The Seven Song Itch – Riot Grrrl Bands

I know this may seem contradictory, but I prefer not to classify an artists into a specific categories; it’s like making blanket statements about people.  I like to take in a artist individually and discover their own greatness.  The difficulty comes when trying to convey the aspects of a artist to someone else.  Some things I like in some bands, I find distasteful in others.  My criteria may seem contradictory, but I believe that each artist needs to be taken into context of their own esthetic.  This may be over-thinking it a bit, but when I say that my two favorite artists are Skinny Puppy and Amy Grant, I get a lot of strange looks.  The one thing that they both have in common is that they seek the truth in their music.  So in discussing music with others, I eventually get to the point where I talk about genres of music.  Just because two people like Grunge music, doesn’t mean that they are talking about the same thing.  So, when I refer to Riot Grrrl Bands, know that it is not meant to be an all encompassing group of groups.  The problem is that there are so many sub-genres to discuss that you end up talking about the music instead of listening to it, which I think is a sin.  Furthermore, these sub-genres are basically marketing terms between record labels and music critics, which I have mixed feelings about.  I like these bands, and usually listen to them in the same setting, so I agree with the term, if only to satisfy my craving for female fronted bands from the 1990s that kick ass and take names, regardless of social and political agenda.  So in summary, there are Grunge, Foxcore, Punk, Metal, Indy, and Pop genres that weave in and out of this music.

Playlist for Riot Grrrl Bands

1. L7 - “Pretend We're Dead”(1992)

It’s no secret that I like female fronted bands, but after The Runnaways, The Go Go’s, and The Bangles hit the scene; I was hungry for a heaver sound.  L7’s “Bricks are Heavy” is essential for any rocker gal enthusiast.  The label that L7 gets stuck with is Grunge, but they developed out of the LA Metal scene in the late eighties.  Their sound is wild and loud and embodies the whole rock and roll esthetic of sex, drugs and rock and roll.  This is the band you party with and hope you survive the ordeal. Squares need not apply.

2. Bikini Kill - “Rebel Girl”(1993)

This band is widely considered to be the pioneer of the riot grrrl movement, and was notorious for its radical feminist lyrics and fiery performances.  Kathleen Hanna began the nineties fronting this band, but by the end of the decade in another band Le Tigre, which has a more new wave sound, but still edgy.  Kathleen continues her musical journey with her new band, The Julie Ruin, which is recording their first album.

3. Hole - “Miss World”(1994)

Yet another band associated with the Grunge movement, but Hole is more than just heavy guitars and screeching vocals.  Courtney Love keeps the rawness alive in her songs and cuts though the bullshit in life.  This chick is dangerous, and I wouldn’t want to be around her when she’s mad, but I believe in her success regardless of her connection to the band Nirvana.  Her angry anthems have lead a new generation into battle that takes no prisoners.

4. Garbage - “Vow”(1995)

Though technically they are an Indy alternative band, Garbage was intended to be a side project of Butch Vig (The man who produced Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album).  After a few false starts, the band finally got it together and minted a slew of hits throughout the Nineties.  Rumor has it, that they are hard at work on their next album due out in May of 2012—I can’t wait.  This was Shirley Manson’s first foray into songwriting.  I think she did a good job.

5. Veruca Salt - “Volcano Girls” (1997)

Chicago’s very own Veruca Salt is named after a character from the children’s book “Charley and the Chocolate Factory.”  This volatile group, hit the scene a few years previous with their single “Seether,”(1994) which prompted the question, what is a Seether?  Well, if you listen to this song, you may get the answer, but then again, maybe not.  The group pay homage to the fab four with their album title “Eight Arms To Hold You,” which was the working title of The Beatles 1965 film “Help.”

