Paul Anka's new version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit".....

[XNASA]

...discuss.

[RandomKoolzip]

1. REALLY fucking tired of "ironic" versions of this song.

I mean, it wasn't even one of Cobain's better tunes! If it was a just world, "Drain You" would have been the big hit. Can you imagine if thaqt was a the breakthrough song? Then we would have a had a grunge explosion with some melody, too.

Anyhow, I was tired of "cute" versions of this tune after C/Z's "Grunge Lite" album in 1993. Enough already.

[XNASA]

3. In that case, what about Anka's version of "Black Hole Sun"?

"Lovecats"?

"Wonderwall"?

[RandomKoolzip]

Pat Boone did the same shit in 1996.

And before that, Devo.

In short, *yawn*

A few years ago, it might have been a cute joke.

[XNASA]

6. But Boone's disc had distorted guitars and stuff, right

Anka's arrangements are strictly big band.

[RandomKoolzip]

10. The difference is Richard Belzer-thin.

The concept behind both is contemptuous.

[XNASA]

16. You're a bitter old man.

Meanie. :cry:

[RandomKoolzip]

19. I'm also right.

[progmom]

7. no - boone did a schlocky crappy ironic version of that shit

Anka... Oh. I can't fucking believe I am saying this...


Anka did a good job. It's interesting songs sung well with great arrangements.

Shit. I said it.

[RandomKoolzip]

8. It's still cloying.

I don't care how much work into that project. The concept makes me gag and the execution, however polished, is nothing but novelty.

I like Louis Prima's version of "Sympathy for the Devil" a lot better.

[progmom]

12. don't get mad at me for the question I am about to ask

Have you listened to the Anka record yet?

[RandomKoolzip]

15. Yup.

Went into Borders the other night, heard it front to back, over the loudspeakers. It's music for people who are contemptuous of rock and roll but want a certain "hip" cache while sipping on their double frappachino.

Almost made me want to give the counter guy a twenty to shut it off.

[progmom]

17. Sorry.

:(

my fault

[tigereye]

32. well Anka ain't as cool as Tony Bennett

IMO, but I haven't heard it.

[HuckleB]

27. Nope.

It ain't cloying. Not even a little bit.

Salud!

[XNASA]

9. Say it! Say it! Don't be ashamed...

I'm with you.

I've heard a couple of the songs and intend on picking the disc up on the way home today. Can't wait to hear it out on the patio this weekend. :party:

[Lisa0825]

22. I agree.

I saw him perform it on some late night show last month. I was impressed! It was interesting. Far more interesting than routine remakes that are really nothing but cheap copies. This was a completely different spin, and I liked the big band sound to it.

[HuckleB]

34. Indubitoubly.

[HuckleB]

29. You said it! And you said it well! And you're right!

:hi:

[HuckleB]

25. This ain't like the Pat Boone crap.

This is actually quite good.

Salud!

[RetroLounge]

36. Pat Boone has been doing the same shit since the 50's

Ruining Elvis and Little Richard songs...

Pat Boone will go to hell one day soon.

RL

[HuckleB]

40. LOL!

Exactly.

[Susang]

42. Isn't he in hell already?

During Y2K, he was was all over TV advocating drinking your own urine. How much worse can it get for him? :shrug:

[HuckleB]

44. Uh. You mean heck, don't you?

;)

[Orsino]

11. Ah!

So that's what's been junking up the air in my local Barnes & Noble.

[RandomKoolzip]

13. Another reason to hate it.

This is the stupid crap they'll be pumping into Border's and Starbucks for the next few months. Enjoy your megalatte!

[progmom]

14. yup - you got that right

Blame me for one of those.

[XNASA]

18. Starbucks = Stupid Crap

That's not news. ;)

[HuckleB]

31. Hmm.

But they don't play music at Powell's. What am I gonna do?

[HuckleB]

30. Shoot.

If Lovecats wasn't written for Paul Anka, what song ever was?

[enigmatic]

37. Steve and Eydie did a better vesion of "Black Hole Sun"

It really swung..

[CanuckAmok]

41. Steve and Eydie do better versions of *everything*.

They rule. I've seen them perform live.

That means I rule, too.

[enigmatic]

43. No way!

I'd see them live...

[progmom]

2. don't hate me

i like it.
it's not presented ironically at all.



kill me now.

[XNASA]

5. Oh, I love all that big band Vegasy sounding stuff.

I love Anka's voice. It's the coolest.

And besides. I could never, ever hate you. :)

[Susang]

24. You're completely right

Anka's deadly serious here. Not even a whiff of irony on that guy. How could there be? This is the man who wrote and recorded "Havin' My Baby"!

BTW, I have no idea if I like it or not, as the only song I heard was "Smells Like Teen Spirit" when he performed it on Letterman with his band. So my judgement is based on seeing his performance and hearing him talk about recording the songs, not on hearing the cd at a big chain bookstore. ;-)

[Telly Savalas]

39. I've only heard Wonderwall...

(in a big chain bookstore at that!) and I have to agree with your assessment of the guy being nonironic. I'd venture to guess though a large chunk of Anka's audience only appreciates the music ironically, and I can see why someone would find this mentality to be really annoying.

To go off on a tangent, Wonderwall is a surprisingly good song. Oasis is so irritating that even though they wrote the song, their version masks how good it is. A few months ago I heard a busker at a subway station singing it, accompanying himself with an acoustic guitar, and it was really beautiful. Anka's version, while not being as good as that guy's, confirms that it's a pretty cool tune.

[HuckleB]

28. You GET IT! Nothing wrong with that.

Nothing at all.

Salud!

[tigereye]

33. ah

don't listen to Mikey, he hates everything... ;) j/k

[peekaloo]

4. Maybe Kurt could see into the future.

:spank:

:hide:

[johnnie]

20. Ehh

I'll still sleep tonight

[merwin]

21. Damn you! I was compelled to buy it on MSN music!

[aden_nak]

23. I always liked Tori Amos's cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

But that's about the only one I could stomach.

[truthbetold]

35. Tori did a great job. n/t

[WCGreen]

45. Right after the song hit it big,

I went to see Al Stewert, year of the Cat for those of you who don't know who he is....

He did an acoustic version that really ripped the song down to it's bones and proved just what a good song it really was.......

[HuckleB]

26. I suspect Cobain wouldn't mind.

Anka's version half-way reminds me of the version Cobain sang for "Top of the Pops" back in 1991, when Nirvana was forced to "lip sync" the music, with the vocals as the only "live" part of the performance. In protest, Cobain sang it "torch" style, and I've actually always loved that version.

[leftofthedial]

38. it rocks

it swings

it smells

but not like teen spirit