Oct 1 2020

David Byrne Presents: Uncovered

By Todomundo

Song Artist Purchase
Hurt Gregorian
After the Goldrush Prelude
The Model Ebony Steel Band
Glad To Be Unhappy Onyx Collective
Stairway to Heaven Dolly Parton
Anthem Father John Misty
Weird Fishes Lianne La Havas
Voodoo Child Angelique Kidjo
Crosseyed and Painless Angelique Kidjo
Jolene Chiquis & Becky G
Dreams Lissie
Jumpin' Jack Flash Ananda Shank
Up from the Skies The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Born To Be Wild The Space Lady
Bad Romance Lissie
Creep Macy Gray
Otro Muerde el Polvo (Another One Bites the Dust) Los Miticos Del Ritmo
You Belong To me Me Carla Bruni
I Don't Wanna Grow Up Holly Cole
Cum on Feel the Noize Bran Van 3000
It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) Caetano Veloso
Surabaya Johnny Thiago Pethit
Dulces Suenos Rita Indiana & Los Misterios
A Case Of You James Blake
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction [2009 Remaster] Devo
Hereos Janelle Monae
Anyone Who Had A Heart Shelby Lynne
I want To See The Bright Lights Tonight Mark Ronson & Raissa
Candy Says Hot Chips
crazy Daniela ndrade
Redbone Charlotte
Children Of The Revolution Kesha
Girls Just Want To Have Fun Undressd
Billie Jean Tyler Rich
Hotline Bling Disclosure
Everybody Wants To Rule The World Lorde
Beat It Fall Out Boy
This Must Be The Place Iron & Wine & Ben Bridwell
Cocaine Phantoms
Shake It Off Us The Duo
Superstar Sonic Youth
#9 dream Jose Gonzalez
Wish You Were Here Sparklehorse
No Pares Hasta Tener lo Suficiente (Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough) Los Miticos Del Ritmo
Wake Up Macy Gray
Chandelier A.G Cook
White Ferrari Frank Ocean

There’s a difference between recording or performing a song not written by oneself, and doing a cover version. Sia wrote Diamonds for Rihanna - which is not considered a cover version- but if I recorded a version of Diamonds it would be seen as me covering Rihanna. So, most of the songs on this playlist are similarly well known and associated with a particular artist. These creative covers (as opposed to a wedding band cover) are done knowing that we - the listener, probably know the original version as a reference point. So the challenge is to bring something new to the table- to let us hear the song from a different angle, and maybe even give it a new meaning.

Dolly Parton does "Stairway to Heaven"! I become aware of how close it is to a traditional English folk ballad, which is part of Dolly’s Appalachian roots. So actually not such a big stretch.

Angelique Kidjo does Talking Heads "Crosseyed and Painless", and brings the song back home to the Yoruba afro pop that inspired it.

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra does Jimi Hendryx’s "Up From The Skies", and I suddenly hear that Hendryx wrote a swinging jazz tune.

Fall Out Boy reveals Michael Jackson’s "Beat It" is actually an EMO anthem.

Electronic artists Disclosure with Sam Smith on vocals reveal "Hotline Bling" to be a grandchild of Timmy Thomas’ minimalist Latin influenced hit “Why Can’t We Live Together?”.

Many of these artists strip the arrangements down- to better reveal the underlying emotion in the lyrics and melody. Lianne La Havas does that to the Radiohead tune "Weird Fishes". And then there’s A. G. Cook’s twisted, fractured, and skewed take on Sia’s "Chandelier"- which to my ears lays bare the struggle against addiction that I hear as the heart of the song.

Oct 1 2020

David Byrne Presents: Uncovered

By Todomundo

Song Artist Purchase
Hurt Gregorian
After the Goldrush Prelude
The Model Ebony Steel Band
Glad To Be Unhappy Onyx Collective
Stairway to Heaven Dolly Parton
Anthem Father John Misty
Weird Fishes Lianne La Havas
Voodoo Child Angelique Kidjo
Crosseyed and Painless Angelique Kidjo
Jolene Chiquis & Becky G
Dreams Lissie
Jumpin' Jack Flash Ananda Shank
Up from the Skies The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Born To Be Wild The Space Lady
Bad Romance Lissie
Creep Macy Gray
Otro Muerde el Polvo (Another One Bites the Dust) Los Miticos Del Ritmo
You Belong To me Me Carla Bruni
I Don't Wanna Grow Up Holly Cole
Cum on Feel the Noize Bran Van 3000
It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) Caetano Veloso
Surabaya Johnny Thiago Pethit
Dulces Suenos Rita Indiana & Los Misterios
A Case Of You James Blake
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction [2009 Remaster] Devo
Hereos Janelle Monae
Anyone Who Had A Heart Shelby Lynne
I want To See The Bright Lights Tonight Mark Ronson & Raissa
Candy Says Hot Chips
crazy Daniela ndrade
Redbone Charlotte
Children Of The Revolution Kesha
Girls Just Want To Have Fun Undressd
Billie Jean Tyler Rich
Hotline Bling Disclosure
Everybody Wants To Rule The World Lorde
Beat It Fall Out Boy
This Must Be The Place Iron & Wine & Ben Bridwell
Cocaine Phantoms
Shake It Off Us The Duo
Superstar Sonic Youth
#9 dream Jose Gonzalez
Wish You Were Here Sparklehorse
No Pares Hasta Tener lo Suficiente (Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough) Los Miticos Del Ritmo
Wake Up Macy Gray
Chandelier A.G Cook
White Ferrari Frank Ocean

October Radio David Byrne Radio Presents: Women’s Month

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