So opens The Miracle of Small Things, a line reminiscent of U2's "All is quiet on New Year's Day..." No song more appropriate, then, to start off a new year of Battle of the Bands.
I wouldn't even dream of pitting the original against... well, anyone. This is a sacred song for me—for us. My dushi and I have been singing this together, at the top of our voices, thirteen New Years in a row, sometime around 7pm—midnight in Holland, and the first New Year's "bang" here in Curaçao: fireworks, hugs, phone calls, clinking of beer bottles, general uproar—and a fairly predictable playlist, whether by DJ or live band, that includes Auld Lang Syne and U2's New Year's Day.
We may not have a "world in white" here in the tropics, but...
I want to be with you, be with you
Night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's Day.
THE CONTENDERS
Like any "classic" worth its salt, U2's anthem has had its share of covers and remakes (even one by U2 themselves, from 2001). But nothing says you're getting old, dude like hearing the songs that shaped your life—and, quite honestly, continue to do so—turned into freakin' elevator music.
I should hate this version. Maybe some (most?) of you will hate it. But—I dunno, there's something about it...
FIRST CONTENDER: The "jazz" version.
SECOND CONTENDER: No more upbeat, but perhaps a tad more in the "protest" spirit of the original, here's a 2005 version by Aslan, also an Irish rock band and, formed in 1982, almost as old as U2 themselves.
What do you think? Are you a U2 fan? Is New Year's Day on you Dec 31 / Jan 1 playlist? Does Karen Souza's version feel offensive, or cute? Does Aslan do justice to the original, or turn it into something else? Which of these two covers would you most likely choose to listen to? And, back to the subject of elevator music, can you remember the first time you heard a song you loved turned into one of those department-store Muzak abominations? (It hurts, doesn't it?)
More Battles? Check out these folks!
As always, thanks to Stephen and FAE for keeping the BoTB spirit alive. And thank you for coming by! Here's lifting a glass of champagne to 2016. May it bring you all sorts of unexpected joys :)
Hi Guilie, Happy 2016 to you. I enjoyed this battle. It was a tough choice for me. Nope, not a U2 fan, though I liked a couple of their songs. Strangely I liked all of the video instrumentals, but not necessarily the voices. However, Karen Souza get my vote. I could listen to that version many times. Best of luck with your battle.
ReplyDeleteI definitely love the Jazz of Karen Souza
Thanks, Dixie! Glad you liked the jazz version... The first time I heard it I think I dropped something or tripped over something or choked on something, but... it's grown on me. I admit, I have it on a couple of playlists ;)
DeleteHappy New Year Guilie!! Great battle!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE U2!! I just had to include their New Year's Day song in my battle post, even though it wasn't part of the battle itself. I must say I really do like the Asian version! I was surprised because no one does it better than Bono & company. Please give my vote to Asian.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a magnificent 2016! See you at the next battle!
Michele at Angels Bark
RIGHT?!?! I was blown away by the Aslan version too, Michele; really nice job! (Maybe because they're Irish, too? Dunno...) Thanks for the visit, and the vote for Aslan :)
DeleteGreat battle. I like U2. Bith of the covers are quite enjoyable. Aslan gets my vote, I liked their haunting version the best in this battle.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you enjoyed this, Mike. Another vote for Aslan!
DeleteGood battles! Happy New Year! My vote goes to Karen Souza.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary—and happy new year to you, too. Another vote for Karen!
DeleteAsian gets my vote-both versions are more low key but I prefer the 2nd version because of his voice and the acoustic guitar. The girl sounds a bit like that jazz dame Diana Krall whom I dislike. Ahhh elevator music...yes-I was grocery shopping and heard the Eurythmics first hit done this way. I had to take a moment and bow my head to the tragedy. Happy New year! We are finally getting cold weather here-I wish we had it for Christmas:)
ReplyDelete"had to take a moment and bow my head to the tragedy"... YES! One really feels like a minute of silence is warranted, right? So sad. Ah, well. You're right, the guitar on the Aslan version is excellent. Another vote for the *other* Irish band ;)
DeleteThanks for the visit, Birgit!
Happy New Year, Guilie!
ReplyDeleteAnd a fabulous one for you too, Dez! So glad we've connected, and here's to 12 months of blog visits :)
DeleteHappy New Beer, GUILIE!
ReplyDeleteNope. I don't like U2 one little bit. Way back at the very beginning, when hardly anyone in the U.S. had even heard of U2 yet, it was the actor David Caruso who told me about them. He loved them, and based on the way he raved about 'em, I thought I would like U2 2. Nope. Never did. I have always thought they are one of the most overrated bands in Rock history.
But... Surprisingly, I did like that KAREN SOUZA version of this song. Her vocals are just so-so to me, but I really enjoyed the instrumentation. She gets my vote easily.
I'm not sure when it was or which song it was, but the first time I heard one of the "Classic" Rock songs from my youth played in a grocery store, that was pretty shocking. It wasn't an "elevator-ized" version but the original recording. I seem to think it was a song by either Blue Oyster Cult or Bob Seger.
But that day, when I realized that the rebellious Rock from my youth was now safe to grocery shop by, I felt old.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
"Happy new beer" — love it, Stephen :D (And right back at you!)
DeleteI remember you dislike U2... Sorry about that. I'll try to pick something less overrated next time (but no promises ;) ). It's early yet, but it seems that U2 fans prefer Aslan while the U2 dislikers go more for the jazz version. As I said, it's probably too early to draw this line, but it'll be interesting to see if that's how it plays out. I do enjoy the jazz version, though—and I *love* U2 ;)
Oh, man... not even a Muzak-ed version but the original... "safe to grocery shop by". How very, very sad. I remember hearing the Beatles played in supermarkets in Mexico, and dismissing my mom's near-tears as total overreaction... "I mean, seriously, what's the damage? You like the song, now you can hear it in the supermarket—you should be happy." And then I grew up. I think my first time was an "elevatori-ized" version of Teen Spirit... That was bad.
Thanks for coming by, Stephen!
I'm with Stephen, I don't like U2 at all. Their music is insipid and smacks of the "look how relevant and meaningful our lyrics are" style of the 1960's and 1970s. I'm one of the people who got pissed that Apple added their "Songs of Innocence" album to everyone's iTunes account, because I felt delivering it to me without my knowledge or consent was the equivalent of spam. And Bono impresses me as a self-important git.
ReplyDeleteNone of which has any bearing on this battle, of course... XD
I really enjoyed Karen Souza's version of the song because she has a lovely voice and the combo behind her was tight and jazzy. It was easy to tune the lyrics out and hear Karen as another instrument. I give her my vote.
Oh, and I knew I had gotten old when they were playing Blondie's "One Way or Another" on senior discount day at Kroger...
Oh, wow... On SENIOR DAY??? I hope you never went back :D
DeleteYou're right, Karen's version is put together very, very well. And her voice is good... Mellow, but not diluted. Glad you liked that version, John—another (non-U2 fan) vote for Karen!
Thanks for the visit :)
I was a U2 fan through Achtung Baby. The first concert I went to was U2. Souza's doesn't feel offensive, but the U2 haters do. :)
ReplyDeleteI think Souza has a nice voice, but she butchered the song. The pacing or phrasing or whatever was horribly off. Aslan kind of had a Pink Floyd vibe going, but I'm too lazy to look up which song I'm reminded of.
I'm surprised there are so many anti-U2 people. I'm surprised anybody voted for Souza. I vote strongly for the Aslan version.
I know *exactly* which Pink Floyd song you mean! From The Wall, the one that starts out really dark and then segues into this guitar riff... Is There Anybody Out There? Not sure about the name, but I can totally hear it in my head. (Not that that's much help to you.... Sorry.)
