Favorite Song + Favorite MefiMuscian Willing to do a Cover = \m/ ROXXORZ \m/

(See this thread for context) The basic idea is to request a specific MefiMusician to cover a specific song of your choice. Try to make a list of more than one to help spread the wealth. Discussion of exactly how this will actually work is going on in the thread linked above. I thought I'd just get this thread open, at least. I only have one idea so far, so I'll wait until I think of some more before actually posting a list.
posted by Corduroy (119 comments total)

Well, lessee... I know the trend might lean toward requesting songs that are far afield, stylistically, from what the musician requestee is generally known for and/or associated with, and I can certainly understand the rationale for that, BUT... I think I'll start this out with a request that's not so far removed from the requestee's aesthetic. So, here's a cover request to ORthey:

Choose one of the 3 Dock Boggs tunes from this FPP I just posted to the blue.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:25 AM on November 2, 2008

Given the slower pace of MefiMusic, I'd say let's give it a few days so that some of the other guys take notice of the request thing and join in, so that we have more options.

As of now, we seem to have:

01) flapjax at midnite
02) micayetoca
03) uncleozzy
04) chimaera
05) cortex
06) Corduroy
07) The White Hat
08) chococat
09) mexican
10) ORthey
11) dagosto
12) sleepy pete
13) davejay
14) snsranch

If I misunderstood and someone doesn't want to be and was just saying "cool idea", clarify, but otherwise, those seem to be the ones that want to participate so far.
posted by micayetoca at 9:35 AM on November 2, 2008

I'm in as well!
posted by umbú at 3:04 PM on November 2, 2008

Pretty cool idea mica. I would like to see uncleozzy do "Crazy game of poker"....just kidding uncle, my request is "Judy is a Punk" by the Ramones, no real specific reason other than I was listening to it earlier and I like that song.
posted by BrnP84 at 8:48 PM on November 2, 2008

I'm in too. For some reason I want micayetoca to do Lovesong, and also Corduroy to cover Do You Realize?.

I'm suddenly really nervous about exasperating someone with my choice. I'd love to hear snsranch and his kids cover I'm Going To Go Back There Someday but I can't find an mp3 and also it seems awfully rude to ask someone to do such a tear-jerker for a family singalong. Feel free to ignore me if you think I'm putting you in danger of a depressive episode.
posted by melissa may at 2:58 AM on November 3, 2008

I would seriously love to hear micayetoca's version of Café Tacvba's UFO anthem El Aparato.
posted by umbú at 7:21 AM on November 3, 2008

I'm in.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 12:10 PM on November 3, 2008

Trying to come up with some challenge songs, I'm looking at some of the above people's posted tracks and realizing that several of you appear to be instrumental-only artists . . . if anybody does not want any challenge songs with lyrics, that might be worth mentioning.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 12:49 PM on November 3, 2008

if anybody does not want any challenge songs with lyrics, that might be worth mentioning.

I only want challenge songs with lyrics about trains or death.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:39 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

several of you appear to be instrumental-only artists

We could make instrumental versions as long as the lyric has a melody. That being said I would probably try to sing the lyric myself, or at least vocode it.

I only want challenge songs with lyrics about trains or death.

This might actually work for you.
posted by dagosto at 4:50 PM on November 3, 2008

Hey melissa may, I checked out that link today at work and it DID bring a tear to my eye. I think my kids favorite band is Slipknot now, but I'm still gonna try to talk them into it. Thanks for thinking about us!

micayetoca, what a fantastic idea, man! I see that not EVERYBODY is thinking this way, but this is a great excuse to get people to at least try things that are totally different for them. I really can't wait to hear some results.
posted by snsranch at 5:47 PM on November 3, 2008

This might actually work for you.

Haha! I dunno, dagosto... not quite metal enough for me, maybe.

Loved it until the beat kicked in, though.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:50 PM on November 3, 2008

Haha! I dunno, dagosto... not quite metal enough for me, maybe.

Yeah, I didn't mean that as a serious request. Would've been a laugh though. :D

I am having a hard time thinking of appropriate songs though. This might just be harder than the the actual challenge.

