Monday, December 20, 2010

Paul Wisner Rates "Kids in America" Covers

Occasionally, and much to the dismay of our keyboardist/guitarist Paul Wisner, my band covers a song. In fact, we (Miskatonic) played an entire set of unlikely cover songs at our singer's wedding. But aside from that, I can only recall three that we've played out: "Do It Clean" (Echo and the Bunnymen), "I Was Made for Loving You" (KISS) and "Kids in America" (Kim Wilde).

Paul thinks we shouldn't cover any songs; but if we had to it should be a unique version, "based on the the original words and melody - as opposed to mimicking a particular recorded performance." He points to Sonic Youth's haunting interpretation of The Carpenter's "Superstar" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y21VecIIdBI).

In this spirit, he recently shared with the band his ratings of "Kids in America" covers ...

BEST:
MxPx (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QuuKqwRpCc)

GOOD:
The Muffs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31amCrgicbI&feature=related)
Pennywise (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFuWMXxpf5M)
The Bloodhound Gang (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPxtvwd-2lw)
The Donnas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu-8soqGK-U)
Len (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dxkF-GWwCQ)

'A' FOR EFFORT:
Lawnmower Deth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJz6_PEu6Iw)

HORRIBLE:
Cascada (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRLxeiBzSJQ&feature=related)
Kim-Lian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieyU4F76EYU&feature=related)
Hannah Montana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7o_aateAsE&feature=related)

WORSE THAN HORRIBLE:
The Jonas Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOZxpCyGxF8)
No Secrets (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYAPDCEaJ80&feature=related)

I'm sure he didn't capture all of them ... any others worth consideration??

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I love that Sonic Youth cover.