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Posts Tagged ‘Nick Cave’

Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill: “Moritat von Mackie Messer” (subsequently “Mack the Knife”)

Posted: January 25, 2014 in Reigning Pooh-Bah Maximus of Cover Tune, THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Tags: Bertolt Brecht, Bobby Darrin, Die Dreigroschenoper, Ella Fitzgerald, Kurt Gerron, Kurt Weill, Louis Armstrong, Lyle Lovett, Mack the Knife, Moritat, Moritat von Mackie Messer, Nick Cave, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, the threepenny opera

Tune du Jour: “Mack the Knife” – Bobby Darrin

THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Nick Cave vs. Lyle Lovett

Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)

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“Free markets will not prevail without unfettered competition among cover songs.” – Milton Friedbyrd

Moritat von Mackie Messer is a song written by Bertolt Brecht and composed by Kurt Weill for their play Die Dreigroschenoper. Die Dreigroschenoper premiered in Berlin in 1928. The opening song, Moritat von Mackie Messer, was originally sung by actor Kurt Gerron.

In 1954 Marc Blitzstein translated Die Dreigroschenoper into English (i.e. The Threepenny Opera) and the play enjoyed a six-year run Off-Broadway. It is Blitzstein’s translation that became the basis for the popularized American song, Mack the Knife.

In 1954, Louis Armstrong was the first musician to score a hit with Mack the Knife. Of course, Bobby Darrin’s Mack the Knife, recorded in 1959, set an unparalleled standard of excellence for the song. Another popular version of Mack the Knife is Ella Fitzgerald’s 1960 live version. After the first verse poor Ella forgot the rest of the song. Yet Ella’s amazing improvisation thereafter earned her a Grammy for the performance.

Die Dreigroschenoper: Moritat von Mackie Messer

Kurt Gerron (1928):

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Mack the Knife

Louis Armstrong (1954):

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Bobby Darrin (1959):

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Ella Fitzgerald (1960):

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THE CLASH of Cover Songs

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Nick Cave vs. Lyle Lovett

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Nick Cave (1995):

Nick Cave holds the distinction of being CMI’s Reigning Exultant Virtuosic Performer of “Mack the Knife“. Additionally, Nick Cave is a recipient of CMI’s universally coveted title of Bi-Victor Melodious Maximus in Adversarial Replication. Among the title’s myriad of rewards and benefits, perhaps most desirous is that it bestows upon the recipient the eminently yearned for privilege of having one’s name appear in print media in orange.

Nick Cave’s triumphal exploits in CMI’s THE CLASH of Cover Tunes competitions are detailed below:

11/9/2013 – “Moritat von Mackie Messer” (Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weil) – Nick Cave (86%) shellacks The Psychedelic Furs (14%)

10/6/2013 – “Suzanne” (Leonard Cohen) – Nick Cave with Perla Batella & Julie Christenson (83%) quash Geoffrey Oryema (17%)

This is shortened version of Nick Cave’s rendition that I included solely for the Caveman’s stellar choreography:

Lyle Lovett (1994):

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Votes can be cast up to seven days from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

Nick Cave: “The Weeping Song”

Posted: January 5, 2014 in THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Tags: COVER SONGS, Jake Stone, Nick Cave, Sibyl Vane, The Weeping Song

Tune du Jour: “The Weeping Song” – Nick Cave

THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Jake Stone vs. Sibyl Vane

Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)

CoverMeImpressed.com CoverMeImpressed.com CoverMeImpressed.com

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DDT Did A Job On Me … Now I Am A Teenage Broccoli!

In deference to the recent anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy I chose the greatest song John Lennon ever penned to launch Cover Me Impressed. Needless to say it is beyond disheartening that 42 years after this brilliant plea for peace was introduced it is as pertinent today as the day it was written.

The Original

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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds:

It’s truly hard to imagine a more sophisticated and debonair dancer than Nick Cave. He’s got moves others can only dream of.

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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Jake Stone vs. Sibyl Vane

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Jake Stone:

Sibyl Vane:

Also, keep in mind that if you should spontaneously self-actualize while playing a cover then you could – and probably should – nominate it for Top 10 (i.e. “Impeccable”) consideration.

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Votes can be cast up to seven days from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

Tom Jones: “Delilah”

Posted: November 25, 2013 in THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Tags: delilah, Flogging Molly, John Otway, Nick Cave, Tom Jones

Broccoli Fields Forever …

Delilah was a big hit when I was growing up. I remember having to endure it many a time on the radio. But until actually researching it a bit for the blog, I could not have told you anything pertaining to what it was about. Can you? Well it’s a real killer … literally. It’s about some character who, while approaching his woman’s house for an impromptu visit, spies her through the blinds cavorting about, if you know what I mean. In a rage he beats on her door (“Why, Oh Why, Delilah?), upon entering promptly slices her to ribbons and then begs for her forgiveness. Nice tune.

In searching an apt competitor for John Otway’s version it was interesting to find that virtually everyone who covered this song did so in mocking fashion. Other than Tom I don’t know that anyone took it seriously. Although, when your crooning about heinous atrocities how could you keep a straight face? Given the subject matter it is surprising and unfortunate that my man, Nick Cave, never added his special kind of magic to this number. However, I did come across a cover of Nick belting out, and I kid you not, I Just Stopped in To See What Condition My Condition Was In (but that’s for another post on another day).

The Original

Tom Jones:

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The Cover Songs Competition

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I found five or six excellent covers of Delilah. It was quite difficult choosing who would compete.

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Flogging Molly vs. John Otway

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Flogging Molly:

For reasons you’ll soon find out, Flogging Molly refers to their version as De (That’s All Right) Lilah:

John Otway:

Bit of a long intro but John can be a little verbose during live shows. But what can you do? The guy’s got a lot on his mind and thankfully he’s willing to share it!

Also, keep in mind that if you should spontaneously self-actualize while playing a cover then you could – and probably should – nominate it for Top 10 (i.e. “Impeccable”) consideration.

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Votes can be cast up to seven days from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weil: “Moritat von Mackie Messer” (subsequently “Mack the Knife”)

Posted: November 9, 2013 in THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Tags: Bertolt Brecht, Bobby Darrin, COVER SONGS, Die Dreigroschenoper, Ella Fitzgerald, Kurt Gerron, Kurt Weill, Louis Armstrong, Mack the Knife, Moritat, Moritat von Mackie Messer, Nick Cave, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Psychedelic Furs, the threepenny opera

Broccoli Fields Forever …

Moritat von Mackie Messer is a song written by Bertolt Brecht and composed by Kurt Weil for their play Die Dreigrosohenoper. Die Dreigrosohenoper premiered in Berlin in 1928. The opening song, Moritat von Mackie Messer, was originally sung by actor Kurt Gerron.

In 1954 Marc Blitzstein translated Die Dreigrosohenoper into English (i.e. The Threepenny Opera) and the play enjoyed a six-year run Off-Broadway. It is Blitzstein’s translation that became the basis for the popularized American song, Mack the Knife.