Tune du Jour: “I Am A Rock” – Simon and Garfunkel
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: The Coolies vs. The Hollies vs. Me First and The Gimme Gimmes
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
CoverMeImpressed.blog CoverMeImpressed.blog CoverMeImpressed.blog
The Original
Simon and Garfunkel:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
The Coolies vs. The Hollies vs. Me First and The Gimme Gimmes
The Coolies:
Hit it, Billy …
The Hollies:
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes:
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 
I’m going with the Hollies and I don’t really know why. Just kinda spoke to me.
I’m going with the Hollies and I don’t really know why. Just kinda spoke to me.
I’m a big fan of S&G, and have been for decades. This is a very intense song. “Hiding in my room, safe within my womb, I touch no one and no one touches me.” Heavy stuff. I remember hearing this as a kid and it really resonating. Coolies version is interesting, turning it into a kinda fun song. But… it’s not a fun song. Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (a group that must be giving Richie kickbacks) version is too irreverent for such a song like this. I had to go with the Hollies and their stellar harmonies.
I first heard that version by The Coolies late eighties or early nineties. Good stuff!
Also another goodie by Me First, who have been making frequent visits to the site.
Everyone knows I’m voting Hollies. Those vocal harmonies by Allan Clarke and Graham Nash are among the best I’ve heard. They win today’s vote and surpass the original.
Hollies did what you’d expect: they sing it well with full blend of voices and don’t change anything major. Me First featured more singing than usual. Whenever I use a chainsaw to carve up a little ice block art, I listen to this. I think The Coolies ran away with this. Clay Harper’s very affected vocal shows that they are not taking this seriously in the least. This is for maximum fun. Rob Gal gets a chance to show off some guitar gymnastics. These guys were so much fun live. That was even better than my memory of it. I was stunned that my vote was the only one.
Well, I guess we had some fun with a beautiful old song today.
The Coolies … ah, The Coolies … For those who never took The Coolies in on a hot ATL night at some dive club … I feel for you … Such memories!
The Hollies do what The Hollies do … beautiful harmonies and such … but I’d just as soon hear Simon and Garkunkel play the song.
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes … again, they do what they do … sped-up, vibrant fun but nothing all to creative here.
The Coolies … Hit it Billy ….