Inspired by Lorenzo Pagani's special “I sinister ten”, we went in search of “dark” covers of songs from the most disparate genres: from pop to beat, from glam to punk, from new wave to folk. And we discovered a mine of treasures.
The bands of the genre gothic, in fact, they often experimented with covers, concentrating their efforts on the music of the 60's and 70's that influenced them the most, from the Stooges to Marc Bolan and the Velvet Underground (starting from key bands of the movement, such as Joy Division, Bauhaus and Sisters Of Mercy, all duly represented here with their own cover).
And, still on the subject of the music of the Sixties, the epochal “The End” (The Doors) transfigured by Nico into a sepulchral litany is almost a story in itself.
But the lion's share undoubtedly goes to David Bowie, histrionic forerunner of the “movement”, with his surreal and decadent imagery: of dark-version of songs bowiani there are plenty of them, some of which are collected in two compilations, appropriately titled “Goth Oddity” by Cleopatra Records. The extraordinary “Ziggy Stardust” by Bauhaus is excluded from this list, although it adheres too closely to the sound of the original in order to be considered a truly “alternative” version. The choice ultimately fell on two real revelations, “Helden” by the German chanteuse Andrea Schroeder and a poignant “Time” by Cinema Strange.
The gothic queen Siouxsie dedicated an entire album to covers (“Through The Looking Glass”), sowing others, no less precious, along her evocative musical journey: we have chosen two of the most significant, her “The Passenger”, which has become almost as famous as Iggy Pop's original, and an irresistible “This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us”, worthy of the Sparks' feat contained in the milestone “Kimono My House”
There is also room for shocking “variations on the theme”, as in the case of the always bewitching Malaria! grappling with Bob Dylan or the “Sand” by Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra reworked in their own way by the Teutonic noisemakers Einstürzende Neubauten. And authentic gems shine with their own light, such as the “In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated” (Dead Can Dance) reinterpreted by the Dutch Gathering, the “Hymn” (Ultravox) duly “blackened” by Kirlian Camera and the splendid version of “E ti come a cerca” (Franco Battiato) “chanted” by the lugubrious and magnetic voice of Giovanni Lindo Ferretti of Csi.
A list that does not claim to be exhaustive: instead, your comments and suggestions are welcome, indeed hoped for, and we invite you to listen to the originals too.
The post Paint it black! appeared first on Onda Rock.
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
