Everyone over my my (new) place...

Having given the covers project up as a bad job, I've made a new mp3 blog - Looking Askance from '63 - come and see.

AARGH! (3 posts and dead in the water already)

Ok, an mp3 blog of cover versions was a nice idea, and it turns out that it was such a nice idea that somebody else is doing it already. I'm sorry if you have found your way here because I mailed you, it was a case of accidental false pretences. Go to

Copy,right

and never come here again.

Wierd shit in Covers Land...

Yup, not all cover versions are straight forward.

386-DX is - well, frankly I'm not sure...

Are they/he/it some russian midi covers band? a post modern art installation deconstructing the notion of authenticity in a digital age? a bad joke? Most likely, all three...

Noel Morrison from Epitonic says:

"Although on the surface the music of 386 DX is undeniably humorous, the project uncovers a series of deeper questions about the complexities of authorship in the digital age. 386 DX was invented and developed by Alexei Shulgin in 1998. The "band" has "performed" over 40 concerts in various locations throughout Europe and the U.S., and also "plays" in public spaces as a street musician. Who, exactly, is 386DX? 386 DX is a computer, built by a hardware manufacturer, who plays songs written by famous groups, using software created by a third party company."

There are lots of covers on the 386-DX website, including songs originally by the Sex Pistols, Metallica and Nirvana,but this rather poignant offering gives a flavour...

386-DX: California Dreaming

hello...

People make cover versions of other people's songs for lots of reasons, and with varying degrees of success.

Look at Kylie - now she is the absinthe/botox fairy, a dance diva sex god, a veritable Queen Mum...but once there was ordinary SoapKylie, touting "Do the Locomotion" in backless dungarees, an old tune with a slick makeover sung by a bubbly froth-haired teen - fun for all the family, and therefore money in the bank from a variety of income streams...

or look at The Slits' version of "Heard it through the Grapevine", possibly the best cover ever - a stark re-imagining, the whole song stripped to the core and rebuilt, scratchy guitars daubed over an evil bassline, and that line "just about to lose my mind" - well, when marvin sang it, it was high school dramaqueenery, but when Ari Up (I think) wails it, it's a threat, a promise, and what's more, you know she doesn't really care...

The Slits: Heard it through the Grapevine or (buy)

People make cover versions of other people's songs for lots of reasons, to make them look good and others look bad, for money and credibility, for market share and love. Most bands do covers at some point; this site isn't meant to be an exhaustive list, but somewhere for me to stick some of my favourites, and hopefully some you havn't heard before. See you tomorrow?