It’s no longer an aberration for artists to collaborate in the cloud, given the ease with which most of the world accesses high-speed internet. And A Sunny Day In Glasgow—collectively based in Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Sydney, Australia—creates the sort of impressionistic guitar pop that feels ripe for working in the ether. But that doesn’t mean the process of writing fine new album Sea When Absent (Lefse) across three cities and two hemispheres was ideal. In fact, the method was so present that it became a centerpiece of its narrative. The band will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new feature on the band.
Jen Goma: I’m a big fan of these covers and their originals. It’s an instance where I think it even warrants calling them something other than “covers” and “originals,” like they both should be called versions. Because I feel like it’s equally viable that either of these artists could perform their version of this one song. (Originals on top, covers on bottom)
“When You Were Mine”
Prince:
http://youtu.be/4vodpOOhJ2Q
Cyndi Lauper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hftjdBClDyM
I think for me, this was the original singular song that had two necessary versions. I need both of these in my life, and I’m glad they both exist. And something about that fact eliminates the need to identify one of these as just a cover. There’s Prince’s “When You Were Mine” and Cyndi Lauper’s “When You Were Mine,” and I agree with both of those statements.
“99 Luftballoons”
Nena:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lur-SGl3uw8&feature=kp
Goldfinger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-qfzH0vnOs&feature=kp
I’m really into when girls sing songs sung by guys and guys sing songs sung by girls.
“Women Of The World”
Ivor Cutler:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfONxAeuOPg
Jim O’Rourke:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L9cPiSh5aE
“Many Roads To Follow”
The Nerves:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAUd214vuqM
Marvin Berry And The New Sound:
Audio
I love seeing Marvin Berry play this song live; it’s a real party. It’s a great song, and the way they use their own style to flesh out the drums and bass, they do this song tremendous justice.
“Little Mascara”
The Replacements:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXBVRNcwvds&feature=kp
French Quarter (Stephen Steinbrink):
(Skip to 27:42)
I would see Stephen playing this song acoustically when I lived in Arizona.
“Dream Baby Dream”
Suicide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FFIFsK1duw
Bruce Springsteen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQMs2LyjKJQ
Bruce really flips this cover on its head for me. He sings this Suicide song so passionately and earnestly, it’s such a good idea!
But, beyond any devices like gender reversal or modified musical arrangements, these versions of these songs are just good. So very good. And I like to order the list by saying who wrote and played it first and who played it second but, it’s definitely not to prescribe ownership. These versions remind me how blurry the lines of intellectual property are and that sharing isn’t always a choice; sometimes it’s just something that happens.
I’ll sign off with this cover.
“Fast Car,” Foxy Brown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5TJCDVrIlQ
