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seedarklyxeroWelcome to SeeDarkly Sunday DisCOVERies, a blog the features goth/industrial cover songs!
First time here? Click here for details from first entry.
It's Second Sunday Slowly so enjoy this downtempo selection:
Unwoman - Careless Whisper
Written by singer/songwriter George Michael at the age of 17, a demo recording of Careless Whisper was first publicly heard as the last song played by Michael on the last night of his early (though failing) club-DJ career. It was later released as a single in 1984 and on the WHAM! album Make It Big in 1985. What is interesting though is the response Michael had to the success of the song. He has said a number of times that he never really understood its appeal and it wasn't as personal to him as some of his other ballads. He's been quoted saying of the song, "it did nothing for me emotionally" and "it disappoints me that you can write a lyric very flippantly — and it can mean so much to so many people. That's disillusioning for a writer."
But it isn't uncommon among musical artists to find the work they like least become the one thing fans embrace most. And Careless Whisper was certainly embraced to the tune of multi-platinum record sales.
Over the years various covers have been recorded and performed by artists like Bananarama, Seether, The Gossip, Ben Folds, and many others. One of those covers, done by the cast of Kids Incorporated, and played repetitively on VHS, taught a San Francisco-based cellist-pianist-singer-songwriter named Erica Mulkey how to perform the track.
Unwoman (Mulkey's nom de guerre), had since been performing the song on piano for several years. In January 2011, she had the inspiration to record Careless Whisper with a serious approach, a cello arrangement to replace the saxophone, and an even darker rhythmic tone. This became the foundation that defined her plan to record a 15 track album of covers later that year: Uncovered Volume 1.
Other artists she has covered (over several albums and with her side-project, Beauty Queen Autopsy) include Nick Cave, Front 242, Chris Issak, Sisters of Mercy, Dead Can Dance, Siouxie and the Banshees, The Cult, The Cure, and quite a few more. Her extensive library of covers notwithstanding, Unwoman does boast a significant collection of original music as well.
But this cover is without a doubt a striking and spooky interpretation of the original and I would agree with her aspiration that this is "what it should sound like!"
The Cover:
The Original:
Next week:
Third Sunday Throwback... and given the recent rising of a "black star," perhaps something thin and white!
Comments, suggestions, discussions, etc... welcome!
I spin at Arisia in Boston this coming weekend! If you're a sci-fi/fantasy geek/nerd like me and will be there, check my schedule for links to details. ^_^
Explore the darkness,
-Xero
Previous DisCOVERies
Jan 03 - Columbine - Head Over Heels (Tears For Fears)
Dec 27 - Comasoft - Let's Go All the Way (Sly Fox)
Dec 20 - The Crüxshadows: Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon)
Dec 13 - Rotersand - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (RoterSanta) (Harry Reser/Tom Stacks)
Dec 06 - Celldweller - Imperial March (John Williams/London Symphony Orchestra)
Directory of All DisCOVERies
First time here? Click here for details from first entry.
It's Second Sunday Slowly so enjoy this downtempo selection:
Unwoman - Careless Whisper
Written by singer/songwriter George Michael at the age of 17, a demo recording of Careless Whisper was first publicly heard as the last song played by Michael on the last night of his early (though failing) club-DJ career. It was later released as a single in 1984 and on the WHAM! album Make It Big in 1985. What is interesting though is the response Michael had to the success of the song. He has said a number of times that he never really understood its appeal and it wasn't as personal to him as some of his other ballads. He's been quoted saying of the song, "it did nothing for me emotionally" and "it disappoints me that you can write a lyric very flippantly — and it can mean so much to so many people. That's disillusioning for a writer."
But it isn't uncommon among musical artists to find the work they like least become the one thing fans embrace most. And Careless Whisper was certainly embraced to the tune of multi-platinum record sales.
Over the years various covers have been recorded and performed by artists like Bananarama, Seether, The Gossip, Ben Folds, and many others. One of those covers, done by the cast of Kids Incorporated, and played repetitively on VHS, taught a San Francisco-based cellist-pianist-singer-songwriter named Erica Mulkey how to perform the track.
Unwoman (Mulkey's nom de guerre), had since been performing the song on piano for several years. In January 2011, she had the inspiration to record Careless Whisper with a serious approach, a cello arrangement to replace the saxophone, and an even darker rhythmic tone. This became the foundation that defined her plan to record a 15 track album of covers later that year: Uncovered Volume 1.
Other artists she has covered (over several albums and with her side-project, Beauty Queen Autopsy) include Nick Cave, Front 242, Chris Issak, Sisters of Mercy, Dead Can Dance, Siouxie and the Banshees, The Cult, The Cure, and quite a few more. Her extensive library of covers notwithstanding, Unwoman does boast a significant collection of original music as well.
But this cover is without a doubt a striking and spooky interpretation of the original and I would agree with her aspiration that this is "what it should sound like!"
The Cover:
The Original:
Next week:
Third Sunday Throwback... and given the recent rising of a "black star," perhaps something thin and white!
Comments, suggestions, discussions, etc... welcome!
I spin at Arisia in Boston this coming weekend! If you're a sci-fi/fantasy geek/nerd like me and will be there, check my schedule for links to details. ^_^
Explore the darkness,
-Xero
Previous DisCOVERies
Jan 03 - Columbine - Head Over Heels (Tears For Fears)
Dec 27 - Comasoft - Let's Go All the Way (Sly Fox)
Dec 20 - The Crüxshadows: Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon)
Dec 13 - Rotersand - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (RoterSanta) (Harry Reser/Tom Stacks)
Dec 06 - Celldweller - Imperial March (John Williams/London Symphony Orchestra)
Directory of All DisCOVERies