Tune du Jour: “My Girl” – Madness
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Missing Andy vs. Skanker vs. Nouvelle Vague
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
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Two great songs in the cosmos with the same name …
Probably my favorite Madness song. Such a simple but effective love song.
The Original
Madness:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Missing Andy vs. Skanker vs. Nouvelle Vague
Missing Andy:
Skanker:
Nouvelle Vague:
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 
The tone on that last sax note at the end in the original is so sad, like a wail. Great song
I don’t remember the original. Never bought anything by Madness, although I might have a track or two on a compilation.
Never heard of either of the first two contestants.
Missing Andy did a great job of duplicating the original, but here on CMI, we like creative alterations.
Skanker did just that, and earned today’s vote.
Nouvelle Vague is all about drastic changes in their covers, but some work better than others. Not enough for the vote today.
Skanker by a nudge. If you had rank choice voting, Missing Andy would have gotten a close second.
But mostly they all reminded what good lyricists Madness were. Baggy Trousers, Our House, the song about the guy that steals underwear… they were really good at telling short, down to earth stories in a song.
Madness was too cool for school! Loved those guys and oh how influential!
I had never heard of Missing Andy. I listened to more of their stuff and it is all very good. Don’t know how this band alluded at least some semblance of acclaim. Love their stripped-down version and enjoyed the singer’s facial expressions.
Skanker is just brilliant! Most of the song is reverent and somewhat close to the original but the closing is just fabulous!
Nouvelle Vague does what it always does, deliver an interesting and great cover. But this one is particularly brilliant.
Stupidly difficult to pick a winner. All very different from each other and all fantastic in their own way. As I listened to each one, I was sure that I would vote for it. Perhaps because it was the last one to be heard, I gave my vote to the dreamy, otherworldly Nouvelle Vague cover.
I had the Dance Craze British Ska compilation but otherwise never bought any Madness. Rich made some cassette comps back in the 80s including them but I didn’t remember this song by seeing the title. Missing Andy played it well and it was fun watching them but it was a paint by numbers version offering nothing new. Nouvelle Vague evoke a mood that I enjoy but here it was like listening to someone tell you a story that you already know and you’re being patient and polite but thinking Come on Already! Skanker lets you know right away that it will be different here opening with power chords that sound like they were delivered with a Townshend windmill flourish. When the words are finished you get a halftime strum just enough to go get a beer then the storm is building, building…this relationship is done.
I had the Dance Craze British Ska compilation but otherwise never bought any Madness. Rich made some cassette comps back in the 80s including them but I didn’t remember this song by seeing the title. Missing Andy played it well and it was fun watching them but it was a paint by numbers version offering nothing new. Nouvelle Vague evoke a mood that I enjoy but here it was like listening to someone tell you a story that you already know and you’re being patient and polite but thinking Come on Already! Skanker lets you know right away that it will be different here opening with power chords that sound like they were delivered with a Townshend windmill flourish. When the words are finished you get a halftime strum just enough to go get a beer then the storm is building, building…this relationship is done.
I enjoyed the 2-Tone bands back in the day, my favorite being The English Beat, and then The Specials. The Selecter would probably be my third fave. Try as I might, I never really got into Madness or Bad Manners, but I did have the Madness album One Step Beyond, and I did really like this song (although my favorite on the album was Bed and Breakfast Man, which is sooooo great.)
Skanker got my vote today. Their version was true enough to the original, but innovative enough to be impressive. Missing Andy did a great job, in the spirit of the original, but it was just a little TOO faithful to it. As for Nouvelle Vague, the sultry vocals just don’t work for a song like this, sorry.