Tune du Jour: “(What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?” – Nick Lowe
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Midnight Oil vs. Big Fish Ensemble feat. the Indigo Girls vs. Bruce Springsteen et al. vs. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sarah Potenza
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The Original
Never knew of nor heard this original version before …
Brinsley Schwartz (June 1974):
Nick Lowe (who wrote the song) with his band at the time His Sound (October 1978):
Beautifully written plea for sanity. For all his acclaim I still feel that Nick is an underrated songwriter. He has written some brilliant lyrics, often poignant, often satirical, always first-rate. Unfortunately, this song has more relevance now more than ever. John Lennon quoted the song in 1980 in a Rolling Stone interview. What more can you say …
Most Popular Cover
Timeless, superb version! One of my EC favorites from the first time I heard it. Such energy, attitude and passion!!! Recently saw EC and, of course, he sang this as the last song of his encore. During the show he gleefully told of a time long ago in Detroit when Donald Trump (or as he referred to him as “the spoiled son of a slumlord”) tried to glom onto him after a show and he told him to eff-off! Yes, now that’s a punk attitude!!!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions (Nov 7 1980):
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
So many great covers of this song. It was ridiculous whittling it down to four. Will probably re-visit this masterpiece again … and maybe again.
Midnight Oil vs. Big Fish Ensemble feat. the Indigo Girls vs. Bruce Springsteen et al. vs. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sarah Potenza
Midnight Oil:
Big Fish Ensemble feat. the Indigo Girls:
Atlanta hometown heroes! The Indigo Girls made it … Big Fish Ensemble should have …
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, the Dixie Chicks, Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, John Fogerty, Michael Stipe, Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo and Jackson Browne (Great Scott, Batman!!!):
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sarah Potenza:
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 
Had to take a deep breath after all of that.
Midnight Oil, Big Fish and the Indigo Girls deliver spirited, outstanding versions. In a fair world any of them would have taken gold. Ah, but tis a wicked world shaded by the darkness of insanity …
Springsteen et al. is from the 2004 Vote for Change concert. Another one of those events that almost leaves you speechless given the star power on stage. Loved seeing the Dixie Chicks up there throwing it down. Anyone who glibly writes those women off as just another country duo with pretty voices should have another look. They embrace the punk attitude, pretty much sacrificing their careers by writing some pretty militant songs and making a few inflammatory statements directed towards the insanity that was George Bush Jr. Impressive, to say the least, especially coming from mainstream country singers. Quite reminiscent of Johnny Cash’s courageous stance on the Vietnam debacle. On a lighter note, I got a real kick out of Michael Stipe on stage for the sole purpose of buffooning it up. That cast of do-gooders provided quite the musical spectacle.
And, of course, as usual the Postmodern Jukebox delivers a fabulous set and number.
In the end, just had to go with the raw energy of the 2004 Vote to Change gang.
This has always been a pretty amazing song, and a longtime favorite of mine. Like most people of my generation, I first heard the Elvis Costello version, only later discovering that Nick Lowe actually wrote it. Back in May 1978, at one of the earliest punk shows I ever attended, I saw Elvis Costello at the Palladium, with Nick Lowe & Rockpile opening (Mink DeVille played before them). I don’t think Rockpile did the song that night, but Elvis definitely closed with it—and although my brain is addled and my arteries hardened, I’m almost certain Nick came out to join him. Elvis had already recorded it by then, though it wouldn’t end up on Armed Forces until the following year.
I caught Nick Lowe about ten years ago at a fantastic free Lincoln Center outdoor show, and he did it there as well, to a wildly enthusiastic crowd. What always made the song stand out, especially back then, is how its title leans into pure hippie sentiment—a philosophy most punks sneered at.
As for the covers: Midnight Oil’s version definitely works for me. They’re rocking, and I like Peter Garrett’s voice, and the message fits their whole ethos. I’m not crazy about the Big Fish Ensemble take. Too slow and gentle. The Postmodern Jukebox version is torture (for me, anyway). But that Springsteen performance? Unreal. The star power alone is staggering: Bruce and Fogerty, plus Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder, Michael Stipe, Bonnie Raitt, the Dixie Chicks, Jackson Browne… it’s like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exploded and half the inductees fell onto one stage.
Meanwhile, I noticed that Richie credits the song to Bruce Springfield on the ballot. Springfield—where Haitian immigrants are presumably still stealing pets and eating them.
Dusty Springsteen!!
Sometimes- perhaps more times than I would like – I find that I don’t like any of the covers. But whoa, this time I think the covers are 4 for 4. Definitely a hard choice. I love Midnight Oil and was inclined to go with them because of the fantastic Rickenbacker guitar in the thumbnail photo. I figured that was as good a tie-breaker as any. But at the last minute I went with Bruce and Co. I was mostly impressed that they managed to pull it off so extremely well, and everyone looked like they were having such a good time being on that stage and singing together. Seeing and hearing this musta made Nick feel pretty high.
Had to go with the all-star cast from the Vote for Change concert. Great video, too.
you could have listed 40 covers of this gem, and we probably would have worked through them all ,
one of Cuzin Kris’s favorites, and I can picture her and Freddy jamming out and throwing down un-copiable moves in gleeful frenzy
no Kid Rock??? I feel like MAGA is under-represented here for some reason,
didn’t the Trump boys and MBS record a rollicking version.
anyway, all great covers, but not a fair fight, Bruce’s ensemble cast was like a version of the Mets free agent class, except they performed.
I feel like only Bill Murray’s a capello version might have challenged, but I guess we’ll never know.
When Elvis Costello did this it stood out to me because his originals were typically cynical yet his version is definitive is it not?
I do enjoy Big Fish and Indigos but this was the everything omelette made by too many cooks. Sounds like they had not even practiced this together. I think that if you took one of the later lineups of The Saints and removed Chris Bailey in favor of the maniac from The Hills Have Eyes you might now have Midnight Oil. Pretty good version and no one died. Postmodern did once again show how consistently good they are although I may suspect that the ham sandwich that took down Mama Cass resides somewhere in the singer. I voted All Star extravaganza.