Monday, January 25, 2010

COVER CLASH #1

I am extremely honored and excited to present the newest segment here at Every Day, Another Song, (appropriately, yet tentatively named) Cover Clash. This will be the most interactive aspect of the blog thus far, unless of course you count everyone’s favorite game, Disagree with Aaron the Commenter. Cover Clash will pit two versions (sometimes more) of the same song against each other, and you, the democracy loving  visitor will vote on which one you like best. I will try to insert a poll (ha) into the post to see who the winner is, but feel free to sound off through leaving comments as well. UPDATE: I have inserted a poll, it can be found directly below the About Me box on the left hand column, Remember to Vote! REUPDATE: I ALSO ADDED THE POLL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE POST! Onwards to our first Cover Clash ever, PRESSURE DROP...

In the Red corner, we have the original performers and Jamaican Icons...

Toots and The Maytals


They originally released the song Pressure Drop in 1969 right after coining the phrase Reggae, with their understandably named hit “Do The Reggay” during the previous year.They went on to be and stay some of the hardest working Music Pioneers to this day. I saw Toots in Cleveland in March of 2007 and they completely destroyed, not to mention all the original Maytals blasting out the reggae vibes. Frederick "Toots" Hibbert might not be more than 5 feet tall but he carried the voice and power of a Reggae Giant. It was interesting to see a Reggae show at Cleveland's House of Blues, when I was already used to seeing shows 2 hours away at the Alrosa Villa but it was just completely amazing. I have pictures to prove it, they will be up soon. The video I found to play their version of Pressure Drop happens to be the most ridiculous and random video montage I've ever seen. I have no idea what any of the images have to do with anything, but just watching it is an experience unto itself.

And In the Blue Corner...

THE CLASH

Reggae Music was weirdly (see aggressively) appreciated in the UK. A chord must have been struck between the disenfranchised, working class Brits and their recently liberated, yet colonially oppressed compatriots, The Jamaicans. However this deal went down, Reggae was consumed across the pond almost as much as it was at home, and soon enough bands raised on Ska and Reggae began their own rebellious ways, but they never forgot their Island influences. I admit, it is weird to think of a really pumped up and volatile Punk group enjoying the relaxing soothing sounds of a nice Lovers Rock song, but the video below from a movie called This is England seems to prove that even listening to it (combined with Shaving your head and wearing crazy-thin suspenders) was considered rebellion enough. I'm not really sure what is happening in this video either, but if you looks closely at the background of the room in which the video takes place, you will see some of my own Reggae heros, including but not limited to, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths. The Clash released their version of Pressure Drop in 1978 as the B-Side for their single English Civil War.

Which one do You like better?




Toots and the Maytals

OR



The Clash

Song #54/ Cover Clash #1: Pressure Drop


Cover Clash #1: Pressure Drop




1 comment: