Music I Want To Hear

June 2nd, 2009 by skippy

Due to increased activity in the home, I haven’t had the time or inclination to sit down and write like I usually do. And so as I sit here staring at a blank screen, getting a nice buzz on, I have decided to just write down a list of non-existent music that I want to hear.

I kind of have a thing for music that is played in an incorrect genre. By that mean a metal song, done in a polka style, or a a rap song done as country. I’m not sure how easy it was to find this sort of music before the internet existed, but I have managed to find quite a bit of it in the past few years. I own an album called Punk Side Story. I have another album which is Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”, done as bluegrass.

Here are a bunch of songs I would like to hear played in other styles.

1) The entirety of Bob Dylans “Desolation Row”, played by a punk band. (Here is a few verses of it done by My Chemical Romance, which is almost a punk band.) I just want the whole darn thing played this way. (Also, anybody else think that Gerard Way would make a way better Edward than Robert Pattinson?* )

2) Europe’s “Final Countdown” on a Kazoo. (Thank you Toy Dolls)

3) Van Halens “Panama”, played by an accordion.

4) The Rolling Stones “Sympathy For The Devil” and The Who’s “Won’t Be Fooled Again” as an opera.

5) Johnny Cash’s “When The Man Comes Around” done by an orchestra. Done right, I think that this could be really really creepy.

6) Oingo Boing’s “He’s Only A Lad”, done as an industrial song.

7) Led Zeppelins ” Stairway to Heaven” done as a country song. (Thank you Dolly Parton)

8) Helloween’s “Twighlight of the Gods” as a ska song.

9) Metallica’s “One” done by a swing band. (I did find this song done country style, which works surprisingly well)

*What, can’t a man enjoy some sparkly vampires without being judged?

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm and is filed under Just kind of babbling, Weee! Alchohol is fun!. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

ShuttleZ Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 pm

Led Zep “Stairway To Heaven” was done by Rolf Harris on a wobble board! LEGEND stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot8KBcPzAsw

Captcha: 1/2 clamps – better than a full clamp?

Phelanar Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 pm

Not exactly what was requested, but worth passing along nonetheless. Two words. Hayseed Dixie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm4AeQS0KS0&feature=related

steelcobra Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 pm

“What, can’t a man enjoy some sparkly vampires without being judged?”

No, no you can’t. Even the chick at Best Buy at the register who we described the “vampire” type to said that it was stupid.

StoneWolf reply on June 3rd, 2009 4:59 am:

The only time a vampire should “sparkle” is when being illuminated by the targeting laser.

Captcha: Stoat her-okay, that’s a new one.

Twan reply on June 3rd, 2009 12:04 pm:

Using the logic of the Twilight books: “this is the skin of a murderer!” We can postulate that Jack the Ripper only killed at night beacause he sparkled as well.

When watching the movie (yes, I’m that manly. GOORAGH)I had the irresistible urge to say, “ooh, sparkly” in a very stereotypical, gay voice. Which I satisfied everytime a vampire walked into the scene.

By the way, according to the girls I converse with, the next books are basically just those two boinking their brains out. Which, they say, was described as “fucking a statue.” Then she gets pregnant and the devil spawn of their unholy lust claws it’s way out of her womb.

Morgrim Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 pm

Find some clips of the aussie show ‘Spicks and Specks’. It’s a humorous music quiz show, and one of the rounds involves taking some well known songs and having them played by a group of odd musicians. Like a hard rock song played by 6 accordions, or pop by a barbershop quartet.

The object of the round is to correctly guess what the song is, but I think it might be right up your alley.

MannyLaMancha reply on June 2nd, 2009 11:59 pm:

You’d probably be interested in Richard Cheese. He does lounge versions of rock and rap songs. Imagine if Frank Sinatra sang Beastie Boys or Nirvana.

Strange Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:46 am

Fade to Bluegrass

Tekno Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 am

Pat Boone did an album called “In a Metal Mood” that was all great classic rock standards (Enter Sandman being one) and did them all as lounge.

I think the album was called “Hayseed Dixie” (get it? AC DC?), which was all ACDC songs done as deep twangin country…. I think it was the Gourds, but I could be wrong.

I think they also did a cover of Snoops “Gin and Juice”, which was fantastic.

And as for punk covers, well, Me first and the Gimme Gimme’s have done pretty much every song in the last 30 years as a punk cover. They absolutely rock.

Schwal Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:11 am

You realize “Won’t Be Fooled Again” is a Who song, right?