6. The Donnas - “Take It Off”(2002)

This was the band’s major breakthrough, though many Donnaholics (their loyal fan base) witnessed their birth back 1993.  Well, technically, each ‘Donna’ was born in 1979—the rock and roll came a little later.  Their party sound is akin to seventies rock as well as eighties glam.  They do really good covers of Kiss songs, though they can tear it up with their own music.  This band is a testament to DIY girls across the land.  Just like their godfathers the Ramones, the Donnas didn’t get mainstream airplay till late into their career, and even then, it was mostly college and alternative rock radio.  These four are a tight knit group that blazes a trail of rock and roll reality that other girls can follow.  I swear that Allison Robertson (Guitar) is the bastard child of Angus Young and Joan Jett.

7. The Dollyrots-“Because I’m Awesome”(2007)

And we’ve come full circle, in a way.  The Dollyrots signed to Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records in 2006 and continue on the tradition of Riot Grrrl bands.  They incorporate many of the styles listed above, but have their own fresh sound.  Maybe it’s because they are ‘Naturally deodorized.’ Whatever the case, this song is a great commentary on reality based talent competitions.  They prove what I’ve always believed, keep at it, don’t let the crowd sway you, and get your riot on!

Bonus Video: Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

After all of that North West influence Grunge music, I figured that I needed a Nirvana break.  Here is the band that started the riot, well…depending upon who you ask and what genre.

 

List of Riot Grrrl Acts

7 Year Bitch, Adickdid,  Autoclave,  Babes in Toyland,  Bangs,  Bellies,  Bette Davis and the Balconettes,  Bikini Kill,  Bitchslap,  Blood Sausage,  Bratmobile,  Brilliant Colors,  Broken Water,  Brothers,  Budget Girls,  Bulimia,  Cadallaca,  Calamity Jane,  Candy Panic Attack,  Canopy,  Casual Dots,  Chaps,  Cheesecake,  Cold Cold Hearts,  Coping Saw,  Corey Orbison,  Courtney Love (band),  Death of the Elephant,  Delta Dart,  Dickless,  Dominatrix,  Drunk Granny,  Emily's Sassy Lime,  Erase Errata,  Excuse 17,  Fever Fever,  Fifth Column,  Finally Punk,  Frantic Spiders,  Free Kitten,  Frightwig,  Golden Starlet,  Gossip,  Gretel's Revenge,  Growing Up Skipper,  Harum Scarum,  Heavens to Betsy,  Heartless Martin,  Hello Cuca,  Hole,  Hooker,  Huggy Bear,  Husbands 'n' Knives,  Jack Off Jill,  Jesus and His Judgemental Father,  Julie Ruin,  Kaos Klitoriano,  Kids Love Lies,  L7,  Le Tigre,  Linus,  Lolita Storm,  Lucid Nation,  Lunachicks,  Lungleg,  Mambo Taxi,  Manic Coughh,  Matrimony,  Mecca Normal,  Meltdown,  Menstruação Anarquika,  Mika Miko,  Modern Reveries,  New Bloods,  Pagan Holiday,  Panty Raid,  Partyline,  Party Weirdo,  Pens,  Petty Crime,  Phantom Pregnancies,  Pussycat Trash,  Quix*o*tic,  Raoul,  Red Aunts,  Rough Kittens,  Scrawl,  Shoplifting,  Shotgun Won,  Shrag,  Sister George,  Skinned Teen,  Skinny Girl Diet,  Slant 6,  Sleater-Kinney,  Spider and the Webs,  Spitboy,  Sta-Prest,  Suture,  Swan Island,  Tattle Tale,  Team Dresch,  The Brownies,  The Butchies,  The Coathangers,  The Element of Crime,  The Ethical Debating Society,  The Fakes,  The Frumpies,  The Gits,  The Quails,  The Need,  The Scissor Girls,  The Shondes,  Third Sex,  TPM,  Trash Kit,  Tribe 8,  Valerie,  Vile Vile Creatures,  Violet Violet,  Viva Knievel,  Voodoo Queens,  Weird Menace,  Wetdog,  White Lung,  Wild Flag,  Witchknot,  Witches Of Oz, and Woolf

