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Tell your story of when you heard that the song wasn't an original!

tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,357
in Other Music
Thought this would be fun.
Tell us a story of when you were listening to a song and an elder came in and said "Yeah or Neigh" on that version of the song you were listening to.
I'm very curious to what the elders said!

Comments

  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,357
    First one that I can remember vividly was "Landslide" by the Pumpkins. That one sticks out. My chief engineer comes into the galley and says "I remember that song when it first came out, cool version"

    I was FLOORED!!!

    This great song was done BEFORE?!? By someone ELSE?!?

    Crazy talk…

  • eeriepadaveeeriepadave Posts: 42,066
    Well not really an elder said this to me but found out myself. Most recent one was Prodigy "Fuel My Fire". When L7 announced their tour earlier this year I decided to do some research and found out they were the original artist. I was pretty shocked. I only knew like 1 or 2 songs from L7 at the time. Saw them last night and they played it.

    Don't think an elder has corrected me on a cover song though, sorry.
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  • InHiding80InHiding80 Posts: 7,623
    edited September 2015
    Had no idea Blinded By The Light was a Bruce Springsteen song at first. I bought the 3 album pack of Greetings, The Wild yada yada yada Shuffle and Darkness in early 2006 and noticed it was the first track. That was when I started getting into The Boss.
    Post edited by InHiding80 on
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,357
    InHiding80 said:

    Had no idea Blinded By The Light was a Bruce Springsteen song at first. I bought the 3 album pack of Greetings, The Wild yada yada yada Shuffle and Darkness in early 2006 and noticed it was the first track. That was when I started getting into The Boss.

    Wait that "blinded by the light" song with the line "revved up like a deuce" is a Springsteen song?!?

    I'm asking because I don't listen to Springsteen.
  • InHiding80InHiding80 Posts: 7,623
    tempo_n_groove said:

    InHiding80 said:

    Had no idea Blinded By The Light was a Bruce Springsteen song at first. I bought the 3 album pack of Greetings, The Wild yada yada yada Shuffle and Darkness in early 2006 and noticed it was the first track. That was when I started getting into The Boss.

    Wait that "blinded by the light" song with the line "revved up like a deuce" is a Springsteen song?!?

    I'm asking because I don't listen to Springsteen.
    Yep, it's the first track on his first album.
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance Posts: 23,308
    Oooo baby I love your way. Circa 1989 I think. Some pop group did it.
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  • lexicondevillexicondevil Posts: 2,062
    InHiding80 said:

    Had no idea Blinded By The Light was a Bruce Springsteen song at first. I bought the 3 album pack of Greetings, The Wild yada yada yada Shuffle and Darkness in early 2006 and noticed it was the first track. That was when I started getting into The Boss.

    That's funny. When I found out Bruce co-wrote "Because the Night" with Patti Smith, that was when I decided to give him another chance.
    1991- Hollywood Palladium, California with Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains -RIP Magazine Show Oct. 6th
    1992- Lollapalooza, Irvine, California
    Nothing since then. I suck.
    2016- Fenway Park, Boston - Both glorious nights
    2022- Oakland Night 2
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  • darthvedderdarthvedder Posts: 2,573
    I only realized Higher Ground was a Stevie Wonder song and not RHCP when the Stevie Wonder original came on the radio a couple of years ago.
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,357
    My second "Ah-ha" moment was with a Pandora listen. It seems that most of Sublimes debut 40 oz to freedom record was all covers!
    I loved that album and to put a Pandora station on and I heard a bunch of songs that Toots and the Matyls were the original artist!
  • InHiding80InHiding80 Posts: 7,623
    lexicondevil said:

    InHiding80 said:

    Had no idea Blinded By The Light was a Bruce Springsteen song at first. I bought the 3 album pack of Greetings, The Wild yada yada yada Shuffle and Darkness in early 2006 and noticed it was the first track. That was when I started getting into The Boss.

    That's funny. When I found out Bruce co-wrote "Because the Night" with Patti Smith, that was when I decided to give him another chance.
    I first heard it as the 10K Maniacs version when MTV played it a lot. I was 13 so I wasn't familiar with Patti Smith at the time.
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,357
    InHiding80 said:

    lexicondevil said:

    InHiding80 said:

    Had no idea Blinded By The Light was a Bruce Springsteen song at first. I bought the 3 album pack of Greetings, The Wild yada yada yada Shuffle and Darkness in early 2006 and noticed it was the first track. That was when I started getting into The Boss.

