From the realm of unlikely duets, this one ranks pretty high. Found on the children's book/CD called Dog Train by Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford, this over-emotive power ode to naps is goofy fun and is ideally available from your friendly neighbourhood public library. I particularly enjoy the tune because I am self-declared King of Naps, able to sleep anywhere, anytime (and I often do).Kate Winslet & Weird Al Yankovic - I Need a Nap
Not sure if you heard about this... Next month, The Nightmare Before Christmas will be re-released in 3D. 13th anniversary, I guess? That's pretty cool, though Edmonton is unfortunately not one of the cities where it's at. Anyway, coinciding with the release of the film, Disney is also re-releasing the soundtrack with a second disc of covers of the songs from the likes of Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Marilyn Manson, and Fiona Apple. While normally this kinda news would thrill me (i.e. favourite childhood movies + cover songs), I'm less than thrilled by the prospect of some "it" bands messin' with the originals. Fiona Apple is the only name there that sounds like she'd do a worthy cover.
If I was a producer, I'd be going straight to the likes of Rasputina & the Dresden Dolls to create thematically/musically cohesive covers. I'm all for radical interpretations, yet somehow a "racous" rendition of What's This? by Fall Out Boy is not cool
A dream cast for Nightmare covers:
Alice Cooper or Iggy Pop - Oogie Boogie's song
Rasputina - Kidnap the Sandy Claws
The Dresden Dolls - Poor Jack or Jack's Lament
Maxwell/Mosher (or in a pipe dream, the reunion of their former band Squirrel Nut Zippers) - Town Meeting Song
and
I'd like to hear Jon Brion re-interpret some of Danny Elfman's score. That'd be trippy. White Stripes could probably throw in a capable cover too.
Alas, we'll have to settle for whatever the Disney execs deem as hip right now. Here are some of the songs that came to mind when thinking of ideal Nightmare covers:Alice Cooper - Welcome to My NightmareIggy Pop - Space Goofs Theme [from the cartoon show]Iggy Pop - Louie, Louie [popularized by The Kingsmen]Rasputina - When I Was a Young GirlRasputina - Tourniquet [originally by Marilyn Manson]The Dresden Dolls - Amsterdam (live - 2005-03-02 Hamburg) [originally by Jacques Brel]Maxwell/Mosher - Hell [originally by Squirrel Nut Zippers, though technically not a cover but a do-over]Squirrel Nut Zippers - The Ghost of Stephen Foster (with Andrew Bird's wicked violinin')
From the original Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack by the inimitable Danny Elfman:Kidnap the Sandy ClawsOogie Boogie's Song
Now, a video of Ben Folds' cover of Such Great Heights has made it up online. Courtesy of the forums at TheSuburbs.org.uk, you can go download a 30MB wmv of the Triple J Like a Version segment:. Or for the YouTube inclined, someone promptly turned around and re-uploaded there for your viewing pleasure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KI78874qbU.
This explains why the cover seems a bit avant-garde with 3 drummers playing beats on random things (i.e. mailbox covered in a towel). Looks like Ben also tweaked the upper half of his piano to create some curious sounds. This also explains why the Macarena slips in at the end.
Real post, later.
I just posted Ben's cover of Such Great Heights earlier today and I would like to direct your attention to the site Automatic Joy, a truly fantastic site of aural pleasure. Full of Dresden Dolls rarities, live covers, radio performances, etc. I just had a field day in the covers section when I stumbled upon this site a few weeks ago. Among the covers is their slowed-down version of Such Great Heights, which again is underwhelming coming from one of my favourite bands. I'm beginning to think The Postal Service's Such Great Heights is absolute perfection and despite my love of covers, I'd prefer to just leave this one alone. Anyway there's a bunch of other great Dresden Dolls material to be had at the site.
Some highlights include:
-acoustic German radio versions of Coin-Operated Boy, Backstabber, and Jacques Brel's Amsterdam
-David Bowie's Life on Mars?
-Three Dog Night's One (with the Ambiious Orchestra)
-Science Fiction Double Feature (from Rocky Horror Picture Show)
...and much more! Automatic Joy-- Go now!
Coming up this Thursday/Friday, a bunch of lucky Brisbanians will get to see The Dresden Dolls join Ben Folds for two shows down under. If anyone's listening down there (or up there), please record these shows!
Hey, quick update here. I've been super swamped doing the double job thing among other stuff. Here's a cover Ben Folds did for the Australian radio station Triple J. I was so excited when I heard he had covered Such Great Heights. One of my favourite songs from the past few years covered by my favourite artist... but I gotta say I was pretty disappointed. You be the judge:Ben Folds - Such Great Heights [originally by the Postal Service]
