Remakes

When I was in 12th (as in, in and around phase of my life), I had a theory that remixes are when you just add new beats and all, and remakes are when you remake the whole song. It seemed kind of sensible, since it followed from the words themselves. Anyway, this post isn't about that :P

Here are a few pairs of songs, each consisting of an original non-rock song and it's interpretation by decently (!) well known bands:

.1. Diamonds and Rust : Original - Joan Baez, Interpreted by Judas Priest.

The Judas Priest version, is well....funny! Unless you've heard Judas Priest exclusively atleast for a few hours, there's no way this version could even begin to compare with the Joan Baez one. Near the ending, when the JP waala starts singing "Diamonds! Diamonds! Diamonds and Raaast!", I almost start laughing. However, if you do get into the feel of things (if you're in the metal mode, so to speak), the irony and biting sarcasm in the song does glimmer a little.

The Joan Baez version, on the other hand, is amazing, to say the least. It's haunting, and the anger, the sarcasm, the sadness, it's all there and you can imagine the pain of the person the song is about. It was supposedly written by Joan Baez for Bob Dylan after their affair. And the pain is all too apparent.

.2. Turn the Page : Original - Bob Seger, Interpreted by Metallica.

This is a tough choice to make. The feel is available aplenty in both the songs. Strangely, however, while the Bob Seger version seems to convey the desperation and hopelessness of the person the song is about, the Metallica song invokes almost the opposite feelings: hope and determination!

The drums in the Bob Seger version are way too cool! They're silent for the most part, simple and totally in sync with the song. I love the way the hi-hat is used in the first half of the song. It's simple enough for even someone who doesn't know how to play drums, but its "value addition" to the song is amazing! Metallica waale drums, are well...normal Metallica waale drums.

Other Metallica "interpretations" : Tuesday's Gone (where they haven't changed much, but they've done a marvellous job), Whiskey in the Jar (the Metallica version rules anyday! Thin Lizzy clearly had no idea how amazing his song - supposedly a folk tune- could be!)

.3. Wicked Game: Original - Chris Isaak, Interpreted by H.I.M.

This song was what prompted me to write this post in the first place. The Chris Isaak version is amazing and all. It keeps playing in Mocha HN btw. Everyone keeps going gaga over the vocals and all. It is a nice peaceful song, and with feel and all. I loved the song and it was almost perfect. Or so I thought.

Then I heard the H.I.M version! It's amazing! The drums, the guitar! Pure unadulterated rock! It's like Chris Isaak got the song all wrong, and the original version (the way it should have been in the first place) is by H.I.M.

Other things I haven't considered:

Pink Floyd and The Ramones - Another Brick in the Wall (it's obvious who's better, but the Ramones did do a respectable job)
Alien Ant Farm and MJ - Smooth Crminal. No real feeling in the song to talk about, so it's ok :)

And Parikrama's version of Sweet Child of Mine at Kala Ghoda with Violin and keyboard and no drums (slowed down, mellow) was also very cool :)

One interpretation I refuse to comment upon is Slipknot trying out Bullet the Blue Sky by U2! :P