Thursday, January 15, 2009

Yet Another Song in the Style of Another

I reckon that almost everything sounds better if done in a punk style. But then I was a 15-year-old in 1977. (I suppose if I'd been 15 in 1877 then I'd want everthing played as a Viennese Waltz, wouldn't I). Sunderland's The Toy Dolls are experts at this sort of thing. For adrenaline junkies here's their version of Khachaturian's Sabre Dance. And here's their Livin the Vida Loca: I just love to hear Geordie coming out of Ricky Martin's gob, and let's face it what vida could be more loca than living in Sunderland and looking like this:

22 comments:

  1. Fabulosa, Gadj! Love it. And marvy video, too.
    One of my daughters worked as a podium dancer whilst at university. Sometimes a mother's bosom just swells with pride.

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  2. Ah yes, the Toys Dolls and a trip through the Dartford tunnel, down the A13 and 16 times round the one way system in Southend. I remember it well.
    Sx

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  3. Do you remember Bill Grundy's interview of the Sex Pistols? Mutual contempt makes great TV.

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  4. I wonder what Can Bass will have to say?

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  5. I HATE covers.
    They are SO rarely any good (eg the Zutons' BUTCHERING of Winehouse's Valerie).
    The ONLY two good covers EVER were:
    Suspicious Minds - performed by Fine Young Cannibals (made Elvis look like an AMATUEUR)
    And 'Life is a Rollercoaster' by the Argyle Style (www.myspace.com/theargylestyle)

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  6. Julian Meteor, I love you, you know I do, but you are a git. Covers are better than originals, as any fule kno. I forgive your ironic Amy comment (as you know, no-one loves Amy as I do) and give my fave rave covers list as follows:

    MRS POUNCER'S COVERS
    That's not my name Dizzee Rascal
    Lovestoned The Hoosiers
    Lose Yourself The Script
    Beautiful The Zutons
    Hometown Glory Santagold
    Stop Me Mark Ronson
    500 miles Maximo Park
    Valerie Amy Winehouse
    Crazy The Kooks

    Bit pissed.Love you Gadj xxx

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  7. How could you leave the Argyle Style out of that list Mrs P???????????????????

    lol

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  8. Great, Mrs P! Yes, I can also hear myself saying "Ahh, come on, 4 beats to a bar is just so square, dad! Johann Strauss II is, like, a god... and the only reason you don't like our music is because you don't understand it!

    Dartford Tunnel, A13, Southend one way system, Scarley? I can see you are one dangerous lady (and from Essex too)!

    Sadly I never saw it, Bananas, though Grundy should be thankful as it's the only thing he's remembered for now.

    Dot, The Dolls also do excellent versions of the Bach Toccata thing - do head Mr Can Bass this way and I will try to enlighten him!

    Jules, I applaud your enthusiasm, but just because "Argyle Style" have a name and a photograph of a microphone and a couple of amps on MySpace doesn't mean that they actually exist as a band. You'll have to do more to prove this, I'm afraid.

    Love you too, Mrs P. Please put some of your choice cover versions up on your website; and make your choices as ironic as is possible - I think we could all do with a laugh at the moment.

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  9. Agreed. We NEED something ironic to make us laugh; the credit crunch is REALLY getting us down

    :(

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  10. Wayay man, that's noah Geordie! Yiv been oot the cuntry too lang wer Gadj.

    I can't bear punk. Dave Edmunds did a better version of the Sabre Dance in the 70s.

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  11. I liked the Vida Loca better than the Khatchaturian; actually, I like their Vida Loca better than the original, so full marks to the Gadjmeister on that score.

    Both Gadjo and Mrs P raise an interesting point, which I may expand on at length; namely that new musical styles follow an inevitable curve from dangerous revolutionary ass-kicking for the young to risible middle-aged flab - witness the transition from, say, Jelly Roll Morton to Kenny Ball, or Elvis in the 50s to Elvis in the 70s. Discuss.

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  12. I loved the Vida Loca and I like covers, specially the Muse doing Feeling Good.

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  13. Yes, this is a Vida Loca that I can relate to as well, Gyppo! There probably is an inevitable curve, you're right, though it usually takes somebody smarter than I to spot a good curve when it's just starting out.

    Welcome Lulu! Sounds good. Great song, I can't help loving the way Nina Simone sings it though.

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  14. Ha!!! I trump you!!! I've found Mrs Miller... Ha!!!
    Sx

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  15. My personal theme tune is Love Machine, but The Arctic Monkeys dig, not the bloody Spice Bitches. Or James Black.

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  16. Scarlet really did beat me to it. I'll have to hunt down Mrs. Miller's rendition of "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey?" which is a treasure.

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  17. Will somebody turn the volume down?

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  18. Oh, lordy, I never knew of this woman's existence before now, thanks Scarlet & Kevin... or maybe not! (Nobody's yet mentioned William Shatner, who is surely a contender).

    Barry, is that "Love Machine" by Girls Aloud, "(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" by James Brown... or "Sorry Love I Don't Feel Like Sex I'm Going Get Up on the Washing Machine Instead" by Cilla Black?

    Dear Mr Can Bass. With respect. No!

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  19. Barry Teeth! I accuse you of harbouring Radio One's Live Lounge CDs. Am I right?

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  20. Radio 1's Live Lounge? What's that? Tel Bluetoothed me Love Machine in The Muppet Inn in Wisbech a couple of years ago, and it sort of sums me up....as Mrs P will find out one fine day.

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