Most Genesis fans who dig Peter Gabriel’s epic prog numbers from the ’70s gave up on the band when Phil Collins took center stage. But not me. I like the sprawling early numbers, some singles from We Can’t Dance, and a ton of the shit in between. So you can imagine I was dubious when I discovered the new Disturbed CD on my desk contained a cover of one of my favorite Genesis songs. I was fully prepared to hate a metal remake of “Land Of Confusion,” but Disturbed’s take is no less melodic and remains faithful to the tune’s perfect construction. Even singer Dave Draiman’s guttural breaths before the chorus don’t bother me. He was born to growl this piece of ’80s pop, and the message is still relevant to boot. Allmusic.com calls the cover “ill-advised.” I couldn’t disagree more. I listened to it three times on the subway this morning.
Disturbed – “Land Of Confusion” (MP3 Link Expired)
Now I could explain why you should own Invisible Touch, but instead I’ll take a page from the movie American Psycho, ’cause it’s more poetic…
| INT. BATEMAN’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
BATEMAN Bateman starts to undress. BATEMAN Sabrina dances awkwardly. Christie sits on the bed. BATEMAN Bateman knots a silk scarf around Christie’s neck – rather menacingly – then helps her into some suede gloves. BATEMAN He turns on the video camera. BATEMAN |
Here’s an extended version of the original. If I took the time to master Acid Pro, I’d grab a few of those instrumental measures and find something to mash it with.
Genesis – “Land Of Confusion (12 Inch Remix)” (MP3 Link Expired)
I’d encourage Disturbed to release a music video featuring Spitting Image puppets, but I don’t think their faces are well-known enough for it to be effective. Or are they? It’s the #1 album in the country this week (sorry Paul Wall). Now whose got their cover of Tears for Fears’ “Shout”?
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Wild sex in 1990
http://mp3memories.blogspot.com/2005/09/wild-sex-in-1990.html
I am glad you mentioned this cover. Opie and Anthony have been playing it coming back from breaks for the last few weeks on their radio show, and I was wondering whether I should really like it or not. Phil Collins/Genesis has turned into something of a guilty pleasure over the years, so how do you treat a cover of a Genesis song by a nu-pop-metal band?
I was secretly going to like this song, but you have enabled me to jump on your bandwagon and like it openly.
By the way, Disturbed’s version of this song is way better than Copeland trying to do “Another Day in Paradise.”
Thanks for the mention of “American Psycho,” one of the most misunderstood contemporary novels. The descriptions of violence are paralleled by descriptions of music, clothing, etc. and are an accurate send-up of modern life.
having a younger brother that listens to disturbed on a very regular basis, i heard this with him and immediately i told him “this is a cover song” and he was dumbfounded. and promptly called bullshit on it.
oh the american youth of today. they don’t understand the classics. just the washed-up remakes. lame.
lovely american psycho reference by the way.
wait, you must have posted the wrong cover? where is “invisible touch”? that paragraph is worthless without an mp3, you tease.
You should have gone Leafblower and just quoted from the novel, rather than the movie. And I agree with Lara, where’s the mp3 of the cover?
As much as I prepared myself to hate it, the Disturbed version fully satisfies both my teenage cheeze metal and 80′s music needs. At this moment, I’m not sure if I love or hate being in my 30′s.
You know, I can’t believe I’m suggesting this, but there’s actually a better “metal” version of this by the (surprise) Swedish band In Flames.
Oops — I wrote the wrong headline … should’ve said “Land Of Confusion.” Fixed now.
protracted post
Land Of Confusion with the Spitting Image puppets has to be one of the most twisted music videos I’ve seen.
But then, the actual Spitting Image TV show was a lot more bizarre.
I always liked “That’s All” by Phil Collins era Genesis. Great for driving late at night.
All very good, Stereogum, but can you help me find the original 8-minute album version of “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight”?
The only version I’ve ever located is the radio edit, which sadly cuts out an extended electronic drum solo with factory-like bleeping noises.
Wait a second….Draiman changed the lyrics:
Original lyric in the bridge:
I remember long ago
Ooh when the sun was shining
Yes and the stars were bright
All through the night
And the sound of your laughter
As I held you tight
So long ago -
New lyric:
I remember long ago
When the sun was shining
And all the stars were bright
all through the night
In the wake of this madness
as I held you tight
So long ago
Is he too tough to sing the lyric “and the sound of your laughter?”
Wuss.
WOW!
people praising disturbed on an indie blog!!
ive been a fan for a while, and sure i think theyre a bit cheesy, but i totally dig them.
ill email shout2000 to you. (though its not as good as this cover)
Maybe the irony was intended, but using American Psycho to justify a Genesis CD purchase is kind of odd. The music references in the book are meant to show Bateman and his ilk’s superficial understanding of art and rock. His preferences run specifically to LCD overproduced pop with banal lyrics (Huey Lewis and Whitney Houston, as well as Collins). Ellis is actually slamming those artists.
