The Return of Cover Songs III

[Luce NDs]

Dua Lipas can smack yah ... the kiss to end it all?

If it ends will something change or become ... something else?

 

[Waterfall]

Not usually into Dua Lipa, but she's been showing some remarkably good taste in her recent dates in Germany, covering some classic German rock and pop. "Winds of Change" by Scorpions is one of the definitive power ballads of, like, ever. And she does a good job of it. She's no Klaus Meine but who is. Even her guitarist rises to the occasion for the solo.

Meh for me....but to each their own.

 

[BetteTheRed]

My guy has recently found the most awful YouTube channel ever. Elevator music covers of 70s/80s hits.

Strangely enough, this is going to be a stress point in the moving in together stage. I think I will have to live with earphones on or something.

 

[Mendalla]

Elevator music covers of 70s/80s hits.

They were already doing that in the 70s and 80s (remembers the music in his orthodontist's office and shudders). I suppose you can be thankful he's not blasting death metal or something. Or maybe that would be preferable??

 

[BetteTheRed]

This is very hard. My taste in music was rooted in eclectic - classical, esp opera, folk/roots music. Then spent 25 years hanging out with a Deadhead tape trader. I know and enjoy a wide variety of music (probably wider and more eclectic than anyone I know) and I will go mad limited to 70/80 pop. This might be the big adjustment.

 

[Mendalla]

Earbuds/headphones are your best friend. As a fan of many types of music that would not at all go over well with my wife (have a look at the metal thread), I live or die by my earbuds. Except in the car. Since I'm usually driving alone, I can blast whatever I like through the speakers. It's just kind of hard to headbang while driving.

(Though I do sneak some of the milder stuff in on my speaker in the kitchen when I'm doing stuff there. And if I close the door, I can get away with watching concerts on the TV with my soundbar cranked a bit.)

 

[BetteTheRed]

Fortunately, he own(ed) a lovely set of wireless noise cancelling headphones...

 

[Luce NDs]

The great Hiss of silence ... then with such elevator quarks come: the bottom, top along with some charmed and alien ... the alien closes the complex! Realism is shut out so one can dream and project ...

If you can get into dreams you might find shocking bits as in that Lightfoot item about If You Could Read My Mind ... a private exchange? The stuff that is in a ballad is outstanding ... feeds the et*ic ... so many bits and chards ... Alief? Graft! Worked in the vineyard as a spinoff of mine ... right out of a whole eh!

I was told as a child those smudges on the page were dangerous to learn ... the hate for intelligence is wide spread ... visceral! Rational ...

 

[BetteTheRed]

A Powerful Moment: Susan Boyle Sings The Prayer With Andrea Bocelli – Inner Strength Zone

This is rather gorgeous.

 

[Mendalla]

A Powerful Moment: Susan Boyle Sings The Prayer With Andrea Bocelli – Inner Strength Zone

This is rather gorgeous.

That's only half a cover since Bocelli was the male lead on the original recording (with Celine Dion in that case). Gorgeous song. One of my favourite Bocelli songs. Have you heard Matteo Bocelli yet? Chip off the old block if there ever was one.

 

[Mendalla]

Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation don't do covers much. Like their peers in Nightwish, they tend to stay focused on their own material for the most part. But there are some rare examples of them taking on someone else's music. "Titanium" was originally by French DJ and producer David Guetta and Aussie singer-songwriter Sia. Here, WT take it in a heavy direction.

 

[Mendalla]

Hot off the presses from the 2025 Polar Music Prize event, a salute to Queen's epic "Bohemian Rhapsody" featuring Tobias Forge of Ghost on lead vocals and Frederik Akesson of Swedish prog metal greats Opeth (I've probably talked about them in the metal thread) on guitar. Sadly, I find Tobias is a bit out of his depth here. His voice just isn't up to Freddie's music. OTOH, Akesson is spot on. And he had to be. Queen guitarist Brian May was in the audience.

(EDIT: Subbed in a version that has an English description that explains that the award was started in 1989 by Stig Andersson, who was to ABBA what George Martin was to The Beatles; producer, manager, and even lyricist.)

 

[Mendalla]

Oo, looks like the whole show was a Queen tribute. "Stone Cold Crazy" is about the closest Queen ever came to doing metal and was even covered by thrash metal titans Metallica. Swedish rock and metal star Erik Gronwall is a fantastic singer on the comeback after having to leave the band Skid Row to focus on recovering from leukemia. Unlike Tobias Forge, Erik is absolutely in his element here and is a perfect choice.

But then there's American singer Adam Lambert who went from American Idol to, well, lead singer of Queen. Here he is with the gorgeous Queen anthem "Who Wants to Live Forever". Freddie Mercury's death at 45 years of age made this already powerful song, originally from the soundtrack for the film Highlander, all the more poignant.

 

[Mendalla]

My brother was a big fan of The Police back in the day and I certainly enjoyed them, too. "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" was one of the first Police tunes I remember well. Here, Violet Orlandi gives a nice acoustic performance.