For the record, As long as it has a beat and you can dance to it, I'll try anything.
posted by dagosto at 9:28 AM on November 4, 2008

OK, well, let's see how these go over:

flapjax at midnite - Love Will Tear Us Apart (oy Division) or Baby's On Fire (Brian Eno)
micayetoca - Waterloo Sunset (Kinks) or Lost Highway (Hank Sr.)
uncleozzy - September Gurls (Big Star) or Thirteen Steps Lead Down (Elvis Costello)
chimarea - Gates of Steel (Devo) or Float On (Modest Mouse)
cortex - Heroes (David Bowie) or Summer Babe (Pavement)
Corduroy - Is There A Ghost (Band of Horses) or Radio Free Europe (R.E.M.)
The White Hat - Sandusky (Uncle Tupelo) or Don't Fear The Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult)
chococat - Little Red Corvette (Prince) or Gamma Ray (Beck)
mexican - Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode) or Cortez The Killer (Neil Young)
ORthey - Just Like Heaven (The Cure) or Here Comes Your Man (Pixies)
dagosto - Whiter Shade of Pale (Procul Harem) or Miss You (Stones)
sleepy pete - Nefarious (Spoon) or Oh! You Pretty Things (David Bowie)
davejay - Fortunate Son (CCR) or Sweet Child O Mine (GNR)
snsranch - Run Run Run (Velvet Underground) or Electioneering (Radiohead)
umbu - New Slang (The Shins) or He Said She Said (The Beatles)
melissa may - Verse Chorus Verse (Nirvana) or Little Lover's So Polite (Silversun Pickups)
posted by arcanecrowbar at 12:01 PM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Lovesong is such a well defined song that it gives you the chance to do just anything with it. It's also one of those songs that at some point in my life I heard some many times, that I'm pretty sure I could figure it out without even listening to it again. It will be fun, I'll see what we end up with.

El aparato. I've always considered that song one of the highest points of Mexican rock. Absolutely local, fresh and new. It is indisputably rock, and it couldn't have come from any other place in the world. In my opinion it is a true contribution to music. Now, the instrumentation is quite complex, and I wouldn't like to do something just to oblige. It will be hard work, but I'll try to do something decent.

Waterloo Sunset. I had never heard The Kinks until very recently. I knew them by name but never actually heard any of their songs and in the last few months I've heard a handful of them, and I've loved each one. I didn't know this one, but it will be nice to give it a try. The Hank Sr. song sounds a lot closer to me, but I guess I would just end up doing a guitar and voice version that would feel like cheating.

Thank you very much for thinking of me for this. I don't know how soon I'll be able to do them (because of the recent move thing). But I'll try to do it as soon as possible.

I'll also bring my own requests very soon. I'm really glad that people liked this idea.
posted by micayetoca at 12:44 PM on November 4, 2008

And just so that nobody else feels pressured about this (as it was mentioned in the other thread). Given that the whole requests thing was my idea, I feel I owe it to people to try to do as many as I can (and honestly I didn't think I would get more than one, if that), but no one else is under the obligation of doing them, the idea is to keep it all fun and no pressure to everyone involved.
posted by micayetoca at 12:47 PM on November 4, 2008

thanks arcane for breaking the ice.
posted by dagosto at 12:57 PM on November 4, 2008

Nthing the no pressure, no hard feelings thing, of course. And feel free to steal a cover I suggested for somebody else.

Er and there is no band called Oy Division but maybe there should be? Goth Ska? No?
posted by arcanecrowbar at 1:04 PM on November 4, 2008

davejay - Fortunate Son (CCR) or Sweet Child O Mine (GNR)

I don't know whether I should look at that and go "hey, just my cup of tea" or "hey, cool how it's 180-degrees from my cup of tea."

I mean it, I have no idea; I have no idea how other people hear my music.

Having said that...I can make something happen here, without question. Thanks for the motivation to do my first cover!
posted by davejay at 1:15 PM on November 4, 2008

The only reason I might not do a song is if I can't play it or sing it. But half the fun is trying to branch out and play new things, and see how badly you screw it up.

Thanks for the three suggestions so far! I'm a fan of all those songs.
posted by Corduroy at 2:28 PM on November 4, 2008

arcanecrowbar, that is quite a bitchen list you've put together there. I am totally diggin' it!
posted by snsranch at 6:00 PM on November 4, 2008

Er and there is no band called Oy Division but maybe there should be? Goth Ska? No?

Klezmer, maybe.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 6:20 PM on November 4, 2008

arcanecrowbar, thanks for the requests. I've been looking for an excuse to try a country shuffle so I think I might give Personal Jesus a try. It might be a little while, though.
posted by mexican at 8:15 PM on November 4, 2008

Cool! I'm in for sure.
I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow for a week but I'll get on it when I get back.
Oh ya, congratulations Americans.
posted by chococat at 9:04 PM on November 4, 2008

Thanks, chococat. Woohoo!
posted by umbú at 9:31 PM on November 4, 2008

Hey, arcanecrowbar, I'm gonna do my best.