If I recall, Bateman even tends to get factual info wrong during his didactic tirades on pop and culture, which should lead you to see his comments as shallow nonsense.
Of course, I think the book is sort of shallow nonsense, too… just on another level of shallow nonsense.
I own 1 of the puppets that was in the video.. How Jokes!
I never get sick of “That’s All.” The self-titled ’83 disc is my favorite actually. “It’s Gonna Get Better,” “Silver Rainbow” … always underrated.
My #1 reason to own INVISIBLE TOUCH=”The Brazilian”
consistant and (not so) subtle references to Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac and Van Morrison are why I really love stereogum…
i rememeber a fishing trip with my dad in the late 80′s… my tapes for the trip were:
Genesis- Invisible Touch
Genesis- A Trick of the Tale
Devo- Duty Now For the Future
Emerson, Lake & Palmer- Brain Salad Surgery
Fleetwood Mac- Tango In The Night
Samantha Fox- I Wanna Have Some Fun
RUN D.M.C.- Raising Hell
Ick. Gotta agree w/ the Allmusic opinion. I’m Down With The Sickness, but that’s just plain bad.
Invisible Touch – first album I ever bought with my own money. On vinyl. Because of LOC on the radio. w00t.
I’m still trying to sue Phil Collins.
Mama, the best, full stop.
I just turned 34 a couple of days ago and picked up the Disturbed CD, for my birthday today. I read all of the songs before I popped the CD in, but decided to just put the cd in and hit, play, rather than skim. With “land of confusion”, being the 11th song on the cd, I was surprised to hear it. When it came on, I was like, “I’ve heard this song before, but where?” I checked the internet and found this web site. I have always been a Phil Collins fan and this was a song that brought back memories of the video. Cool video, I thought. Being a true fan of both bands, I think the song is great.
In Flames also covered Land of Confusion…which I like better than the Disturbed version
I remember the original genesis video for this song, which I loved, even though I was only 5 years old. At the time I just liked the video because it had puppets in it, but seeing it a number of years later I finally got it. Now I’ve listend to disturbed and In flames version and I have to say that I still prefer the original, perhaps its just sentimentality. I like both covers but I think disturbed beat out In Flames for one simple reason, David Draimon’s voice complements the song so much better.
David, your the best, i love your music.
Email me back.
jollyfeshenpuff@yahoo.com
sinc::: myles achey
I love the original genesis version and I want to share it with a friend please Email me the song by the original artist.
Heck, I’m in my 40s, but have always been a metal fan (since the 70s) and never have lost my taste for new music – hence, I like Disturbed. On the other hand, back in my college days, my ex and I became Genesis/Phil Collins fans, too.
SO … when I heard this the first time, I just LOVED it. Does justice to both artists, in my opinion, and actually my favorite song right now.
I am 41 and have been into rock and metal since I was a kid. I like the old stuff and the new. As for ‘Land of Confusion’ I was a bit annoyed that they would try to cover a great song, but I like both versions now. The puppet video was great, it would be cool to see an updated version of it.
i love gold on my face my pussy my ass my cock but not my tongue
I too remember this song from Genesis as being a key influence on my political awareness. I was just a kid in the 80′s, but I knew all the parodied players in their video and the message they were trying to convey is no less relevant today. In fact, Disturbed did the song flattery by conveying what I feel is very real and increased anger at this land of confusion we all inhabit. I made my own video montage to their cover. Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoSnTHB7hZI
I am a Phil Collins/Genesis purist even back unto the days of Steve Hackett and Peter Gabriel. Despite that one line change and I wouldn’t question Draiman’s masculinity, that is one helluva of a cover that I have hard in a long time, the only other being Mighty Mighty Bosstones covering KISS’s Detroit Rock City. Just my .02 cents worth.
I just attended Genesis’ Reunion concert in Washington, DC tonight with my dad (who is a long time fan, so I consequently grew up listening to Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and Genesis records)
I had no idea before tonight that Disturbed’s Land of Confusion was a cover. When the opening chords played during the concert tonight I knew I had heard them before, but not from Genesis. I was very excited to learn they originally made the song, and they played it live much better than Disturbed’s version (although I like Distrubed’s a little better than Genesis’ recorded version, at least it sounds a little more modern, but they keep with the original song’s concept very well, unlike in flames)
LAND OF CONFUSION… DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO WAS/IS THE ARTIST OF THE PUPPETS IN THE VIDEO? WORK LOOKS VERY FORMILAR OR SIMILAR TO SEBASTIAN KRUGER.