Covers to admire, love, hate and forget
I was one of those who for some years believed blindly that "Hears how it goes" was born of the creative mind of Carlos Santana. It was a boy who had not yet reached the first decade of life, back in the second half of the 1970s, and on youth radio stations in Caracas the subject sounded insistently.
That syncretism of Latin rhythms with elements of rock was for me a hearing blessing. An imbeciles north of South America, with constant walks in front of the Caribbean Sea, felt that "Hears how it" caressed its roots but at the same time made him fly in a genre of which he was already beginning to catch.
But what epiphany suddenly suddenly changed. In some airwaves the announcer slips something that came as a surprise: "We will listen next to Santana with 'Oye como va', version that makes of the subject of 1963 of the master Tito Puente." The innocence of those who thought that the artists only interpreted their own subjects was broken, although it was not the unique one in all planet for whom a musical adaptation could happen unnoticed.
There are many episodes in which certain songs end up forever associated with a band or soloist, and few suspect that it is an old recording. That which at one moment was simply called versions and today is said with something more glamor: "covers".
In the case of Santana we can call it a very lucky cover, those that obscure its original, as was "With a Little Help from My Friends" with the fulminating interpretation of Joe Cocker against the four of Liverpool. Others are for oblivion, considered a true sacrilege by music lovers. Just remember what produced in the rockers listen to Britney Spears with "Satisfaction" of Rolling Stones.
While the versions have always been in the recording business, what kind of alternative do they mean to producers, arrangers and performers? There are those who describe them as creative laziness or easiness when it comes to getting a hit, although many defend them as an interesting experiment that enriches the sound offer that can be enjoyed by the public.
THAT UNHAPPY BONUS MELODY
Henrique Hoffman takes advantage of a commercial break in his evening space of the Caracas radio station KYS 101.5 FM to make a little memory about those emblematic covers. With 44 years in the world of radio, there are many stories in his memories, but do not hesitate to point out that "You Made Me So Very Happy" (1969) by Blood, Sweat & Tears is his favorite version. "Because many believe that it is the original," explains his choice who also lends his talent to HBO Latin America Group as announcer on air of Canal Max and Radio Mágica de Lima, Peru in the identifications.
And so, since "You've Made Me So Very Happy" was released in August 1967 by Brenda Holloway, one of the co-authors with Berry Gordy, Jr., Patrice Holloway and Frank Wilson. Blood, Sweat & Tears version two years later, but with more success on billboards than its predecessor.
When talking about a cover that has surpassed in quality the original, Hoffman points to "Got To Get You Into My Life" from Earth, Wind & Fire, 1978, composed in 1966 by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for The Beatles. However, it is inclement to question the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band , edited by RSO that same year or the "Unchained Melody" by Bono and U2 in 2006, as unfortunate versions or worthy of being erased forever.
"Ideally, when you think about versioning, you should consider it as an interesting sound alternative, but I do not think they always do it, but it deprives in most cases of an easy way to achieve success," he says.
HENDRIX GIVES US A FABULOUS "EXPERIENCE"
"A version is, in many cases, the evidence of the taste that the original composition and recording professes who re-records it. It is the 'musical and personal optics' of the artist, band or orchestra that interprets it, either live or recorded. I like the good versions, I have fun, I'm interested ", begins his reflection Julio César III Venegas, announcer and Venezuelan DJ.
To make your personal ranking appeals to your radio memories, medium where it has been several decades. This is how the name of a song that has placed many times in the air, "Down by the River" recorded live by Buddy Miles (1971). "The drummer and singer, along with his band, took it to the soul genre with a duration of 13 minutes and 28 seconds. The original, by Neil Young with Crazy Horse 1969, is excellent ", explains the tambourine percussionist from bossa nova's group Cores do Brasil.
Venegas estimates that "Hey Joe" with Jimi Hendrix Experience (1966) is a cover that surpasses superlatively his original 1962 Billy Roberts and the vast majority take for granted that the famous African American guitarist is its author. Otherwise it happens with Ricardo Rey and his Orchestra with "You've Lost that Loving 'Feeling", a song written by Barry Man, Chynthia Weil and Phil Spector, that qualifies like the most unfortunate version of which has memory.
"One case that I consider to be a 'Lucy in the Sky Diamonds' by John Lennon. It is difficult to determine whether the exbeatle is better than Elton John's proposal, "he suggests.
A "GOOD WINE" IS ALWAYS THANKFUL
Something like "drowning the pain" in the spirit sang by 1968 Neil Diamond with his ballad "Red, red wine", which referred to an unkempt gentleman who tries to forget a sentimental failure with the fruit of the vine. The theme is not one of the most known or successful of Diamond, but it will be 15 years later for a British band that wants to make its way in the world of music.
The "Red, red wine" to the reggae rhythm of UB40 (1983) is precisely one of the most venerated versions by Love 107.5 Miami, Florida, Polo Troconis, as well as "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton In the voice of Whitney Houston. "Both exceeded their originals," he said.
And can anyone even think that a quasi "second national anthem" of the USA is actually the adaptation to English of a French song? Such is the case with another of Troconis's favorite songs, "My Way", immortalized by Frank Sinatra, but its author is not Paul Anka, but the Gauls Gilles Thibaut, Jacques Revaux and Claude François under the title "As usual ", Which recounted the boredom of a couple relationship engulfed in routine.
"To my selection I must add 'She' in the voice of Elvis Costello, which is original by Charles Aznavour. But if we speak of infamous versions, the complete CD Bossa N 'U2 is a real disaster, "says the host and producer of Radio Caribe and DJ.
Polo Troconis is one of those who believe that covers are a great alternative, because there are versions that reinvent and refresh the sound of the original song.
THOSE FRAUDULENT GYPSIES
René Rincón steps up from New Jersey in his next musical article to be published in Playboy magazine to share his preferences about covers. "There are many among my favorites. I could mention Bryan Ferry's' Jealous Guy 'for his sensitivity, Guns N' Roses's' Live and Let Die 'for his strength and Sinatra's' Bad Bad Leroy Brown' for taking it, "says For many years he also worked as a speaker in Venezuela.
In this personal tour can not be left "All Along the Watchtower", by Jimi Hendrix, because for Rincon this version is much more popular and recognized than the work of Bob Dylan, its real author.
"If you ask me about 'something disposable' I immediately think of the cover that Gipsy Kings made of 'Hotel California'. Gypsies are the kings of fraud. They did not give credits to Simón Díaz for his 'Caballo Viejo' in 'Bamboleo' and then make a terrible version of the Eagles theme, "he says ruthlessly.
René Rincón believes that in most cases the cover is a "tribute", as it is a way to show admiration and therefore quotes the case of The Beatles when recording "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry, among many others .