BTW, your request for umbú - He Said She Said (The Beatles), just thought I'd mention, there ain't no "he" in that song. It's "She Said She Said". No boys allowed!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:19 AM on November 5, 2008

Klezmer, maybe.

Klezmer Mathrock, clearly.
posted by cortex at 6:59 AM on November 5, 2008 [1 favorite]

Kudos, arcanecrowbar. I think your suggestions are right on. Both of those songs have caught my ear for some time now.

Like other commenters before me, I will definitely give the song a try, but the prospect of doing these songs is daunting in different ways.

The Shins tune is great--exactly the kinds of chord progressions that I gravitate towards--but I'd have to sit down and really figure out how I could add something to it, as opposed to just copying it.

And 'She said'? I'll have to sit down with my Melissa Cross "Zen of Screaming" dvd and figure out how to nail those Fs.
posted by umbú at 7:45 AM on November 5, 2008

This is gonna be fun. I might give something a shot tonight. "September Gurls" is a heck of a pop song with which I was not familiar, and I never did get into Elvis Costello the way I meant to.

I might also have to resist the urge to do a straight cover of "Judy Is a Punk," which, like a lot of Ramones songs, is a minute and a half of week-old bubblegum that you just can't get unstuck from your shoe. (This is a good thing.)
posted by uncleozzy at 9:22 AM on November 5, 2008

I'd love to hear covers of Elvis Costello's Watching the Detectives. Especially I think from chococat.
posted by cortex at 9:27 AM on November 5, 2008

Count me in!
posted by buriednexttoyou at 9:55 AM on November 5, 2008

I've been mulling it over, and I have a couple possibilities:

Flapjax at midnite, I'm thinking Across the Antheap by XTC. Or It's Nearly Africa from English Settlement, even though the lyrics are pretty dated if you think about them too much.
posted by umbú at 8:19 PM on November 6, 2008

sleepy pete/melissa may: worried shoes, by Daniel Johnston.
umbu: save your day, by Jose Gonzalez, or Fold by Jose Gonzalez.
cortex: raining in darling, by Bonnie Prince Billy.
ORThey: knife, by Grizzly Bear.

I'll be back with more.
posted by Corduroy at 8:37 PM on November 6, 2008

:(

I feel left out, like I'm not seen as a valuable contributor because I haven't been chosen by some stranger to cover a song I may or may not be able to..

I need to work on my esteem issues lol.
posted by mediocre at 12:09 AM on November 7, 2008

Let me first just say that I really appreciate the attitude on this site.

arcanecrowbar
One piece at a time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59H4S-a8Wj4

Maybe more to come
posted by dagosto at 3:39 AM on November 7, 2008

Mediocre- how about "Venus In Furs" by the Velvet Underground?
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:53 AM on November 7, 2008

OK, someone needs to do "Ooh Child" (I was going to ask micayetoca, but he's too popular). flapjax, feel like that one?

cortex: "Affection" by Jonathan Richman (because you need to listen to more Jonathan anyway).
The White Hat: Rosemary's Baby Title Theme
snsranch: I'm agreeing with melissa's, except I found a youtube clip: "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday". I have no idea what the video portion is.
ORthey: Even though you said cortex should do it, I think I've gotta hear your version of "Smell Yo Dick". That's the jam.
Corduroy: "I'll Come Running" by Brian Eno.
umbu: "Girl Don't Tell Me" by The Beach Boys (which mm says sounds like every Shins song ever written and I agree--not that you sound like The Shins or anything).
uncleozzy: "Psychedelic Sewing Room" by Bongwater.
arcanecrowbar: "Moonshake" by Can.

OK, I'll see what I can do about the requests soon and try to come up with some for the others.
posted by sleepy pete at 2:35 PM on November 8, 2008

Oh wait, here's all of "Moonshake". Sorry about that. Just don't look at it.
posted by sleepy pete at 2:36 PM on November 8, 2008

Ooo, Corduroy, please do the Eno track!
posted by ageispolis at 4:13 PM on November 8, 2008

Anyone be willing to do "Mr. Crump Don't Like It" (1927)?

(some YouTube covers).

