Recently I've been listening to some different arrangements of
pop songs that would not normally be on my play list.
One is Chris Cornell's version of Billie Jean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2MgwAJrfXo
Another is Seether's version of Careless Whispers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhjLxIxB2uk&feature=related
So my question is:
What are some songs that you think are well suited to an alternate
arrangements or what interesting arrangements have you heard lately?
I've always thought that Deep Purple's Hush would work well done something like
Run DMC did Walk This Way
Hush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-x7RqRF8Pk&feature=related
Walk This Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBOGqaiVLUs
:note1: :note1: :note1:
John
hush may be good as a funky slide type thing...
One of the ones that suprised me was a re-make of "Land of Confusion" by Phil Collins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCKDJwU9w8k
The metal group Distrubed did it, and I actually really really like it even though I'm not a big fan of Disturbed.
In Space, no one can hear me sing!
Not sure about any particular songs but I would think any song can be rearranged, it's just up to your imagination, but I do like the Seether version of Careless Whisper, trying to get the band to cover it but no luck so far.
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
IMHO there are good songs and good recordings (many times both).
A good song has an identifiable enough melody and chord progression to withstand re-arranging it to different genres of music, for example change it to Salsa, Reggae, Swing, Funk, Blues, Folk, or whatever and still have the song itself come through. It is one that if you whistle or hum the melody with no accompaniment would still be recognizable to others (the whistle test).
A good recording is a one that sounds terrific but the song itself will not stand "the whistle test", instead the art is in the arrangement and recording studio tricks. There are many of these and I like a lot of them.
Then there are good songs that are good recordings as well. Bliss.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton
Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com Add-on Styles for Band-in-a-Box and Microsoft SongSmith
The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<
Interesting post. I've always had a fondness for messing about with arrangements - Sunday last, I showed Dan, Laura and Scrybe an arrangement I've worked out of a well known song for acoustic. I strummed and picked these three chords....
Am(add9).....577500
G6.............355030
Dsus2.........204230
And invited them to guess what it was....headscratching and puzzled looks all around. So I played it again and sang the opening line over it...."Finished with my woman, 'cause she coudn't help me with my mind...."
Like I said, I've been fooling around with this for a while....gives it a dark, bluesy feeling. Of course, I still love the original - but it's fun to mess around with songs. Where would we be without Joe Cocker's version of "I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends" or Jimi's version of "All Along The Watchtower?"
Dan also showed us an arrangement of "Taking Care Of Business" - the old Bachman-Turner Overdrive song - that was a lot of fun to play. Slower than the original, almost jazzy in feel - I might be wrong, but I think he mentioned it was Greg (Gnease) who came up with that one. Nice job, anyway, whoever it was.
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Walk this Way is a good candidate... for many different styles :wink:
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
Paul Anka recently released an album of rock and pop song covers called "Rock Swings", I bought it and I think it's a pretty good album, but this is my favorite arrangement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_cmmCRVs38
Paul Anka covers Van Halen's "Jump".
Steve-0
Then again, just because a song is a good candidate for a new arrangement, doesn't always mean that it improves the song
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
Paul Anka recently released an album of rock and pop song covers called "Rock Swings", I bought it and I think it's a pretty good album, but this is my favorite arrangement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_cmmCRVs38
Paul Anka covers Van Halen's "Jump".
Yeah I've heard that one before and it's pretty cool.
Then again, just because a song is a good candidate for a new arrangement, doesn't always mean that it improves the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sfatiRpFMM :roll:
How True :(
I think you might like Newton Faulkner's version of the Massive Attack song Teardrop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjT86g9gTKk
I am a huge fan of re-makes. Especially when they've added their sound to an old song. Kent's link is classic. If you didn't click it, do it. Really too many to mention. Metallica's version of "Turn The Page" is one of my favorites.
That Billy Jean cover was interesting. Gave it a couple of listens. I prefer the rock edge that Alien Ant Farm gave to to MJ's "Smooth Criminal". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDeFYDk8atg The arrangement changes were pretty much only instruments and genre, but still good.
I like notes analogy. A good song is a good song.
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
I am a huge fan of re-makes. Especially when they've added their sound to an old song. Kent's link is classic. If you didn't click it, do it.
I hope you are referring to the Aerosmith done bluegrass link, and not Pat Boone doing Tutti Fruiti :lol:
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
Yes, the Aerosmith remake by Hayseed Dixie. :D
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