My favorite has to be “Baby Got Back” as folk rock, by Johnathon Coulton. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gW6yQZyx5w

skippy reply on June 3rd, 2009 10:18 am:

D’oh, I should have known that. Fixed.

Sequoia reply on June 3rd, 2009 3:12 pm:

WHAT? No banning from the Skippy’s Official Zombie Apocalypse Stronghold? AM I THE ONLY ONE BANNED?!?!

NOOOOO!!

paula reply on June 3rd, 2009 4:21 pm:

didn’t I hear you were banned from Skippy’s Official Zombie Apocalypse Stronghold for trying to hoard all the sharp pointy stuff, and not sharing with the rest of the class? not nice, Sequoia!

Sequoia reply on June 4th, 2009 2:35 pm:

No, I corrected his spelling.

Which, in retrospect, is even worse than hording the sharp, pointy objects and not sharing with the rest of the class.

paula reply on June 5th, 2009 6:32 am:

you…. you CORRECTED Skippy’s SPELLING?!? oh my gawd……

(Forgive me, oh great Skippy! I didn’t realize what evil I was associating with!)

Schwal Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:25 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXUM67D433w
The Solo for “Jump” by Van Halen on an accordion.

captcha: “byways exchange”. for places to small for a highway exchange.

wkwillis Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:00 am

I had some Beatles songs done by Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Jazz Tuba?

Raven Prometheus reply on June 3rd, 2009 7:33 am:

For your jazz tuba, look for an album call “ReBirth of the Cool,” by Jerry Mulligan. Yes, they have a jazz tuba.

Stickfodder reply on June 3rd, 2009 1:50 pm:

You can make any song into a cover done by Alvin and the chipmunks by just pitching up the song.

Chuck Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 am

REAL vampires do NOT sparkle. Don’t ask how I know.

Now, real faeries? They sparkle. Drive you nuts when you are trying to sleep, and the evil little wankers know it. The fey are not as like Tinkerbell as you’d hope, and they can be a right nuisance. A sparkly nuisance, but still a nuisance.

And unless they started out as dorks, vampires generally don’t act like dorks around women after the first hundred years or so. On the other hand, a natural dork is always a dork, immortal or not. You’d be surprised (or maybe not) how many hackers and uber-geeks are vampires.

steelcobra reply on June 3rd, 2009 6:02 am:

heehee, World of Darkness FTW

CAPTCHA: schang another – the next german singer came up

Morgrim reply on June 3rd, 2009 6:50 am:

Read the original Peter Pan and Tinkerbell is a heck of a lot more petty and annoying than the Disney version. Or even outright vicious, like when she attempts to trick the lost boys into murdering Wendy and comes damned close to success.

Arcanum reply on June 3rd, 2009 3:04 pm:

If you’re *lucky* the fey are just annoying. Traditional fey could be downright murderous.

If you want *good* modern vampire fiction (no, Anne Rice doesn’t count either) read the first four or six Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter books by Laurell K. Hamilton. You want to stop after that, though. Beyond that the author goes sort of insane and the books turn into bad, messed-up vampire and werewolf porn.

Captcha: “matured to” somehow seems applicable, but not really funny.

Sabra reply on June 3rd, 2009 4:03 pm:

The last two books, Ms Hamilton has sequestered the worst of the sex scenes into their own chapters, so they’re almost readable again. Almost.

Arcanum reply on June 3rd, 2009 4:11 pm:

I’ve heard similar things, but haven’t been able to bring myself to try them. It’s really a shame. The world is definitely my favorite take on vampires/werewolves/magic/etc. in the modern day. It’s not that I object to sex in books, particularly when dealing with vampires (which often have a sexual or pseudosexual aspect in the mythology), but her later books just got absurd.

Courtney reply on June 4th, 2009 1:29 am:

I’ve enjoyed the expansion of vampire genres in the last few years, but not the extended scenes of “romantic” vampire fu*king. I cant stand that crap.

Captcha: situated sonn: a way to take out the annoying vamps.

steelcobra reply on June 3rd, 2009 5:17 pm:

A really good series is the “Noble Dead” by Barb and J.C. Hendee. Dark fantasy, powerful characters, no gratuitous sex, and really, who wouldn’t want to read about a pair of scam artist vampire hunters who find out that not only vampires are real, but the girl is a dhampir (half vampire). Plus the guy is a half-elf who drinks himself to sleep, with an uncannily intelligent dog…

Wiregeek reply on June 3rd, 2009 8:37 pm:

Y’all should smoke up some Sookie Stackhouse – or watch Trueblood. That’s some good Vampire right there.

Cap – cussing owned – what?

Alyric reply on June 4th, 2009 8:56 pm:

I was actually about to recommend that series myself. One of my favorites.

tgobg Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:23 am

JAZZ TUBA? that reminds me of Billy and the Boingers of Bloom County Fame

Cat reply on June 4th, 2009 1:04 pm:

OMG. Have not heard of Billy and the Boingers in a long time. “U stink but I love you” is one of my fav. songs.

Captcha: keri were – keri were wishing she still had her Billy and the Boingers record!

tgobg Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:25 am

http://heim.ifi.uio.no/~mortenj/fimland/boingers/deathtng.jpg

Tzanti Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 am

Not Country, but this is Rolf Harris (do Americans know who Rolf Harris is?) doing Stairway to Heaven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgsH1pdWJ84

I also suggest the awesome Greased by Less than Jake, a punk treatment of the musical.

On a swing note, try the Puppini Sisters, here doing Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JOvf8Pc458&feature=related

Captcha: denounce Lubumbashi – The witchdoctor said.

speed Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:45 am

I once heard “Dueling Banjoes” done on tubas. Very frightening.

I had a buddy way back when who could pound out anything on an electric guitar by the Police ala the Sex Pistols.

I had another one that could play anything country style on an acustical guitar and sing them like Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings.

Lost track of both, dammit.

Tim Covington Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 am

How about GnR’s Welcome to the Jungle or Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song done in bluegrass?

Jim C Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:47 am

Cowboy Troy, a 7 foot (not quite) black guy doing country rap.

paula Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:51 am

On the pilot episode of the old ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’, Johnny Fever plays Neil Sedaka’s “You’re Having My Baby” sung by the entire Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

M578Jockey Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:57 am

I have the Judds cover of Devo’s “Working in a Coal Mine.” I also have a copy of the London Symphony doing Queen songs.

However if you want something that is actually good, try Dred Zeppelin. They have an Elvis impersonator who sings Zeppelin songs reggae style.

Captcha: thrum our…but only behind closed doors

Jim A reply on June 3rd, 2009 12:55 pm:

Umm.. Devo was covering Lee Dorsey’s “Working in a Coal Mine.”

stine reply on June 3rd, 2009 4:00 pm:

I have the LSO Queen, I also have Royal Philharmonic doing Pink Floyd

captcha – the beadiest – 70’s curtains

Lara reply on June 3rd, 2009 8:50 pm:

Dread Zeppelin is great. Here’s a link to their cover of Stairway to Heaven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7DqjyNGHJU

tgobg reply on June 4th, 2009 11:05 pm:

Dredd Zeppelin was awsome

Jason Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:14 am

Dude, I could be remembering incorrectly, but I’m pretty sure “Stairway” has *gag* been done as a country song – specifically by Dolly Parton. It was horrible, and an insult to the Gods of Rock, but be that as it may.

Random reply on June 3rd, 2009 7:29 am:

I’ll have to do some digging for links later on (YouTube is verboten at work), but this is a bit of a passion of mine as well. A few of my favourites:

-Richard Cheese (as mentioned above) is great. I particularly like his cover of “Closer” by NIN.

-kidneythieves did a kickass cover of “Crazy” by Patsy Cline. Has to be heard to be believed.

-Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt” by NIN bears mentioning here.

-Vanilla Ice. Covering himself. In thrash metal. I have no idea why his career didn’t take off for the sheer hilarity factor.

Sean Beattie reply on June 3rd, 2009 7:41 am:

No love for Beatallica? The Beatles/Metallica cover band? (You read that right. “Sgt. Hetfield’s Motorbreath Pub Band” is a great song).

skippy reply on June 3rd, 2009 11:11 am:

Never heard of them till just now, but I like what I have heard so far.

Sean Beattie reply on June 3rd, 2009 12:00 pm:

Skip their version of “Hey Jude.” Probably the only song they do that doesn’t work as a Beatles song or a Metallica song; the blending just doesn’t mesh right. The rest of their catalogue rocks my socks.

Derdroe reply on June 6th, 2009 2:55 pm:

Johnny Cash doing Hurt and Personal Jesus Is just is just not right but sounds good at the same time.

Matt Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 am

Everything ever covered by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (top cuts: first and foremost Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” also, “I Believe I Can Fly” and the Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye Earl”).

I’ll also give a shout out to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ rendition of “Enter Sandman,” thought it may not fit because they play it surprisingly straight-up.

