song: When I'm 64
language: Swedish
performer: Kent Adeborn
Kent Adeborn is the singer for a band called The Bertils, a 60's cover band made up of ex-Volvo engineers.
Friday, January 18, 2013
just mir zwe
song: Two of Us
language: Luxembourgish
performer: Lucy spillt um Späicher mit Däiwel
Lucy spillt um Späicher mit Däiwel's shtick seems to have two components: 1) covering Beatles songs in Luxembourgish (a German dialect, co-official in Luxembourg with German and French), and 2) performing in their underpants. Not the worst way to go through life.
language: Luxembourgish
performer: Lucy spillt um Späicher mit Däiwel
Lucy spillt um Späicher mit Däiwel's shtick seems to have two components: 1) covering Beatles songs in Luxembourgish (a German dialect, co-official in Luxembourg with German and French), and 2) performing in their underpants. Not the worst way to go through life.
quello che manca
song: Paperback Writer
language: Italian
performer: Augusto Righetti
Augusto Righetti has been recording and performing since 1959. In 1966 he released an album of Beatles covers, so there's more of him coming.
language: Italian
performer: Augusto Righetti
Augusto Righetti has been recording and performing since 1959. In 1966 he released an album of Beatles covers, so there's more of him coming.
pas de papier water
song: Paperback Writer
language: French
performer: Les Rolling Bidochons
Les Rolling Bidochons are a French parody group led by comedian Christian Binet. I'm guessing the title is supposed to mean "no toilet paper"?
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
буянаа-наран мандлаа
song: Here Comes the Sun
language: Mongolian
performer: Manlai Ganbaatar
I don't know anything about Manlai Ganbaatar beyond what's on his YouTube channel. He's got a handful of Beatles covers. Very nice version.
language: Mongolian
performer: Manlai Ganbaatar
I don't know anything about Manlai Ganbaatar beyond what's on his YouTube channel. He's got a handful of Beatles covers. Very nice version.
prudenjo
song: Dear Prudence
language: Esperanto
performer: Stefo
Surprised to find someone doing Beatles covers in Esperanto? I'm surprised I haven't found more (yet). Stephan Schneider (Stefo is either his stage name or his Esperanto name) sings Dear Prudence here in a live performance. They lyrics are given in the description.
language: Esperanto
performer: Stefo
Surprised to find someone doing Beatles covers in Esperanto? I'm surprised I haven't found more (yet). Stephan Schneider (Stefo is either his stage name or his Esperanto name) sings Dear Prudence here in a live performance. They lyrics are given in the description.
era mentira
song: Day Tripper
language: Spanish
performer: Los Yaki
Los Yaki were one of the biggest Mexican rock bands in the 60's. This is a garage-y yet faithful cover of Day Tripper.
language: Spanish
performer: Los Yaki
Los Yaki were one of the biggest Mexican rock bands in the 60's. This is a garage-y yet faithful cover of Day Tripper.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
michel[le]
song: Michelle
language: French
performers: Danielle Denin, Les Atomes, 18 Carats, Robert Demontigny, Bob Smart, Dominique
It's no surprise that there are lots of French covers of Michelle, what with the head start John & Paul gave the translators.
Let's start with Danielle Denin, whose recording of I'm Looking Through You was just posted the other day. This is the studio version, but there's an unembeddable live performance which is more interesting to watch, especially for the brief memory lapse at about 1:25. The translation she sings has a bit of a change: Michelle becomes Michel (Michael), and instead of "Michelle, ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble", we get "Michel et Danielle / sont deux noms qui vont très bien ensemble" ("Michael and Danielle / are two names that go together well").
