Cover Songs...or The Same Thing Only Different

Cover songs, or "remakes" if you will have a place in the pantheon of music--only if they are able to reimagine the song. I have told you of my love for Dishwalla's version of The Carpenters "It's Going to Take Some Time This Time."


Now I share another special cover. This song, "Mad World" was originally recorded by the 80's band Tears for Fears, a part of the 1980's New Wave British Invasion. Here is their original version:



Good song, odd video, strange dancing. These elements were the hallmarks of the "TFF" video of the 80's.

It was covered by Gary Jules for the movie "Donnie Darko." Here is that version:



This is what I mean by a good cover. Jules' version is quite different from the original. He is not just singing the song, he is reinterpretting it for a new audience. It is making it new again that makes it timely. That's the difference between "making music" and "making records."

It always makes me want to slap Michael Bolton every time I hear his version of "When a Man Loves a Woman." If you aren't going to change a note, what's the point? (Millions of dollars, yeah, yeah.)

Get the Percy Sledge and compare for yourself!