The Seven Song Itch - Soul Searching Songs

In the midst of trying to accomplish something in life, I wonder if all of the effort I’m going though is worth the outcome?  Should I give up on the long-term objective and settle for the short-term goal?  Settling into something is not the same as settling down.  The latter implies that all of the peaks have been passed and you are on the windward side of the mountain.  But what really is settling down?  Is it giving up on goals, hopes, or dreams?  My go to band in the midst of melancholy is SheDaisy.  I know this sounds odd, but hear me out.  I was listening to one of their songs ("5 4 3 2 Run") the other night and a lyric struck me, “There’s more to life than just takin’ up space.”  Wikipedia defines Introspection as “the self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious and purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul.”  This song has always given me perspective in that life doesn’t always have to be heavy, and there are moments when it should be fun.  But can I relate to other introspective songs, even though they may be heavy, and find some sort of resolve in my life without going all emo?  The answer is yes, because I get perspective from the music in my life. Listening to the same selection of songs, or genre, for me, seems limiting because I can learn from the diverse musical landscape.  I find connections in music and discover that I’m not as different as somebody else and maybe their situation can give me perspective.  Searching your soul is a good thing, but remember that you have a physical presence as well, and it’s about time to go out there and feel the warmth of each other, just not in a perverted way, unless you have permission of the other party or parties.

Playlist of Soul SearchingSongs

1. Natalie Merchant-“Carnival”(1995)

When I moved to Chicago, this was the song that carried me from academic meandering to city dwelling.  It took me several years to discover this song's importance to my life.  At first, I thought it was transition from an acrimonious existence to chaotic indifference.  It now feels like the need for exploration, for it's own sake, has a cost that takes away the innocence of discovery and puts the burden of being self aware upon your psyche.  I've seen two many friends destroyed by their own revelations and wish for amnesic resolve.  A gift I sometimes wish I could afford.

2. Dixie Chicks–“Wide Open Spaces”(1998)

Taking that first step out into the wilderness can be very daunting, but it’s a move that you should make.  Life keeps moving forward, even though we may want the world to stop so that we can catch our breath.  Though daunting, new experiences can be exhilarating and you can discover new things about yourself.  I’m not saying that we learn these life lessons because I see situations repeat themselves.

3. Stacie Orrico – “(There's Gotta Be) More to Life”(2003)

In the midst of attaining some sort of success in my life, this song really struck me.  I had corporate job and was financially successful, and yet I still felt empty inside.  I stockpiled material things in the hopes of Keeping up with the Joneses.  When it all crashed down around me, it was those material things that became a burden and the maintenance cost was more than I could bear.  I began to wonder, is this all that there is in life?  This song made me seek out the answers.  I don’t have them yet, but I feel like I’m upon the path to finding happiness.

4. Chantal Kreviazuk-“Invincible”(2009)

It’s really easy to get turned around in this life, but what makes things bearable is to have a partner in crime.  Sometimes you just have to laugh at the insanity that comes your way, and it’s better when you have a kindred spirit along for the ride.  Taking solace in someone is sometimes the only solution to an insolvable situation.  Perspective and a good sense of humor heals a suffering soul.

5. Our Lady Peace-“Innocent”(2002)

Oh how we ponder our problems, and everyone has them regardless of status or situation.  What we have to realize is that difficulties happen to you, not because of you.  I don’t know how many times that I’ve focused on my life as a failure, instead of the failures in my life, because when I view it in this light, I also have to factor in the successes I’ve had as well.  Life is just a ride and there will be high and low points, but you have to remember that not everything is meant to drag you down.  “One day, you’ll stand up on your own,” is a lyric that I think goes to the heart of the matter.

6. Switchfoot-“The Setting Sun” (2005)

If I had to come up with a list of my favorite albums, which would not be easy, a sure selection that would make the list is this band’s “Nothing Is Sound,” record.  The collection of songs, including this one, has a great wide-open sound that just revels in power cords and larger than life lyrics.  I really feel alive when I listen to this song.  It’s a heavier album than their previous releases.