    That's funny. When I found out Bruce co-wrote "Because the Night" with Patti Smith, that was when I decided to give him another chance.
    I first heard it as the 10K Maniacs version when MTV played it a lot. I was 13 so I wasn't familiar with Patti Smith at the time.
    Same with me. I read her book "just kids" and learned a lot from it.
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    I was very young and becoming a HUGE fan of The Clash. My dad is from Trinidad and I was at Grandma's house (also from Trinidad) and the song "Pressure Drop" came on, and I thought "Check my cool grandma out, listening to reggae versions of Clash songs!" She schooled me: Toots & the Maytals original. Then I thought she was even cooler, cuz that meant she was listening to music that the Clash thought was cool ;) I'd later hear the original "Police & Thieves" at her house too, which I think was Junior Murvin... The Clash and my grandma were super cool!
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    And actually I just found out only 3 days ago that a song I always thought was a Nina Simone original, "To Love Somebody", is actually a BEE GEES original!!! Gotta say though, someone once played me a tape in a car and said "Guess what band this is?" and I said "I have no idea but they're pretty damn good..." it was early Bee Gees (way before Saturday Night Fever). But I still never knew that song was written by them!
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,357
    JH6056 said:

    I was very young and becoming a HUGE fan of The Clash. My dad is from Trinidad and I was at Grandma's house (also from Trinidad) and the song "Pressure Drop" came on, and I thought "Check my cool grandma out, listening to reggae versions of Clash songs!" She schooled me: Toots & the Maytals original. Then I thought she was even cooler, cuz that meant she was listening to music that the Clash thought was cool ;) I'd later hear the original "Police & Thieves" at her house too, which I think was Junior Murvin... The Clash and my grandma were super cool!

    HA! Did you read above?!? Toots and the Matyls were HUGE!!!
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    Yup, and I'm pretty sure Toots & the Maytals are still playing live! I think I saw them maybe 6 or 7 yrs ago? They are great!
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,958
    "Society"

    No story really. I just thought it was EV's work for a long time, and when I found out that it was a song by Hannan, I was a little bummed for no good reason. And when I heard the original song and realized that EV didn't even put his own spin on it besides using his own voice, I was slightly more bummed. It's a great soundtrack, but the two best songs on it by far are the two covers.
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  • InHiding80InHiding80 Posts: 7,623
    PJ_Soul said:

    "Society"

    No story really. I just thought it was EV's work for a long time, and when I found out that it was a song by Hannan, I was a little bummed for no good reason. And when I heard the original song and realized that EV didn't even put his own spin on it besides using his own voice, I was slightly more bummed. It's a great soundtrack, but the two best songs on it by far are the two covers.

    I just found out this year that Hard Sun was a cover. I look really foolish now saying that it should have had a song Oscar nod.

    I remember the song when it came out but I had no idea until 2 years ago that Hard To Handle by Black Crowes was a cover.
  • jjflashjjflash Posts: 4,957
    Late 80's/early 90's I listened to a lot of what's now considered old school hip hop. Granted they were samples and not covers, but during that same era it was fun to go back and discover the original artists that were being sampled....it's how I got turned onto Parliament, The Meters, James Brown, Lee Dorsey and others.
  • Who PrincessWho Princess Posts: 7,305
    JH6056 said:

    And actually I just found out only 3 days ago that a song I always thought was a Nina Simone original, "To Love Somebody", is actually a BEE GEES original!!! Gotta say though, someone once played me a tape in a car and said "Guess what band this is?" and I said "I have no idea but they're pretty damn good..." it was early Bee Gees (way before Saturday Night Fever). But I still never knew that song was written by them!

    Yeah, early day Bee Gees were considered kind of a Beatles rip off. All those harmonies.

    This thread is making me feel old! I remember so many of the original versions being talked about. But the mention of Nina Simone reminds that just a few months ago I learned the song "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" was originally performed by her. The Animals version was the one I knew, though Joe Cocker did a great reggae version. It's been covered by a lot of people.
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  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,196
    edited September 2015
    Well for me I was the elder one who had to correct one of my summer camp kids. It was Bethesda MD, We had finished playing a game of ultimate frisbee and to cool down before lunch I turned on rock station DC 101. They played *I Shot The Sheriff* and one my teenagers said *I love that Eric Clapton original*. I then went on to him no it's not....he had a puzzled look on his face. I told him that song is a remake from a song originally made by Bob Marley. He refused to believe me, I told him go to a record store (back then we didn't have computers or smart phones to instantly get answers and lots of record store so) and check it out. The next day he came back and quietly told me....*coach you were right it was made by BM*. I told him you should hear the original by him it will give a better understanding to the EC version.

    Let me add very nice thread, question/thought OP.

    Peace
    Post edited by g under p on
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  • InHiding80InHiding80 Posts: 7,623
    JH6056 said:

    And actually I just found out only 3 days ago that a song I always thought was a Nina Simone original, "To Love Somebody", is actually a BEE GEES original!!! Gotta say though, someone once played me a tape in a car and said "Guess what band this is?" and I said "I have no idea but they're pretty damn good..." it was early Bee Gees (way before Saturday Night Fever). But I still never knew that song was written by them!