(lyrics)
posted by ageispolis at 4:53 PM on November 8, 2008

A little late but here are a few of mine I'd be tickled to see:

- chococat: Country Death Song by the Viokent Femmes. For some reason I see your sweet, smooth voice contrasting well with the terrifying lyrics
- cortex: Smell Yo Dick (once again)
- corduroy: Hollow Log by Beck
- snsranch: Butterfly by Mason Jennings
- flapjax: Stacey Grove by Tyrannosaurus Rex (sorry, couldn't find much in the way of video)
- umbú: What a Day for a Daydream (Lovin' Spoonful)
- micayetoca: Sad, sad song by M. Ward (couldn't find a good clip...)

I'll have more soon too. This is so fun.
posted by ORthey at 6:33 PM on November 8, 2008

Also folks, don't forget about songerize to listen to songs.
posted by ORthey at 6:35 PM on November 8, 2008

wow, Girl Don't Tell Me is a great song! It kinda unmasks the Shins forefather, doesn't it?

Here are a few more requests I've thought of:

sleepy pete and melissa may: Shotgun by Ida

sleepy pete: Hard to find by American Analog Set or La pour ça by Nada Surf. I've been listening to Hard to find forever, and only just now found out that it was was on One Tree Hill by reading the youtube comments. It's still a good song!


snsranch: Jesus was way cool or Cheesecake truck by King Missile
snsranch and mrs. snsranch: What's your take on Cassavetes by el tigre

Someone should do this tune: A fable with no moral by Quasi. Davejay? snsranch? The Great Big Mulp? Karlos the Jackal? cortex? uncleozzy? I could see any of you pulling it off.
posted by umbú at 6:36 PM on November 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

Umbú, please write a song called "Unmasking the Shins forefather."
posted by ORthey at 7:08 PM on November 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

Ha. Hmmm. I'd have to figure out what to do there.

I have one for mediocre: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and (at the time) June Carter, in a black metal arrangement.
posted by umbú at 7:24 AM on November 9, 2008

Man, I said (and even told micayetoca) that I wasn't going to do this because I just don't have the time, but everyone else seems to be having so much fun. So, okay, yeah, I'll give it a try. Hit me.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 1:11 AM on November 11, 2008

Karlos, I challenge thee to cover The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side by the Magnetic Fields with your autoharp and drum machine!
posted by ORthey at 10:00 AM on November 11, 2008

I hope you're not expecting me to hit the high note.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 12:59 PM on November 11, 2008

The high note.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:01 PM on November 11, 2008

Well, in order to help people who want to bring requests, I'll post an update of the list of the people who are willing to take requests as of today. Perhaps if cortex thinks this is a good idea we could move this list to the top of the page and update it every once in a while so that it is easier to spot. Here's the list:

01) flapjax at midnite
02) micayetoca
03) uncleozzy
04) chimaera
05) cortex
06) Corduroy
07) The White Hat
08) chococat
09) mexican
10) ORthey
11) dagosto
12) sleepy pete
13) davejay
14) snsranch
15) umbú
16) melissa may
17) arcanecrowbar
18) dagosto
19) buriednexttoyou
20) karlos the jackal
posted by micayetoca at 2:38 AM on November 12, 2008

Hi mica, thanks for the updated list. You missed mediocre, who expressed interest (I think...) in this comment upthread.

You mentioned moving this list to the top of the page and updating it every once in a while. This seems like a good idea. Also, I wonder if we can put into place something like I suggested here. The idea seemed to strike mod cortex as something that would be doable. What say you, mods? Can we get a top bar, just under the usual Challenge notice, linking to this thread?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:40 AM on November 12, 2008

I am willing to take requests for sure!
posted by By The Grace of God at 5:47 AM on November 12, 2008

After seeing how fun this thing has become I wants in, can I request something for myself?
posted by BrnP84 at 1:08 PM on November 12, 2008

But of course!
posted by micayetoca at 1:14 PM on November 12, 2008

Late to the game, but I'd be willing to take requests, too. Right now, I'm working on one such request for someone, and it's taking me an overlong time, but with Winter settling in, it'd be fun to have an indoor activity that doesn't involve posting and commenting on the blue.
posted by not_on_display at 3:37 PM on November 12, 2008

Gosh, By The Grace of God, this is tricky... I've been trying to think of just the right song for your beautiful voice to cover.

But since I just can't think of just the one perfect song, I'll suggest I Think it's Going to Rain Today by Randy Newman. The aching beauty of the song I think would fit your voice to a T.
posted by ORthey at 6:24 PM on November 12, 2008

I would like to request Freebird for myself. Hopefully I can have it posted sometime in late 2010.
posted by BrnP84 at 9:23 PM on November 12, 2008

WHIPPING POST!