Tzanti reply on June 13th, 2009 2:36 pm:

I find that the Bosstones version makes it sound like ‘Ride the Lightning’ era Metallica, rather than the more recent Metallica output. The also do a practically thrash metal version of Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion.

Several years back I heard a punk cover of the Cheers theme song done by a Glaswegian band called Nerve. This was at a gig in Oxford when they were supporting Therapy? Its cool was augmented by the WTF factor that rippled through the audience.

Finally, I have Great Big Sea’s folk cover of Slade’s Run, Run Away. Yep, folk covering true ’70s GLAM ROCK! …and it sounds amazing.

captcha: merchant of – local Shakespeare group runs out of sign.

Bobsyouruncle Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:39 am

check out a band called “Streetwize.” Also, the band “Me first and the Gimme Gimmes” has some great out of the genre covers (they’re punk).

Nquinnell Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 am

Check out the Vitamin String Quartet. They do ALL styles of hard-rock music, emo music, etc., in string quartet format. A lot of it turns out to be really damn pretty.

Former Spc. 19K Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 am

7) Led Zeppelins ” Stairway to Heaven” done as a country song.

been done.

Dolly Parton, no less. and it was freaking great.

Kitty Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:36 am

The fantastic brit group Elbow doing their brilliant version of Independent Woman

http://www.imeem.com/microskomp/music/Cf-nevE5/elbow-independent-woman/

Tzanti reply on June 13th, 2009 2:47 pm:

Welsh rockers Lost Prophets covered Justin Timberlakes ‘Cry me a River’ a while back as the b-side to Last Train Home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nv8SVH8x_k

And for a bit of an OTT Glam Rock kick, The Darkness doing Radiohead’s Street Spirit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXgU4M3JILc&feature=PlayList&p=74FD4940218A06F3&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=20

Enigmatick Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 am

Anyone got linkage for the country version of “One?” I’m curious, and it scares me…

skippy reply on June 3rd, 2009 11:12 am:

I added a link to it in my post.

farmersdaughter Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:17 am

I second Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Amazing stuff.

Jim A Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:58 pm

You should look at:
http://www.amazon.com/Stairways-Heaven-Various-Artists/dp/B000005J65 – A CD that is exclusively covers of Stairway to Heaven. The one by a Doors cover band is pretty good IMHO.

I also own a CD of a string quarted doing Warren Zevon songs. And somewhere, a Cassette Tape by Dred Zeppelin,

Sabra Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm

Haven’t figured out yet if I like this song or it scares me:

The Rolling Stones covering Waylon’s song “Bob Wills is Still the King”–> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xECNrYxRUA

I’m impressed as hell if that’s actually done out of a love for Bob Wills.

Simonator Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm

You also should give a listen to Elvis Hitler’s “Green Haze”: It’s the lyrics to the “Green Acres Theme” sung to the tune of “Purple Haze.”

Captcha “equity rebate” What everybody wanted, but few are getting from the real estate bubble.

jon spencer Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:25 pm

Do a google search for Reverend Horton Heat covers.
Strange but very good.

paula Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:29 pm

“Due to increased activity in the home, I haven’t had the time or inclination to sit down and write like I usually do.”

Uh, Skippy? Does this mean the twins have arrived? Or just an inundation of about-to-be-grandparents, preparing for the imminent arrival of those twins?

Billy Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:04 pm

I thought that they already tried to combine country and rap, I belive its referred to as CRap

Billy reply on June 3rd, 2009 5:11 pm:

By the way, perhaps this is where I should note that rap irritates my and I am highly prejudice against country, with certain exceptions of course, such as Johnny Cash.

miss kitten Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:45 am

my son lives with his dad in a house of women. dad’s g/f, and 4 daughters. my boy is over-run. so he ended up reading the books..and liked them.

i said “spaaaaaarkllllyyyy* to him in JUST that tone of voice every time he started to go all twilight-y on me. i’m a horrible mama.

(he started laughing every time i did it, too.)

Michiel Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

It is not opera, but here is a great version of Sympathy for the Devil by a German band called Laibach. It is one of my personal favorites and lives on my iPod.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E-OsFSr5h8

And as I was about to post this, the next video came up and it is Laibachs version of Final Countdown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4VMDxSyLAU

Michiel reply on June 4th, 2009 3:59 pm:

Even better… Laibachs version of “Get Back” by the Beatles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEZnX45GCpQ

Icehawk Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

One of mt favorite mix ups is still Richard Cheese’s cover of Slipknot’s People = Shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut_ndgSUaA8&fmt=18

Never has Vegas lounge music sounded so good.

Crackedbelle Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 7:33 am

This is not on your list, but it should be.