    At least you didn't mention Michael Bolton.
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    edited September 2015
    InHiding80 said:

    JH6056 said:

    And actually I just found out only 3 days ago that a song I always thought was a Nina Simone original, "To Love Somebody", is actually a BEE GEES original!!! Gotta say though, someone once played me a tape in a car and said "Guess what band this is?" and I said "I have no idea but they're pretty damn good..." it was early Bee Gees (way before Saturday Night Fever). But I still never knew that song was written by them!

    At least you didn't mention Michael Bolton.
    I'm very proud to say I wasn't even aware Michael Bolton did a cover of the song as well. I won't ask you how you know that... ;)

    (Just kidding - us music fanatics know a lot of stuff that we don't necessarily worship. I can sing along with more dreck from popular music today than I'd ever want to, thanks to having young kids...)

    (And I can Whip, and I can Nae Nae...)
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,357
    JH6056 said:

    InHiding80 said:

    JH6056 said:

    And actually I just found out only 3 days ago that a song I always thought was a Nina Simone original, "To Love Somebody", is actually a BEE GEES original!!! Gotta say though, someone once played me a tape in a car and said "Guess what band this is?" and I said "I have no idea but they're pretty damn good..." it was early Bee Gees (way before Saturday Night Fever). But I still never knew that song was written by them!

    At least you didn't mention Michael Bolton.
    I'm very proud to say I wasn't even aware Michael Bolton did a cover of the song as well. I won't ask you how you know that... ;)

    (Just kidding - us music fanatics know a lot of stuff that we don't necessarily worship. I can sing along with more dreck from popular music today than I'd ever want to, thanks to having young kids...)

    (And I can Whip, and I can Nae Nae...)
    That "Watch me song" will be hated by kids soon because the adults like it, lol.

    Another more recent song that I wasn't aware of was the NIN version of Dead Souls. When NIN album came out I would just pop in the CD and not bother to read the linear notes anymore.

    Anywho, I started to get an interest in Joydivision from a friend and then I heard THEIR original version and was like, duh...
  • lexicondevillexicondevil Posts: 2,062
    InHiding80 said:

    lexicondevil said:

    InHiding80 said:

    Had no idea Blinded By The Light was a Bruce Springsteen song at first. I bought the 3 album pack of Greetings, The Wild yada yada yada Shuffle and Darkness in early 2006 and noticed it was the first track. That was when I started getting into The Boss.

    That's funny. When I found out Bruce co-wrote "Because the Night" with Patti Smith, that was when I decided to give him another chance.
    I first heard it as the 10K Maniacs version when MTV played it a lot. I was 13 so I wasn't familiar with Patti Smith at the time.
    Well, Patti still plays now and again. You need to see her before you can't. She is fierce live and a legend not to be missed. One of the times I saw here was at a book festival in San Francisco. She did a signing and did a small acoustic show while just sitting on a stool on the floor. It was low lit and in the background was a window with the rain streaming down. I saw some dude with a video camera and just wish I could find a copy of the performance. I was about 10 feet from her. It was completely magical.
    1991- Hollywood Palladium, California with Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains -RIP Magazine Show Oct. 6th
    1992- Lollapalooza, Irvine, California
    Nothing since then. I suck.
    2016- Fenway Park, Boston - Both glorious nights
    2022- Oakland Night 2
    2024 Sacramento, CA
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,357
    lexicondevil said:

    InHiding80 said:

    lexicondevil said:

    InHiding80 said:

    Had no idea Blinded By The Light was a Bruce Springsteen song at first. I bought the 3 album pack of Greetings, The Wild yada yada yada Shuffle and Darkness in early 2006 and noticed it was the first track. That was when I started getting into The Boss.

    That's funny. When I found out Bruce co-wrote "Because the Night" with Patti Smith, that was when I decided to give him another chance.
    I first heard it as the 10K Maniacs version when MTV played it a lot. I was 13 so I wasn't familiar with Patti Smith at the time.
    Well, Patti still plays now and again. You need to see her before you can't. She is fierce live and a legend not to be missed. One of the times I saw here was at a book festival in San Francisco. She did a signing and did a small acoustic show while just sitting on a stool on the floor. It was low lit and in the background was a window with the rain streaming down. I saw some dude with a video camera and just wish I could find a copy of the performance. I was about 10 feet from her. It was completely magical.
    I never "understood" Patti Smith. Never got it. I always liked "new" music so never got ANY older music sans a few bands.

    Heard an interview with Ms Smith on NPR and was intrigued. The book was called "Just Kids". Great read. Learned a lot. Dislike her even more but what a story!

    So going back to the OG topic I had NO idea that she did "Because the night" which 10,000 Maniacs covered…

    Then one day I heard Ms Smiths "cover" of Gloria…

    Well now. That's punk!
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    Patti Smith slays live. That is all. :)
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