It's got a beat and you can dance to it

[caddyman]

It occurs to me that there are possibilities out there for the most bizarre combinations of artist and music. Occasionally, you find an instance where in real life, an artist does something completely unexpected and the result is risible and airbrushed out of history (I present the court with Exhibit A: Paul McCartney, The Frog Chorus). More rarely, rather than being an absolute mess, the concept works against all expectation and may even be considered a classic. Having thought of an example of something that should never have been recorded, I can’t honestly think of anything to illustrate my second assertion, but there must be something.

In the sprit of boredom then, I present ten pieces of music and the people I wish had recorded them, simply because it would have been worth the effort to listen, if only once:

The Sex Pistols: Eine Kleine Nacht Musik
Val Doonican: Fire Starter
The Osmonds: Je t’aime (Moi Non Plus)
Black Sabbath: The Laughing Policeman
Nirvana: When I’m Cleaning Windows
The Who: Disco Inferno
Prince and the Revolution: All Around My Hat
Pulp: Puff the Magic Dragon
Cliff Richard: Teenage Dirtbag
The Cure: Bridge Over Troubled Water

Suggestions for more, anyone?

If I get enough, I may put them in a poll to see what would have been the most popular inappropriate recording never recorded.

Comments

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Oi! I like the frog chorus!

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Egad.

[pax-draconis.livejournal.com]

I have an example of the latter for you - Hurt, Johnny Cash.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I knew there would be a decent example.

[ed-fortune.livejournal.com]

Julie Walters doing Nine Inch Nail's Closer.

[pax-draconis.livejournal.com]

I just had a minor embolism imagining that. Off for a lie down.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

OT but cute icon!

[ed-fortune.livejournal.com]

It's from http://www.melissauran.com/, with kind permission.

[pax-draconis.livejournal.com]

Oh - and my entry for the poll: Phillip Glass' cover of Aqua's Barbie Girl...

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Inspired!

[pauln.livejournal.com]

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra's version of Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) was sadly only partially completed when Simon Jeffes died.

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

Still laughing at the Cliff Richard suggestion.

I discovered recently that one of my neighbours was part of the PCO extended ensemble.

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

I'm unfamiliar with "Teenage Dirtbag" but I want to hear Sir Cliff try it. I think that those bands and artists who have a sense of fun ought to be persuaded to try something like this on a compilation elpee, but of course so many have so much to lose by taking the chance. For instance, Bowie only lived down "The Laughing Gnome" by doing so much excellent stuff in the following years.

In a not-too-related story, many years ago, some bands who were signed to the Residents' Ralph Records label were told that they each had to record a version of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", a contractual obligation of some sort, for a compilation EP consisting purely of that song done by all the bands. One band hated the song so much that they recorded pure noise for a few minutes. It was, of course, included on the EP.

[keresaspa.livejournal.com]

Personally I think there is little that could surprise now as all the daft combinations seem to be coming true. If it's not Tom Jones covering Talking Heads, it's Rod the Mod singing Cole Porter numbers. Hell, once Paul Anka did "Smeels Like Teen Spirit" the ability to shock ended. Mind you if Des O'Connor decided to put out a version of Sepultura's "Straighthate" I'm sure I might change my mind. Especially if their successors in the Cavalera Conspiracy added a version of "Dick-a-Dum-Dum" to their next album.

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

My face is China Drum's Wuthering Heights :D

[immerwahr.livejournal.com]

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Sloop John B
Big Black - Rock Lobster
Kraftwerk - Sympathy for the Devil
The Smiths - Peggy Sue Got Married
Pulp - Run to the Hills
Aphex Twin - The Sports Report Theme Tune
Robert Johnson - Borderline
Nick Drake - The Boys Are Back In Town

I always wanted to hear Johnny Cash do Army Dreamers.

Good suggestions on your part. The Who I can definitely hear...

Re: Slightly related

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I've heard something similar on the (I think) blastr.com website, covering TV themes.

It's quite interesting how it all seems to come out like Tangerine Dream!

[mezzogiornouno.livejournal.com]

How about Rolf doing Stairway to heaven, or every musical guest on the Al Murray show having to sign off by doing a Queen number?

[drjohnsilence.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest The Killers doing Racey's Some Girls but, you know, I think that might work...

So instead, how about the Scissor Sisters doing the Macc Lads' Sweaty Betty?