds me of the director that did a shot for shot remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. I though the same thing: Why???

 

[BBrown]

Reminds me of the director that did a shot for shot remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. I though the same thing: Why???

Wasn't that Vince Vaughn?
But yea I agree.

 

[Grant Green]

I'm a big fan of Jack White's cover of Jolene.

Jack has the skills to take on big songs. Have you heard the Raconteurs cover of Terry Reid's "Rich Kid Blues"? Oy vey.

 

[wbcincy]

And the songs they picked are pretty interesting. So far, their version of Toto's 'Africa' was released as a video and was sort of startling in that it was nearly identical to the original. Word is all the songs they cover will be treated in that way and won't differ much if at all from the original. Any big Weezer fans?

https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/24/688131461/hear-weezers-surprise-new-covers-album

Sweet Dreams, by Eurythmics

View embedded media

Other songs: a-ha’s “Take on Me” and the Turtles’ “Happy Together.” The LP spans Eighties pop (Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”), vintage metal (Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”), art-rock (Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky”), classic soul (Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”), Nineties R&B (TLC’s “No Scrubs”) and, naturally, “Africa.”

View embedded media

Nobody has mentioned it, but I loved that SNL skit.

 

[Connorpozlee]

I'm a big fan of Jack White's cover of Jolene.

Miley Cyrus actually did a great cover of it on something I saw on YouTube.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Miley Cyrus actually did a great cover of it on something I saw on YouTube.

Yeah, she really is a country/western singer at heart - does a great job. I still prefer Fiona's more delicate vocals, but this is a great showcase for Miley's voice.



Additionally, I love this description of the technical aspects of Fiona's voice and range - really cool how some people are so nerdy about this:

Vocal Type: Extraordinary Mezzochine - often identified as a contralto because of the darkness of her voice, but her confident upper register and lack of "real" tonal depth suggests she's more of a weighty mezzo-soprano.

 

[84Lion]

Some covers are so good that they transcend the original. One that comes to mind is Manfred Mann's cover of "Blinded By The Light." Mann, and Greg Kihn, also did great covers of another Springsteen song, "For You." It's not that Springsteen is a bad performer, it's just that Mann and Kihn presented Springsteen's songs very well (Kihn especially is a much better singer IMO but that's an argument for another day). Another that comes to mind is Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' cover of "Stay," one of my favorite songs. The version by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs is good, but Frankie and the boys did a superb cover.

Pretty much agree unless its a completely different take on a great song.
Sort of like Wall of Voodoo or Social Distortions versions of Ring of Fire.
I especially like Wall of Voodoo's version but then I am a HUGE Stan Ridgeway fan.

Good examples. Wall of Voodoo's version is incredible...haunting, I would say. Social Distortion did a good version too.

That said, I like some of Weezer's stuff, but too many of the songs on this album just didn't grab me then and I can't imagine Weezer doing a "nailed it" cover. I liked "Take On Me" at the time although TBH the song hasn't worn well for me. I love ELO but I don't even like Jeff Lynne's remake of "Mr. Blue Sky" (still don't understand why he did that remake album...). I might listen to some of this just for the curiosity value, but it almost sounds to me like Weezer satisfied some kind of contractual obligation.

 

[Connorpozlee]

Some covers are so good that they transcend the original. One that comes to mind is Manfred Mann's cover of "Blinded By The Light." Mann, and Greg Kihn, also did great covers of another Springsteen song, "For You." It's not that Springsteen is a bad performer, it's just that Mann and Kihn presented Springsteen's songs very well (Kihn especially is a much better singer IMO but that's an argument for another day). Another that comes to mind is Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' cover of "Stay," one of my favorite songs. The version by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs is good, but Frankie and the boys did a superb cover.


Good examples. Wall of Voodoo's version is incredible...haunting, I would say. Social Distortion did a good version too.

That said, I like some of Weezer's stuff, but too many of the songs on this album just didn't grab me then and I can't imagine Weezer doing a "nailed it" cover. I liked "Take On Me" at the time although TBH the song hasn't worn well for me. I love ELO but I don't even like Jeff Lynne's remake of "Mr. Blue Sky" (still don't understand why he did that remake album...). I might listen to some of this just for the curiosity value, but it almost sounds to me like Weezer satisfied some kind of contractual obligation.

Manfred Mann’s Blinded By the Light is certainly a more popular version of the Springsteen and is a good remake of a kind of silly song. Kihn’s version of For You misses the mark for me. It sounds too peppy and loses the desperation of the original version.

 

[91Joe95]

And the songs they picked are pretty interesting. So far, their version of Toto's 'Africa' was released as a video and was sort of startling in that it was nearly identical to the original. Word is all the songs they cover will be treated in that way and won't differ much if at all from the original. Any big Weezer fans?

https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/24/688131461/hear-weezers-surprise-new-covers-album

Sweet Dreams, by Eurythmics

View embedded media

Other songs: a-ha’s “Take on Me” and the Turtles’ “Happy Together.” The LP spans Eighties pop (Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”), vintage metal (Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”), art-rock (Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky”), classic soul (Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”), Nineties R&B (TLC’s “No Scrubs”) and, naturally, “Africa.”

View embedded media

One of my favorite bands of all time.