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Reimagining the Classics “Since Yesterday”
Posted by Alex Segal on November 16, 2024, 9:25 am
Thanks very much to David Barker for his article “Reimagining the Classics Part 1”. What I do wonder is whether the song “Since Yesterday” is such an especially vapid pop song - musically speaking. The cover version by the band Revolver reveals, I think, a depth to the song that is not so apparent in the original (by Strawberry Switchboard). The cover does this in part by more explicitly linking the sung melody of the song to the Sibelius symphony that the song quotes.
Although I prefer the cover to the original, I think that the original artists are deliberately fusing what is apparently frothy with what is quite dark and melancholy (just look at the lyric). Such an approach has its own force. Just because something risks sounding vapid doesn’t mean it is vapid.
In my previous message I misnamed the group responsible for the song“Since Yesterday”. The true name is “Strawberry Switchblade”.
Previous Message
Thanks very much to David Barker for his article “Reimagining the Classics Part 1”. What I do wonder is whether the song “Since Yesterday” is such an especially vapid pop song - musically speaking. The cover version by the band Revolver reveals, I think, a depth to the song that is not so apparent in the original (by Strawberry Switchboard). The cover does this in part by more explicitly linking the sung melody of the song to the Sibelius symphony that the song quotes.
Although I prefer the cover to the original, I think that the original artists are deliberately fusing what is apparently frothy with what is quite dark and melancholy (just look at the lyric). Such an approach has its own force. Just because something risks sounding vapid doesn’t mean it is vapid.
Thank you for your comments. I didn't know of the Revolver cover version of "Since Yesterday", and having just listened to it, it is certainly a far superior version - definitely not vapid - and also makes the Sibelius connection much clearer throughout.
It still doesn't explain why the Sibelius estate didn't sue, though!
Previous Message
In my previous message I misnamed the group responsible for the song“Since Yesterday”. The true name is “Strawberry Switchblade”.
Previous Message
Thanks very much to David Barker for his article “Reimagining the Classics Part 1”. What I do wonder is whether the song “Since Yesterday” is such an especially vapid pop song - musically speaking. The cover version by the band Revolver reveals, I think, a depth to the song that is not so apparent in the original (by Strawberry Switchboard). The cover does this in part by more explicitly linking the sung melody of the song to the Sibelius symphony that the song quotes.
Although I prefer the cover to the original, I think that the original artists are deliberately fusing what is apparently frothy with what is quite dark and melancholy (just look at the lyric). Such an approach has its own force. Just because something risks sounding vapid doesn’t mean it is vapid.
Previous Message