What? No, that wasn't me, it was the guy next to me yelled that...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:41 PM on November 12, 2008

Yeah, I totally yell that at concerts too.
posted by Jofus at 9:30 AM on November 13, 2008

I'm at work all night and have nothing to do so I'm going to snatch someone's request from up top and work on something.
posted by BrnP84 at 7:55 PM on November 13, 2008

ok, ORthey.. that has lodged itself in my brain and I will cut something this weekend. If it's not shoved out of my brain by various tracks from Galaxy News Radio, that is!
posted by By The Grace of God at 7:32 AM on November 15, 2008

I was kinda holding my requests until I had a full list, but I think it's better if I just go ahead and post the ones I have right now, and later post more as they come.

01) flapjax at midnite = You Never Can Tell or The Birth of the Blues
02) melissa may = Blessed Every Day
03) buriednexttoyou = Poison Ivy League
04) Karlos The Jackal = I Knew The Bride (When She Used to Rock and Roll)
05) snsranch = Wagon Wheel
06) Corduroy = In The Box
07) chococat = Hate it Here or You Are My Face (same link)
08) ORthey = You Are My Sunshine and You Can't Kill That Rooster
09) uncleozzy = Morning Anger
10) sleepy pete = Julia
posted by micayetoca at 11:17 AM on November 15, 2008 [1 favorite]

AWESOME
posted by buriednexttoyou at 10:26 PM on November 15, 2008

This is great.
I just managed to do one of these tonight, hope I can manage more asap.

Here's my list so far; songs I love, chosen specifically for these peeps:

flapjax at midnite: Fuckin' Up (Neil Young)
micayetoca: My Little Corner of the World (Yo La Tengo)
uncleozzy: I Want You to Want Me (Cheap Trick or Dwight Yoakam, your choice)
cortex: Cold As Ice (Foreigner)
Corduroy: David Watts (Kinks)
mexican: Bangla Desh (George Harrison)
ORthey: Run That Body Down (Paul Simon)
sleepy pete: They Don't Know About Us (Kirsty McColl)
snsranch: Pocket Calculator (Kraftwerk)
umbú: Lottery (Damien Jurado) (this is a live solo recording I found; MeMail me for the album version if you're interested)
melissa may: So Much Wine, (Handsome Family)
arcanecrowbar: Flying V (They Might Be Giants) (crappy, stuttery clip, sorry.)
buriednexttoyou: Alone Again Or (Love)
karlos the jackal: I Touch Myself (Scala or Devinyls, your choice)
By The Grace of God: Andy (Neko Case) (lyrics only, can't find the song online. MeMail me if you're interested.)

The links are shitty YouTube clips, MeMail me for mp3's if you need'em.
posted by chococat at 10:54 PM on November 15, 2008 [1 favorite]

"They Don't Know..." has a long history in our house as a fave. Just thought someone should know that it's a strangely great pick.

Also, just for fun, "In My Little Corner of the World" was recorded by Anita Bryant in 1960. The homosexual hating Anita Bryant, which has always made the YLT cover about three times better.
posted by sleepy pete at 1:22 AM on November 16, 2008

ORthey -- weird -- the drum machine/beat that I used in my last song is "Teen Beat" on the Conn "Min-O-Matic", right? Well, about half a day before I posted that song, you requested I cover "Luckiest Guy" -- and, in listening to the CD the next day, I noticed for the first time that the drum beat that Merritt uses on the very next song -- "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits" -- is the very nearly identical "Teen Beat" rhythm on the Seeburg "Select-A-Rhythm" machine! I dunno, I think that's an amazing coincidence. Listen to that fake tambourine!

BrnP84 -- How do you feel about "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" by Gillian Welch?
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 2:18 AM on November 16, 2008

Okay, couple more requests:

The White Hat - Theme song from "Halloween"

micayetoca - "Black Dog, Friendly Dog" by The Tinklers

chimaera - "Driving Away From Home" by It's Immaterial

flapjax at midnight - "Breakaway" by Big Pig

uncleozzy - "$10 Bill" by Cop Shoot Cop
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 2:59 AM on November 16, 2008

cortex: Cold As Ice (Foreigner)

ohhh shit
posted by cortex at 7:14 AM on November 16, 2008

chimaera - or -- I thought if it's weird talking about driving around England (which, on reflection, I'd feel weird trying to do), you could look at "Space" (also by It's Immaterial) instead.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 3:07 PM on November 16, 2008

BrnP84 -- How do you feel about "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" by Gillian Welch?

