Tune du Jour: “Teenage Kicks” – The Undertones
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Nouvelle Vague vs. Platinum Paddies feat. The Rabbi vs. Hagfish
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Simply a masterpiece of the era …
The Original
The Undertones:
Just so many great covers of this song. Here’s three of them. We may have to revisit this at another time …
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Nouvelle Vague vs. Platinum Paddies feat. The Rabbi vs. Hagfish
Nouvelle Vague:
Platinum Paddies feat. The Rabbi:
Hagfish:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 
Phenomenal song. One of the best of its era.
Three very fine, very different covers. The sultry, lounge act of Nouvelle Vague, the acoustic purity of the Platinum Paddies and the hells bells rocker from Hagfish.
Really tough decision. They all have such redeeming qualities and since each is so different from the others, how do you choose the best?
For me the Platinum Paddies got the edge. Love the vocals and simple delivery. It’s a shame, these guys apparently put out a whole Undertones tribute album, but this is number is the only one that I could find in any of the usual outlets.
Absolutely a great song. How long was a great song in 1965? 2 minutes twenty six if it wasn’t Desolation Row. How long was a great song in 1979? 2:26. Legendary UK DJ John Peel called this his favorite song. I did a Spotify search for covers and two of these didn’t show up but there is a lot of them out there. Good variety here. Nouvelle Vague always make me want to retire to my space age bachelor pad and shimmy across the fllor with a dry martini making Groucho eyes toward Emma Peel. Looking at the photo of Hagfish I thought they might be ska/punk. I like the feedback into drums opening and the verses but I hate the chorus. They keep the hand claps but drown everything in a compressed din. Poor production sound. I have no idea about Platinum Paddies or The Rabbi and I haven’t looked it up but that sure sounds like Keith Richards as the Rabbi on vocals so are the Platinum Paddies The Edge and I don’t know what Bono might add but those are at least worth a thought. They got my vote.
I’ve seen the Undertones twice. Once, when they opened for the Clash at the Palladium in 1979. It was at that concert that the iconic photo of Paul Simonon throttling his bass on the cover of London Calling was taken. Fast forward to 2024. I’m in Amsterdam and I see, on a flyer, that the Undertones are playing at the Paradiso, in three days. I was still going to be in Amsterdam, so I got a ticket. Fabulous show. It’s not often you get to see a band as a teenager, and then again in your 60’s.
This is a great song. I have several Nouvelle Vague albums and I often like these sultry versions, but this song has too much young enthusiasm for it to be interpreted like this. Platinum Paddies version was meh. The singer sounds like William S. Burroughs. Again, this song needs a young feel, and Hagfish came through with it. Got my vote.
P.S. Greetings from the middle of nowhere (Arusha, Tanzania)