7. Green Day-“Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”(1997)

For what it’s worth, this song is worth a spin.  Yes, it’s cliché and has been played at more commencement parties than I care to think about, but I think its simple message is profound.  It’s easy to get caught up in the events of the day and we sometimes forget to stop and smell the roses.  I like this band, they seem to get it, and are more punk than I’m willing to acknowledge, but there it is anyway.

The Seven Song Itch - West Coast Punk

I came to the Punk Rock party late, though I suspect if I had attended it earlier, I would probably have a record—and not the musical kind.  When Punk Rock originally surfaced I was still very addicted to top 40 radio.  I always wondered if there were songs that didn’t make the list and then a friend handed me my first mix-tape.  This form of music sharing was all the rage in high school and tapes were traded back and forth due to the lack of diversity on the radio.  My proper education of Punk Rock commenced when I made a tape, for a gal that I liked, but the album she gave me to dub just sounded like noise.  It was almost a year later when this mix-tape made its way back to me and I finally listened to it.  To my delight, the noise was the album “Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables,” by the Dead Kennedys, and my education of West Coast Punk commenced.  Even now, the legacy of this band, as well as others, is very strong and has legions of fans that still come out to see their shows.  It’s odd to see Punks in their forties slamming in a mosh pit.  The anthem of Punk Rock is Anarchy, tapered with satire, sarcasm and irony of social and political issues. Most of these bands released their music on their own record labels, as well as a few independents, so that their music could be heard; way before the concept of DIY (Do It Yourself).  There are too many subgenres to Punk Rock, let alone West Coast Punk, so here is a link from Wikipedia that touches on Punk Rock Subgenres.

West Coast Punk Playlist

1. Dead Kennedys-“Soup is Good Food” (1985)

The Dead Kennedys formed in San Francisco in 1978 and unleashed a plethora of Punk Rock anthems in the early eighties.  I chose this song from their most controversial record “Frankenchrist,” because this record inspired the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) to try to ban this type of music, (along with Fleetwood Mac—Yeah, I know it’s confusing).  The PMRC took umbrage with the H.R. Giger poster, which was included in the record album, titled "Work 219: Landscape XX" (also known as Penis Landscape).  You should look up the court case because it would take too much time to address it here. This song, however, showcases the group in a more experimental phase of their career.  It’s not the hardcore thrash of their previous releases so the message comes across quite clear with extreme irony and sarcasm.  This was a time when the nylon curtain of suburbia was pulled back to reveal the ugly side of America. The ruling class may have viewed us as disposables, but we still had our minds intact.  Our message to the establishment is that we see what you’re doing, we don’t like it, and if we have anything to say about it, you’re not going to get away with it.

2. Black Flag-“TV Party”(1981/1982)

Formed in 1976 Black Flag was central to the creation of hardcore punk.  They were innovators in the first wave of American West Coast Punk Rock and are considered a key influence on punk subculture in the United States and abroad.  This song is off of their album “Damaged,” and it brings back a lot of memories of watching the boob tube when I was growing up.  It depicts apathetic youth that define themselves in Prime Time.  Is the lost art of conversation lost, or do we need to be pacified with our bottles (of beer) so that we no longer think for ourselves.  Nowadays, what would happen if your computer, cell phone, TV, radio, etc…broke down? “What are we gonna talk about, I don’t know, We’re gonna miss our favorite shows” seems like a sad commentary on our capacity to just sit back and let the world happen to us.  Wake up and live.

3. Circle Jerks – “I Just Want Some Skank”, “Beverly Hills” & “Wasted”(1980)

Believe it or not, these are three complete songs.  Punk Rock is very potent in its musical message because most of the songs are about a minute or so, and this group is no exception.  Though a majority of songs from this genre come from a blue-collar point of view, this band focuses on entitlement that revolves about their suburban upbringing.  I’m not sure if they are just winy brats or brilliant.  These three songs are from the seminal record, “Group Sex,” which is a good sampling of their best work.  There is a great party mentality to these songs and I love the upfront and abrupt nature of the lyrics.  There is no riddle to solve in these songs, and that’s what made them great—straight forward aggression—Grrr!