I just heard it for the first time tonight, not really my style but I'll give it a shot.
posted by BrnP84 at 8:04 PM on November 16, 2008

OMG, STFU!!!!! This is OUT OF CONTROL!!!!! and I loves it!!!!!

(Hmm, one hour per day devoted to some kind of musical endeavor. Takes two hours to digest and figure out the basics for a song. x% of time = something, hell I don't know......)

I'll see you guys in 2011!!!!! Ha! JK, this kicks ass!
posted by snsranch at 5:56 PM on November 17, 2008

Okay, Fortunate Son is fully-formed (in my mind) and gonna start spitting it out to disk tonight. Also:

cortex: Cold As Ice (Foreigner)

That's one of those songs that you forget exists until you remember, and then you say something like "forget Cortex doing it alone, that's something that should be a December music challenge so that we get 20+ versions of it, capped by a Do They Know It's Christmas-style version featuring all of us."
posted by davejay at 6:28 PM on November 17, 2008 [3 favorites]

Things I should get in on: This.
posted by sparkletone at 10:56 AM on November 18, 2008

PS: If no one has any requests specifically of me, I will probably take a whack at Cortez The Killer as a possibly interesting arrangement seems to have formed in my head.
posted by sparkletone at 12:05 PM on November 18, 2008

I like davejay's idea. Or maybe we could open in up to the entire styx-foreigner-journey-kansas style cluster.
posted by umbú at 1:04 PM on November 18, 2008

Oops. It, not in.
posted by umbú at 1:05 PM on November 18, 2008

Now I'm not sure. I just listened to the original Cold As Ice, and man, if that song isn't tailor-made for cortex. The harmonies, the belting-it-out...
posted by umbú at 1:10 PM on November 18, 2008

pretty cool to see this go on the music page, well here's some more requests for you peeps-

Umbu- She's only happy in the sun, I think you've got the type of voice to nail this
Orthey- I think I've already told you this but your version of Old Man is just freaking fantabulous, I play it all the time. Since you did that one so well I thought I'd give you another Randy song.
Cortex- Girl , feel free to butcher up the lyrics, actually I think I'd prefer that
Micayetoca- I don't really know any songs in Portuguese so I chose Bubble Toes, a nice chill song that I think you could do really well
Karlos the Jackal- Your songs always remind of They Might Be Giants so I'm requesting I Palindrome I
FlapJax- Pusherman. I looked you up on youtube a while back and found this, that's some funky shit.
Snsranch-This one took me a min to think about, you've got so many songs and I don't really know what to categorize your style as, Evil Proboscis has always stuck out as a pretty kick ass song so I went with something kinda like that (jk, it's nothing like that)
DanB-I don't know where you went but I always loved your guitar, good shit. I've seen a few instrumental's of Back Home Again in Indiana but I'd like to see how you do it.
Chococot- You have a knack for taking songs and making me like your versions better, so I'm gonna request a song from you I don't really like so you don't ruin the original for me.
Sparkletone-I'm sorry but I'm not too familar with much of your stuff, I'll give it some more listens some time, from what I've heard it seemed like beat driven electronic stuff, me thinks you could come up with a cool arrangement for Another Bites the Dust


sorry to the folks I've missed, this list took entirely way too long to make and I've eaten turkey and drank wine tonight
posted by BrnP84 at 11:49 PM on November 18, 2008

BrnP84, I get a "This video is not available in your country" warning at that youtube link, is this the song?

Also, if someone requested a song from me and thinks "hmm, I hope it doesn't unnoticed among the other stuff at the thread", I put a little list on my profile page, that way I can tell people if it's at all possible to do the song.
posted by micayetoca at 3:41 AM on November 19, 2008

BrnP84, thanks for the "funky shit" compliment, especially considering that the tune is in 7! That's my old band Chunk, from the 90s, and that video clip got put up on YT by someone associated with the old Knitting Factory, the NYC club and label that we were on. You might be interested to know that the drummer in that clip is Billy Martin, of Medeski Martin and Wood fame.