Next up is Les Atomes from Saint-Jérome, Quebec:
Also from Quebec, a band called 18 Carats, who also change the gender to Michel:
Robert Demontigny, yet another Québécois, who mixes in some of the English lyrics here and there:
Bob Smart (whoever that is) also sings Danielle Denin's version (I guess it's better than "Michelle et Bob..."):
And finally, Dominique (a singer associated with Georges Jouvin), who also does the "Danielle" version:
language: French
performers: Danielle Denin, Les Atomes, 18 Carats, Robert Demontigny, Bob Smart, Dominique
It's no surprise that there are lots of French covers of Michelle, what with the head start John & Paul gave the translators.
Let's start with Danielle Denin, whose recording of I'm Looking Through You was just posted the other day. This is the studio version, but there's an unembeddable live performance which is more interesting to watch, especially for the brief memory lapse at about 1:25. The translation she sings has a bit of a change: Michelle becomes Michel (Michael), and instead of "Michelle, ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble", we get "Michel et Danielle / sont deux noms qui vont très bien ensemble" ("Michael and Danielle / are two names that go together well").
Next up is Les Atomes from Saint-Jérome, Quebec:
Also from Quebec, a band called 18 Carats, who also change the gender to Michel:
Robert Demontigny, yet another Québécois, who mixes in some of the English lyrics here and there:
Bob Smart (whoever that is) also sings Danielle Denin's version (I guess it's better than "Michelle et Bob..."):
And finally, Dominique (a singer associated with Georges Jouvin), who also does the "Danielle" version:
Monday, January 7, 2013
ring ring här är svensktoppsjuryn
song: Maxwell's Silver Hammer
language: Swedish
performer: The Hootenany Singers
The Hootenany Singers were a Swedish folk group that included Björn Ulvaeus (later of ABBA). They had several Swedish and a few international hits. This song is not a translation of Maxwell's but rather a parody of the Swedish hit countdown radio show Svensktoppen and the people who chose the songs that made it. (The anonymous jury must have been sufficiently shamed, as they put this song on the chart for 3 weeks. It's the only plausible explanation I can come up with.)
language: Swedish
performer: The Hootenany Singers
The Hootenany Singers were a Swedish folk group that included Björn Ulvaeus (later of ABBA). They had several Swedish and a few international hits. This song is not a translation of Maxwell's but rather a parody of the Swedish hit countdown radio show Svensktoppen and the people who chose the songs that made it. (The anonymous jury must have been sufficiently shamed, as they put this song on the chart for 3 weeks. It's the only plausible explanation I can come up with.)
פטישו של מקסוול
song: Maxwell's Silver Hammer
language: Hebrew
performers: It's Fun to Love (cast), C-van
Two Hebrew versions of Maxwell tonight. The first is from a musical production called "טוב לאהוב" which literally translates as "Good Love", but the soundtrack's English title is "It's Fun to Love". I don't know anything about the musical other than it was written and directed by noted Israeli playwright Dan Almagor (who uploaded the first video). There's another video montage for this recording that someone put up, using a cartoon depiction of the song in all its bloody glory (with original English lyrics as subtitles), if you're so inclined.
I've posted Israeli YouTuber cvanyihye (C-van)'s cover of Across the Universe previously, and I'll be posting the rest of her Hebrew Beatles covers in the future. Her translation seems (according to google) to follow the same basic gruesome storyline as the original, but with differences in the details to make the poetry work (the hammer becomes an axe, and Maxwell becomes Dr. Sammy).
language: Hebrew
performers: It's Fun to Love (cast), C-van
Two Hebrew versions of Maxwell tonight. The first is from a musical production called "טוב לאהוב" which literally translates as "Good Love", but the soundtrack's English title is "It's Fun to Love". I don't know anything about the musical other than it was written and directed by noted Israeli playwright Dan Almagor (who uploaded the first video). There's another video montage for this recording that someone put up, using a cartoon depiction of the song in all its bloody glory (with original English lyrics as subtitles), if you're so inclined.