4. Minutemen – “My Heart And The Real World” (1984)

This band is aptly named because most of their songs are about a minute. They took the short song motif to a higher level with their double album, “Double Nickels on the Dime,” (Note: 55m.p.h. on Hwy. 10) which this song is one of forty-five tracks. The title of the album is a commentary on Sammy Hagar’s song, “I Cant Drive 55.” The Minutemen decided that driving fast "wasn't terribly defiant,” and later on bassist Mike Watt was quoted as saying, “Okay, we'll drive 55, but we'll make crazy music."

5. D.R.I. “Nursing Home Blues”(1985)

Billed as the fastest punk band, this song is among 25 other tracks from their record “Dealing With It” This is the longest song on the release, while most of the other tracks, on the record, last about a minute. Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (also known as D.R.I.) is a thrash metal/crossover band that formed in Houston in 1982, but relocated to San Francisco in the late eighties.  If your hearing blinks, listening to this record, you may miss a song or two.  The way to truly enjoy this band, and to know when they are starting the next song, you have to apply what I like to call the “Ramones Principle.”  To discern when a song starts, with the Ramones, you hear someone shout out, “1,2,3,4.” With D.R.I, you listen for the drumsticks clicking out the tempo.

6. Agent Orange–“BloodStains”(1979)

This is the kind of band that you suspect still live in their parent’s basement and still go out to skate parks on the weekends.  I didn’t get to see them live till a few years ago and I have to say they still have all of the veracity intact.  All I can remember about this show was being soaked in beer and coming home with bruises on my arms. 

7. Fear “I Love Livin’ In The City”(1978)

This is a song that I always come back to when I think about West Coat Punk rock origins.  It was their only hit, and after the release of this song the band went though a myriad of personnel changes with only Lee Ving - vocals, rhythm guitar, as its constant member.  This band is credited as being an influence of dozens of bands, which includes, Lard, Guns N' Roses, A Perfect Circle, and Soundgarden.

The Seven Song Itch - Songs for Jackie

On December 25, 2011 my father passed away from cancer.  After many years of suffering he finally let go and moved on to a better place.  I consider myself fortunate to have made peace with him several months earlier—we didn’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things.  Though we had our issues, he was a simple man that only wanted a ham sandwich, cable television and a comfortable chair.  The one thing that he did give me was my appreciation of music.  Most of the time the radio was my baby sitter while he was off doing what he was doing.  When differences divided us, music united us.  I can’t thank him enough for giving me the ability to be at odds with someone and yet, bond over a song.  I dedicate this collection of “Jackie” songs to my father and hope that he is bonding with other spirits and listening to some great music.

There are a lot of songs that had Jackie in the title.  Some didn’t quite make the list here, but I put them in a playlist on Youtube, which you can get to by clicking here.

1. Sinead O'Connor-"Jackie"

I like the edginess of this song.  It has an intensity of dedication and passion for a sailor named Jackie.  It reminds me of how lucky my father was in his life in his ability to survive a disaster and come out of the experience without a scratch.

2. Van Morrison-“Jackie Wilson Said”

Though I prefer the Dexy’s Midnight Runners version of this song, I figured that my dad would appreciate this one more.  It has a nice swinging rhythm and kind of makes you want to just get up and dance.  When my father was in his late forties, he took up ballroom dancing and spent many years sharing his moves out on the dance floor.

3. John Mellencamp–“Jackie Brown”

My father was absent from my life a majority of the time, which created a lot of tension between us.  I don’t begrudge his decisions, but sometimes when I listen to this song, I can relate to a lot of the difficulties he saw around him.  This song is very special to me, because I can really relate to it, and I suspect that he could as well.