BTW, the Pusherman link you suggested for me actually goes to the same Chunk video... but I'm pretty sure you must mean the Curtis Mayfield tune. If not, let me know.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:13 AM on November 19, 2008

flapjax, I can't believe that "Hell Outta Bessemer" video. Had I seen it before I not only would have requested "You Never Can Tell" from you, I would have also requested that you do a dance sequence with it. People would completely forget that it was used for a famous dance scene before yours.
posted by micayetoca at 4:40 AM on November 19, 2008

I love all you guys, and would, frankly, be no good at directing requests at anyone in particular, but I'd really like to hear a bluegrass-type treatment of Wheel in the Sky.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:43 AM on November 19, 2008

That is a terrible idea, uncleozzy, and I'm pretty sure how I'm going to do it.
posted by cortex at 7:42 AM on November 19, 2008 [1 favorite]

It's totally a bluegrass song; listen to the way it moves. If I played better banjo, I'd do it myself.
posted by uncleozzy at 7:52 AM on November 19, 2008

Yea Mica, that's the song, I didn't know youtube did that. Flapjax that's freaking crazy, I had no idea what any of the guys from MMW look like, I've just always known I thought their drummer was badass and than here you are playing with him, cool stuff. And yea it's the Curtis Mayfield song.
posted by BrnP84 at 8:57 AM on November 19, 2008

I don't know where I'll be to-mah-ah-roh-oh-oh-oh. There you go, uncleozzy.
posted by cortex at 10:08 AM on November 19, 2008

This cover request thing is totally cool, and I'm totally gonna do some of my requests when I have the time. December/January, thereabouts. You all totally rule. Totally.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:23 AM on November 20, 2008

I have no request for anyone in particular, but I would like to hear covers of:

Queen - '39 (did you know this is what it was about?)
Level 42 - Something About You
Rush - The Spirit Of Radio
En Vogue - Givin' Him Something He Can Feel
posted by bitterkitten at 1:04 PM on November 21, 2008

ooo - I'm just now seeing this :) I want to play, too. can I be a part of this?
posted by February28 at 8:34 PM on November 21, 2008

Of course. February28 is in, everyone.

Man, that En Vogue version of an Aretha Franklin tune is insanely good. Thanks for posting it.

I'm so close to finishing the mix of New Slang. I want to post it, but I think I should just sleep on it. What a great challenge.
posted by umbú at 9:35 PM on November 21, 2008

Oh, February28, cool! Um, can you do a version of the Meat Puppet's "Up On the Sun" for me? TIA!
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 12:47 AM on November 22, 2008

For the record, I am slowly working on an old time banjo-and-vocals arrangement of Venus In Furs.
posted by mediocre at 1:59 AM on November 22, 2008

So, in order to help keeping track of who's in, every five people join I'll post an update of the list, here it is as of today:

01) flapjax at midnite
02) micayetoca
03) uncleozzy
04) chimaera
05) cortex
06) Corduroy
07) The White Hat
08) chococat
09) mexican
10) ORthey
11) dagosto
12) sleepy pete
13) davejay
14) snsranch
15) umbú
16) melissa may
17) arcanecrowbar
18) dagosto
19) buriednexttoyou
20) karlos the jackal
21) mediocre
22) By The Grace of God
23) BrnP84
24) sparkletone
25) February28
posted by micayetoca at 4:14 AM on November 22, 2008

Hey, mica, dagosto's in there twice! We gotta request two songs for him, or what?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:33 AM on November 22, 2008

Bitterkitten-- I always loved that Queen song as a kid, and I never knew what it was about. I'll take a shot at that one.
posted by InfidelZombie at 10:08 AM on November 22, 2008

I will totally do bitterkitten's Spirit Of The Radio (what can I say, I love Canada) along with any other random request. All this to justify micayetoca's double listing.
posted by dagosto at 1:21 PM on November 22, 2008

I don't spend a lot of time here, so I don't really have anyone to direct a request at, but I'd love to hear a cover of Good Day by the Dresden Dolls. Really, I'd accept any cover of a Dresden Dolls song.

I've also always thought, given its lyrics and key, that "The Sound of Silence" would make an awesome metal or hard rock song.
posted by Caduceus at 9:39 PM on November 22, 2008

micayetoca: So, in order to help keeping track of who's in, every five people join I'll post an update of the list, here it is as of today:

What am I, chopped liver? I said I was in already! Damn kids and your "lists". Why don't you play some music that doesn't get my blood all angry, like this bouncy ditty? Ehh! Where's the nurse?
posted by not_on_display at 4:48 AM on November 24, 2008

Good LORD! Let's get n_o_d on that list STRAIGHTAWAY!! He ain't chopped liver!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:50 AM on November 24, 2008

"The Sound of Silence" would make an awesome metal or hard rock song

There is a very good chance that I will do this if I have the time. I can already hear the Hetfieldesque singing-ah! and the abrupt transition from chugga-chugga-sustained power chord to chugga-chugga-chugga thrash. I might need somebody else to lay down some wicked shredding, though.