DeleteThe first time I encountered this anti-U2 thing I was also kinda... well, shocked. (I LOVE U2. LOVE them.) But now I'm used to it :) And your vote for Aslan supports my theory that U2 fans will enjoy that version and dislike the jazzy (butchered) one. (But I confess, I do like Karen's song. Not sure yet how I'll vote, especially since Aslan's was new to me, but—once I got past the "WTF" moment—I do like what she did with it.)
Thanks so much for the visit, Mr. Ellipsis! And for standing up for U2 (and Aslan) ;)
Hi Guilie - Happy New Year and all the best to more lovely New Year's Days in sunny Curacao ... all the best for a happy year ahead ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Hilary! All the best for you, too :)
DeleteAslan gets my vote - quiet melodic, whereas Karen Souza does not do it for me... although I must confess I am not madly familiar with the song ..
ReplyDeleteMuzak - Vivaldi - to hear it in department stores all hyped up gets my goat every time ... or Eine Kleine Nacht Musiek at Christmas time in dept stores :(...
Eeeeek on Muzak Vivaldi or Mozart... You're absolutely right, it's disgusting :D
DeleteAnother vote for Aslan! Thank you, Susan!
I'm not a big U2 fan, but I'm fond of them. I love jazz. I vote for Karen Souza. It can be interesting or even symbolic to create a juxtaposition between lyrics and the sound of the music. I'm sorry, but I don't have a BOTB this time. Too much editing to do.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I forgot to say that at some point, I can't remember the year, I heard Beatles music in an elevator. I thought I'd die.
DeleteI missed you on BoTB this round, Janie, but I'm glad to hear you're busy with work... Always a good way to start the year, yes? Oh, spot-on about juxtaposing lyrics with musical style! I think that's probably why Karen Souza's version grew on me... The contrast she creates speaks to me, somehow.
DeleteThanks for the visit, Janie!
Actually I like the "elevator" versions of rock songs. I've bought a number of albums like that over the years and enjoyed the ones my mother used to listen to.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a U2 fan, but doesn't hurt me none to hear vastly different takes on their songs and these two versions fit that bill.
This is a tough choice as I like both versions very much. In the end I'll go with Aslan. What they've done with the song sounds more natural and appropriate.
That was an interesting battle for sure.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
There's something to be said for these alternative versions, Lee — especially the jazz / lounge ones. They really do turn the song into something new, don't they? I suppose it bothers some of us because it feels like "sanitizing" music that we remember as radical. But it's not a band or a company that does the "sanitizing"... it's time :)
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed both these versions, Lee, and that you had a tough time deciding. Aslan it is, then — and thanks for coming by!
First, I'm a U2 fan. I prefer their older stuff, but really like it all. Rattle and Hum... I wore the tape off that cassette. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteThat said, this is a really tough battle. Even though Karen Souza really changed the spirit of the song, I liked it. A lot. The instrumentation was good. Her voice was good. Aslan hung closer to the U2 original, but still put their own stamp on it. Hmmm. Which version to choose????
I think Aslan's version was sadder (but in a bizarre way hopeful... if that makes sense!) and more fitting to the message, so I'll go with them.
Excellent battle!
Glad to hear this was a toughie for you, Robin. (Sounds sadist, doesn't it? I'm not, though. Really.) And I'm with you... I wore the tape off The Joshua Tree cassette :D I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the jazz version... It's wildly different, but it works, somehow. Aslan's was new to me till I found them for this battle, and they blew me away. I'm still not sure how my vote's going to go, haha. In the meantime, I got you down for the Aslan gang.
DeleteThanks for the visit, Robin!
I like U2 and I like their song. But of the two you provided, I hate to admit it, but I like Karen Souza's version so much more. Maybe not the first song selection I'd pick for a jazz song, but well performed. She's got a great voice and the rest of the band accompanies well.
ReplyDeleteThe other band? M'eh. Just didn't do it for me.
Another vote for Karen Souza, just under the wire—and much needed :) Thanks, Jeff! Working on the final tally now.
Delete