4. Ozark Mountain Daredevils-“Jackie Blue”

When I was growing up, I thought that I was named after this song, but as luck would have it, I was named after my father.  In the years since, I’ve received a lot of mail to Ms. Jackie Jr., (you would think that Jr. would clarify things) which confused the hell out of me.  In this song, I thought that a woman sang it, but as it turns out the male drummer Larry Lee, did the vocal track.  I think we all live in patterns and when something that we think is one way, may actually be something else.  Jackie isn’t just a female’s name, there’s Jackie Chan, Jackie Gleason, and Jackie Mason.

5. Tori Amos-“Jackie’s Strength”

I was in the audience at this show, and have been a fan of Tori for years, but I was not familiar with this song.  I’m not sure if it applies to my father, considering it alludes to a bride on her wedding day as well as Jackie O'nassis.  Though you wouldn’t know it from his appearance, my father was a very strong man, well strong willed.

6. The New Pornographers-“Jackie”

This song is not to be confused with, “Jackie, Dressed up in Cobras,” which is on their Twin Cinema album (2005).  This song is from their debut Mass Republic (2000) record.  I love the lyric in the song that says, “Jackie you yourself said it best when you said:” It appears several times in the song, but I can’t help but laugh when thinking about how assured my father was when he was telling a story, even when we all knew it wasn’t true.  I guess you have to accept people as they are and not who you want them to be.

7. Ramones–“The Return of Jackie and Judy”

I’ve always been a punk rocker, and I like this song.

Bonus Song: Fastball–“The Way”

This song really typifies the attitude that my father had towards life.  He really didn’t know where he was going, and most of the time he made it up along the way, but the road was always calling him.  I’d like to think that I’ve inherited his good luck in some of the chances I’ve taken in life.  God knows I didn’t plan for some of the stuff that happened along the way, but what I learned from my father was to get back up, brush yourself off, and continue to do whatever you want.  I doubt that he had many regrets and I hope that is my legacy as well.

The Seven Song Itch - Interpretive Female Covers

Awards season is coming to a close, and I can’t help but get a bit of nostalgia as last year’s music comes back for a reprise.  In their acceptance speeches, artists thank managers, engineers, and other people that are important to them.  Influences are mentioned and then there is the moment in the broadcast where we remember those who have died this past year and reflect upon their contribution of the musical landscape. At these moments, I remember the songs that I’ve grown up with and how they affect my life.  If you ask these artists, some would cite influences that you would have never suspected in the development of their own sound.  The Rolling Stones, as well as AC/DC, cite many blues artists as being essential in their development.  Even Martina McBride did a show on CMT called Crossroads and praised the music of Pat Benetar.  The two divas spent the whole broadcast, mixing it up, by dueting each others music while putting their own spin on the songs.  Seeing Ms. McBride sing, “Promises in The Dark,” a classic rock star anthem, with Ms. Benetar gave me chills.  I thought about how jaded some people get when an contemporary artist covers another artist’s song and that the complaint is that it’s not as good as the original, or that the cover artist is just being uncreative.  There are two schools of thought about covers; one, is it true the original and/or two, does it bring something new to the song?  I tend to go back and forth between these two schools depending upon a myriad of factors and it would take too much time, and a lot of debate, to convey what I really like about a song.  I offer the artists of Motown (The record Label) as a concise example on what other artists, in the same genre, can do with the same song.  Even the Beatles began their career covering other contemporaries in developing their own sound.  So, in lieu of that discussion, I’ve come up with a list of seven songs that I think fall into both camps.  Some take the song into a new direction, which I like, while others are very respectful to the original composition.  And what makes this list all the more interesting is that it that all of these covers are done by female artists, when the originals were sung by males.

