There has never been a Smiths cover better than the original. Yet, I always look forward to hearing new versions of “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.” Here, from the new Q CD, is the latest addition to my collection courtesy of our favorite hirsuite siblings.
The Magic Numbers – “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” (MP3 Link Expired)
I was going to post all my “There Is A Light” covers, but MOKB beat me to it. Go there for 17 versions of the Smiths cut. He’s collected a bunch of “God Only Knows” covers too. I never get sick of hearing that song after The Sopranos every Sunday.
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Have you ever tried to karaoke that song? It’s really, really hard. I think a song that is as awesome as “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” is untouchable, and for some reason it irks me that people keep trying to cover it. It can’t be improved upon!
i’ve gotta say, t.A.t.U’s cover of ‘how soon is now’ is really good. i’m not being sarcastic. i find it spectacular.
Bobby Bare, Jr. – “What Difference Does It Make”
FUCKING WRETCHED. Worse than that shitty Meat Loaf song.
I think I’ve heard two Smith covers better than the originals.
1) Sense Field’s “What Difference Does It Make”, only because Bunch’s vocals are a lot less monotonous than Morrissey’s.
2) Jejune’s “The Boy with the Thorn in His Side”, only because it’s almost exactly the same as the original but with a really nice harmony line by Arabella Harrison. (And it was only released on vinyl!)
I think this version of “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” by the Swedish group Lancaster Orchestra at least rivals the original.
http://swedesplease.blogspot.com/2006/05/please-please-please-let-me-get-what-i.html
I’ve always been partial to Supergrass’s version of “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others”
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=5817792A4E479FB0
I hated the idea of covering that song completely. However, I know a girl named Heidi who played it at Summit Coffee on Saturday and definitely did the song justice. It’s the kind of song where you can’t fake sincerity. Morrissey definitely owns that song.
What the fuck is Summitt Coffee, and why are you referring to it like it’s Madison Square Fucking Garden?
i’m just glad these kids are showing props to the lyrical & musical genius that are the smiths….
to die by your side…..the pleasure & priveledge is mine….
Some magazine once posed the question: “What lyrics do you wish you had written?”
Thom Yorke’s answer was “And if a double-decker bus / crashes into us…”
To be honest, I like that TATU cover too
The Ocean Blue’s version of “There’s a Light…” is pretty good – I like it just about as much as the original. Matinee Records has a good full-length CD of Smiths covers as well…
Oh goddamn that was awful! It sounds like they are trying to adapt it for a high school play… I can just see them skipping around cardboard scenery in shitty lighting. Blech, way to ruin the best song ever.
Summit Coffee is a coffee house in Davidson just like any other coffee house in a liberal arts college suburb, i.e. going there to listen to people play guitar and sing in the company of friends is basically the only thing we have going on for a Saturday night. I’m sorry I referred to it like a big venue, it’s just something familiar to me.
Anyway, I just thought I’d clarify for the one cynical asshole who asked.
Yeah I like the Ocean Blue cover too, but a little less than the original. I like Magic Numbers, but sorry, their cover is just awwwful!
Wow. Agreed, that Magic Numbers version is the worst of the lot. Bleccch. (Have always like that Supergrass cover, tho.)
Holy shit that Magic Numbers cover is unspeakably awful.
I would like to add that the Nada Surf and Neil Finn covers aren’t bad at all though. And Braid’s version would be good if they had taken a little bit more time with it.
Maybe the Magic Numbers would do a better cover of Some Girls Are Bigger Then Others!
Karlikurod4
Karlikurod4