Celinastacia doesn't shake this number!

Oh Celine, Celine and ANASTACIA! Wouldn't you think that they'd have more sense than to try break into the heavy rock category? But no, off they went trying to make a hit out of a song which most would agree is one of the biggest rock classics of all time : "You Shook Me All Night Long."

"You Shook Me All Night Long" has been placed at No.10 on VH1's list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s". It was also No.1 on VH1's "Top Ten AC/DC Songs". In the song, the lead singer Brian Johnson relates the story of a night with a beautiful woman. Guitar world also placed "You Shook Me All Night Long" number 80 on their "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" list. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bomv-6CJSfM

Without doubt, this is one of if the most famous out of any of the AC/DChit records. Any why is it the most famous? Because it's original, it's hot and above all because its not Celine Dion who should desperately consider sticking to her wedding reception type songs instead of breaking into rock and roll because let me tell you Celine, it's not for you.

The first time I heard the cover of this somg I can honestly say I was sickened. Before then I'd had so much respect for Anastacia and so much...acceptence for Celine. But come on, a person can only take so much of listening to a great song that's been desperately transformed into a piss take before they blow their fuse. Well, I suppose I do have a pretty short fuse to begine with but still, listening to AC/DC sing about a night of passion with a really hot woman who "knocked them out with her American thighs" is so much more appealing than imagining the sex lives of Celine dion as she changes "she" to "he" in that section and leaves the audience imagining her with some big thighed, pot bellied American aristcrat. Just take a listen and you'll feel my pain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHtuGMHWAf0&NR=1.

"When I'm on stage the savage in me is released. It's like going back to being a cave man. It takes me six hours to come down after a show" -Angus Young AC/DC


I wonder if Celine and Anastecia can say the same after destroying their song in live concert.

Twinilla Ice Ice Baby!

Oh My! What is the world coming to?
Back in the day, if you asked someone what two things come to mind when you say the word "Ireland"; Undoubtedly they would have said Guinness and the shamrock. In 2010, if you asked the same question, I have absolutely no doubts that they'd say "John" and "Edward."

John and Edward (who seem to go by the name of Jedward) are definitely born entertainers. They're funny, interesting to look at and quite sweet. But my God, they haven't got a note in their heads!
So, when the two Lucan lads rose to fame on the Xfactor I don't think anyone could have suspected just how big they'd become, and they certainly didn't suspect that one of the biggest rap artists of all time would allow them to "borrow" his most famous tune and re release it as their own. Oh, how wrong were we!

Robert Mattew Van Winkle (aka. Vanilla Ice) is an American rapper from Texas.
He wrote "Ice Ice Baby" at the age of 16, basing its lyrics upon his experiences in South Florida. The lyrics describe a drive-by shooting and are a great display of Van Winkle's rhyming skills.
The chorus of "Ice Ice Baby" originates from the signature chant of the national African American fraternity. Seaking on the song's lyrics, Van Winkle states that "If you released 'Ice Ice Baby' today, it would fit in today's lyrical respect among peers, you know what I'm sayin'? My lyrics aren't, 'Pump it up, go! Go!' My lyrics make sense, I'm sayin' somethin'. "Ice Ice baby samples the bassline of the 1982 song "Under Pressure" by Queen.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8BxbdQqMRE&feature=fvst

Although "Ice Ice Baby" sprang to number one within the first week of it's release in 1990, by 1999 it was branded by Blender magazine as "number five in the 50 worst songs ever." And let me tell you, Vanilla Ice didn't react well. In face, he went down and smashed up MTV's entire set with a baseball bat. Then, along came Jedward.

Okay, I'll admit it, I do have a soft spot for these two lads. I understand that neither of them have a note in their heads and their hair looks like something from Startreks greatest rather than something from the big bad pop world but maybe because it's because they're Irish, or maybe because it's because they've already been given so much shit from the public that I'm going to go easy on the lads.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of rap. I Think Eminem's got real talent and love his music but as far as me and rap goes, that's where our relationship ends. However, I did think Ice Ice baby was light hearted, catchy and 20 years later people are still covering it and talking about it, so I suppose it does make it a bit of a classic.
As far as Jedward goes, they'll never be superstars but they did give a pissed off rapper who never quite made it a new comeback into the public spector and no one can disagree that whilst doing so, they provided us with a hell of a lot of entertainment. And for that lads, I'm gonna say well done.

American Pie.

Well, I know that the whole aim of this blog is to criticize those who cover our classics; But, I thought that perhaps I should be a little more open minded and say that MAYBE not everyone can do a horrendous job. Take Madonna's version of Don McLean's "American Pie" for example. Absolutely amazing stuff! But, in all fairness, there's very little that Madonna can do wrong.

“American Pie” is partly biographical and partly the story of America during the idealized 1950s and the bleaker 1960s. It was inspired by Don’s memories of being a paperboy in 1959 and learning of the death of Buddy Holly.
 "American Pie” presents an abstract story of McLean’s life from the mid-1950s until the end of the 1960s, and at the same time it represents the evolution of pop music and politics over these years, but metaphorically the song continues to evolve to the present time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6uEjifqTaI

 "American Pie" is not a nostalgia song. Actually, it's quite the opposite. If you listen carefully to the lyrics of this song one could almost say that it's a song that not only looks back on the past with fond memories but it's also an artistic portrayal of how simple and beautiful life can be. I believe that this verse portrays this statement perfectly:
"Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast."

Okay, lets face facts here; Don McLeans voice is perfectly suited to deeply artistic songs such as "American Pie" and "Crying". But Madonna really is in a league of her own. She took American Pie, added new life and beautiful enthusiasm  to a song that she obviously had great admiration for. And that's not something that can be said about most covers.

I'm not gonna say that Madonna's version of American Pie is better than McLeans, that would be unfair as both are very different versions of a song from two incredibly talented artists. However, I will say that Madonna's version was definitely a heart felt one. She gave an old song a new lease of life, got it back into the charts and above all got it into the minds and the hearts of a whole different generation of followers. And for that reason Madonna all I can say is "Fair play to ya."