All right, let’s listen to another cover. Today’s song comes from, of all things, the soundtrack to a video game. For some reason, the makers of Stubbs the Zombie decided to get a bunch of awesome bands to cover classic songs from the ’50s and ’60s (the game takes place in 1959). The bands I have heard of that, amazingly, contributed to the soundtrack: Ben Kweller, The Raveonettes, Death Cab for Cutie, Cake, The Walkmen, The Dandy Warhols, The Flaming Lips, Phantom Planet, and the band behind today’s song, Clem Snide. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d ever even heard the original version, by Little Anthony & the Imperials, when I first came across the Clem Snide version, but it resonated nonetheless. The great thing about the Clem Snide version is how it differs in phrasing and melody enough to distinguish it from the original (and to make it an improvement, I think), yet how it preserves the feeling of being an oldie. It’s a really interesting arrangement that takes advantage of Clem Snide’s strengths while still making great use of a simple, catchy tune. It’s lively but melancholy–a combination that almost always works for me. Enjoy.
Feb 072010
Follow me on Twitter