Here is a Playlist of the covers, as well as the originals.  Interpretive Female Covers

1. Tina Arena–“Only Women Bleed”

(2009—Original by Alice Cooper, 1975)

The original madman of the seventies, Alice Cooper composed this ballad back in 1975 as a part of his first solo effort, “Welcome To My Nightmare.”  Originally it was listed as, “Only Women,” and did not include the “Bleed” part because it was thought to have been too visceral for audiences at the time.  This is a profound song because it is one of the first that addresses an abusive marriage in music.  Tina’s vocal, as well as the musical arrangement, really pulls at your heart and coveys a more personal view of a woman experiencing marital abuse.  Alice’s version is brutal, but Tina’s interpretation is more intimate—it still gives me chills.

2. The Bird and the Bee-“How Deep Is Your Love” 

(2008—Original by Bee Gees, 1977)

This song hails from seminal movie, “Saturday Night Fever,” back when Disco was king.  Though I’m not really a fan of this genre, I’ve always found The Bee Gees lyrics cut straight to the heart of the matter, with some exceptions of course.   Both versions of this song have a dreamy aspect to the music, but The Bird and the Bee’s version has a pillow talk feel, while the original version has a late night romantic candle light diner vibe.  I don’t know why, it just feels that way.

3. Katie Melua–“Just Like Heaven” 

(2005—Original by The Cure, 1987)

This is a gentile version of The Cure’s gothic love ballad.  Katie’s version has simple and playful nature, which is present in the original version, but doesn’t shout it out from the edge of a cliff.    I love both of these songs equally.  Sometimes you want the world to know that you are in love, and sometimes you just want one person to know.  Either way, this song is truly, Just Like Heaven.

4. No Doubt-“It’s My Life” 

(2003—Original by Talk Talk, 1984)

This song originally came out in the heyday of the New Romantic Movement and contemporaries like Ultravox, Visage, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, ABC and Boy George (of Culture Club).  This music was a staple in the very diverse decade of the 80s.  The both versions of this song sound similar, but No Doubt’s version inspires intrigue.  I always thought that the original song had a kind of self-deprecating sense (no offense), in that it comes across like Mark Hollis is complaining.  Now, I love Mr. Hollis’s voice because it has an angelic aspect, however, with the newer version, Gwen Stefani’s black widow portrayal in this video has all the scandal and none of the crime, well at least for her supposed victims.

5. Sixpence None The Richer–“Don`t Dream It`s Over” 

(2003–Original by Crowded House, 1986)

This was Crowded House’s breakthrough single, but Leigh Nash’s vocal gives it a more bright tone.  Her version doesn’t stray too far from the original, but takes on a different feel with a female voice.  It’s more of a reassuring sentiment rather than I warned you tone.  This may not be the intention of the song, and this is only my opinion, but the song has a profound message about relationships, and I wanted to highlight the lyrics of this song.

6. DJ Sammy–“Heaven” 

(2002–Original by Bryan Adams, 1984)

Ah yes, the power ballads of the 80s make me wanna wave a cigarette lighter among other fans in a stadium.  The original Brian Adams version has this wide-open sound, and there are several versions of the DJ Sammy remake, but I like the ‘candlelight’ mix of this record.  It has a simple arrangement, and sometimes that’s all you need for a great song.

7. Atomic Kitten–“The Tide is High” 

(2002–Original by The Paragons 1967)

Atomic Kitten was first conceived in 1997 by Andy McCluskey of 1980s band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.  The original line-up featured, Liz McClarnon, Kerry Katona and Heidi Range (now in the group Sugababes), but Range decided to quit due to artistic differences, and was replaced by Natasha Hamilton.  Yeah, Blondie did a cover of this song back in 1980, which I love, but the original version was recorded in 1967 and performed by The Paragons.  Atomic Kitten’s version still has the Reggae flavor, but is infused with pop sensibilities that make the song practically gallop.  It’s wonderful how music can cross lines and combine two flavors that may not appear to have something in common and produce something fun.  It’s like when Punk Rock groups started to incorporate Reggae into their sound (Look up The Clash) and in response to this, SKA and other genres of music were born—but that’s another list.