Tune du Jour: “God Only Knows” – The Beach Boys
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: David Bowie vs. Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet vs. The Flaming Lips
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
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Not a fan of The Beach Boys but this is a pretty good one, I suppose, as far as The Beach Boys go that is …
The Original
The Beach Boys:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
David Bowie vs. Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet vs. The Flaming Lips
David Bowie:
Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet:
The Flaming Lips:
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 
David Bowie plays it straight but his vocals are a beautiful tribute to the song.
There’s no questioning The Brodski Quartet’s expertise and their interpretation is commendable but I felt that EC was a bit overdramatic with his vocals and overall I was not enthused with the end result.
The Flaming Lips always put their unique spin on covers. Some work and other don’t. This falls in the latter category.
Bowie …
I want to vote for the original.
The elements that make the original so great are not to be found (or even attempted) in any of these covers. Namely, the complex production innovations and the layered vocal harmonies, rising to the high pitched crescendo toward the end of the piece.
At this point, Brian’s studio mastery was light years beyond the cheesy pop fare that characterized the band’s early output.
In 2021 the Rolling Stone updated list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” placed this at number eleven.
When Brian left us last June, the luminaries were unanimous in lavishing upon him the highest praise. They weren’t talkin’ about “Help Me Rhonda” or “Little Deuce Coupe”.
Anyone still scratching their head and wondering about all the Brian Wilson worship need only grab their favorite herbal refreshment, and a bottle or two of I.P.A. Sit directly between the speakers and listen to Pet Sounds in its entirety. Then throw on Brian Wilson’s Smile.
Are we sure that was David Bowie? It sounded like Count Chocula, no! It sounded like Anthony Newly impersonating Count Chocula. Overly affected, overly everything, almost outright comedic. Flaming Lips were ghostly and spacious and possibly summed up by a math equation: Art-Rock destructionists plus Brian Wilson lovers equals avante weirdness. I voted Elvis and the Brodskys. Hard to imagine the punk Buddy Holly of 1977 would have this moment but he contains multitudes.
Ugh. Tough call. I disliked all three covers. Bowie has multiple voices. I like the higher pitched Ziggy voice. Not crazy about the deep China Girl voice. This vocal version goes even further, his voice sounding almost like a parody of himself. I wish he had broken out his “Heroes” voice for this one.
Elvis has never had the crooner voice he wishes he had, and although he does an admirable job here, all those strings… I dunno… I think he was overreaching here.
Bizarrely, I went with the Flaming Lips, who added a much needed dose of weirdness.