There do appear to be some metal covers of this already, but they don't really line up with how I hear it.
posted by uncleozzy at 7:18 AM on November 24, 2008 [1 favorite]

Geez, you perfectionists. Here's the updated list with dagosto downgraded to only one spot and not_on_display actually on display (sorry about that, n_o_d).

01) flapjax at midnite
02) micayetoca
03) uncleozzy
04) chimaera
05) cortex
06) Corduroy
07) The White Hat
08) chococat
09) mexican
10) ORthey
11) dagosto
12) sleepy pete
13) davejay
14) snsranch
15) umbú
16) melissa may
17) arcanecrowbar
18) not_on_display
19) buriednexttoyou
20) karlos the jackal
21) mediocre
22) By The Grace of God
23) BrnP84
24) sparkletone
25) February28
26) InfidelZombie
posted by micayetoca at 8:06 AM on November 24, 2008

sweet! I'd help y'all out but I just started doing another cover alreadys. I did do this one a couple months ago by Green Day, tho, which a few folks heard.

(Give me) Novocaine

now back to the fray already in progress
posted by bitterkitten at 12:04 PM on November 24, 2008

flapjax at midnite: Good LORD! Let's get n_o_d on that list STRAIGHTAWAY!! He ain't chopped liver!

Thank you, flapjax, for vouching that I am indeed not chopped liver. I am pickled herring to find myself on the list now. Wakka jaWakka!
posted by not_on_display at 9:13 AM on November 26, 2008

Pickled herring, eh? I dunno, n_o_d, I certainly never thought of you as a cold fish.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:15 PM on November 26, 2008

It's about time I got back in the game again. Count me in!
posted by TwoWordReview at 3:02 PM on November 27, 2008

I will happily take requests which are not Wonderwall.

(I busk regularly on the London Underground and sadly this is my most requested song there. I am not a fan of it or of Oasis and will not play it unless I am paid. In advance. In cash.)

I know. I just could pretend I don't know it, like I do with most songs by Bob Marley or Bob Dylan, but those Oasis fans are extremely persistent and occasionally even lucrative.
posted by motty at 1:43 PM on November 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'll do Wonderwall for free. I can't guarantee that I'll be faithful to the original.

And cold fish is slippery and tasty!
posted by not_on_display at 1:56 PM on November 29, 2008

Ooh, I wanna be in on this.
posted by Saellys at 10:05 AM on December 4, 2008

If Chococat would be so kind, I would be supremely interested to hear what he does with "Cool Blue Reason" by Cake.
posted by self at 9:33 PM on December 5, 2008

I'd love to hear Chococat do "Find the River" by REM.
posted by peep at 10:19 AM on December 8, 2008

i'd love to hear ry cooder do "when i grow to old to dream". anyone able do a cooder-esque take on it?
posted by de at 8:05 AM on December 9, 2008

i'd love to hear ry cooder do "when i grow to old to dream". anyone able do a cooder-esque take on it?

Cooder songs are tough shit, if there was anyone here that could do it I would think it would be Orthey. Sorry to call you out OR but with great licks comes great responsibility.
posted by BrnP84 at 6:25 PM on December 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'm not a music regular (can't listen at work, unfortunately, and also I have no musical talent at all), but the other day the jukebox played Surfin' Bird (The Trashmen) followed by a Guns N Roses song (I think it was Night Train, but regardless). And in my mind, I could hear Axl (the old version) singing Surfin' Bird, and it was wonderful. Am I crazy? Is anyone willing to try it?
posted by inigo2 at 9:41 AM on December 12, 2008

I'd love to join in too please.
It's been too long since I picked up a guitar. I need an excuse to wipe the dust off it.
posted by robotot at 6:28 PM on December 14, 2008

I don't know if people are still looking at this thread, but I'd love to hear dagosto do Tip Your Hat.
posted by micayetoca at 5:00 AM on December 15, 2008

OK, I want to lay a claim on "Country Blues." It's gonna take a while, but mark my words: it's coming!
posted by ford and the prefects at 1:19 PM on December 24, 2008

I know I'm very late to this one, but I think I want in (if we're doing more of this sort of thing). Y'know, it's getting to a point where I think I need some sort of obligation to get off my ass and rock. Or roll. Yeah, maybe just roll.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 4:30 PM on December 31, 2008

Is this even linked anywhere noticeable anymore? If anyone happens to stumble upon this thread and want to request something from me, feel free- I'm in.
posted by self at 4:23 PM on January 17, 2009

I see you, there, self. But I fear I may be the only one.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 10:02 PM on January 17, 2009 [1 favorite]