I've posted Israeli YouTuber cvanyihye (C-van)'s cover of Across the Universe previously, and I'll be posting the rest of her Hebrew Beatles covers in the future. Her translation seems (according to google) to follow the same basic gruesome storyline as the original, but with differences in the details to make the poetry work (the hammer becomes an axe, and Maxwell becomes Dr. Sammy).
Sunday, January 6, 2013
белый день
songs: Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, Can't Buy Me Love, Let it Be, Yesterday
performer: White Day
White Day is a long-running group headed by accordionist Valery Semin. I can't find out much more than what's at their website, but these clips are simply amazing. I'm not sure what to call it - Cossack Swing? Certainly a blend of traditional Russian music (and instrumentation, with the balalaika and domra) and jazz, with maybe a bit of bluegrass in there as well.
Beyond the wonderful arrangements and musicianship, they are fun to watch; Semin is in a constant state of ecstasy while he plays, and shares loving expressions with his bandmates when they solo. The balalaika player always gets this "who me?" look on his face when Semin looks at him. The woman wearing her percussion is wild too. You almost don't notice the subdued bass player, except that he's apparently also a 4-star Brigadier Bellhop.
In this first clip (skip to 0:30 to avoid intro stuff), they do Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, and Can't Buy Me Love:
Next they do Let it Be and Yesterday:
And here's the first set again, in another live performance (with a different balalaika player); the baffled/delighted looks in the audience are priceless:
performer: White Day
White Day is a long-running group headed by accordionist Valery Semin. I can't find out much more than what's at their website, but these clips are simply amazing. I'm not sure what to call it - Cossack Swing? Certainly a blend of traditional Russian music (and instrumentation, with the balalaika and domra) and jazz, with maybe a bit of bluegrass in there as well.
Beyond the wonderful arrangements and musicianship, they are fun to watch; Semin is in a constant state of ecstasy while he plays, and shares loving expressions with his bandmates when they solo. The balalaika player always gets this "who me?" look on his face when Semin looks at him. The woman wearing her percussion is wild too. You almost don't notice the subdued bass player, except that he's apparently also a 4-star Brigadier Bellhop.
In this first clip (skip to 0:30 to avoid intro stuff), they do Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, and Can't Buy Me Love:
Next they do Let it Be and Yesterday:
And here's the first set again, in another live performance (with a different balalaika player); the baffled/delighted looks in the audience are priceless:
regresa
song: Get Back
language: Spanish
performers: Los Johnny Jets, Los Buitres
Mexican garage rock band Los Johnny Jets does a good cover of Get Back. Regresa is the "official" title translation (as seen on some Beatles releases in Spanish-speaking countries), but this translation is called Ven Ya ("come already").
Here's Que Va ("No Way!") by Venezuelan band Los Buitres:
language: Spanish
performers: Los Johnny Jets, Los Buitres
Mexican garage rock band Los Johnny Jets does a good cover of Get Back. Regresa is the "official" title translation (as seen on some Beatles releases in Spanish-speaking countries), but this translation is called Ven Ya ("come already").
Here's Que Va ("No Way!") by Venezuelan band Los Buitres:
je lis dans tes yeux
song: I'm Looking Through You
language: French
performer: Danielle Denin
Well I can't seem to find out anything about Danielle, which is odd because there are a bunch of her songs floating around on YouTube, but none of them give much in the way of clues. She seems to have released a few singles in the mid-60s and then vanished from the pop scene. Anyway, this is a nice version.
language: French
performer: Danielle Denin
Well I can't seem to find out anything about Danielle, which is odd because there are a bunch of her songs floating around on YouTube, but none of them give much in the way of clues. She seems to have released a few singles in the mid-60s and then vanished from the pop scene. Anyway, this is a nice version.
gestern noch
song: Yesterday
language: German
performers: Knut Kiesewetter, Judita Čeřovská
Knut Kiesewetter grew up in North Friesland in Germany and became a renowned jazz trombonist and composer. Notably he and his jazz band once shared the stage with the Beatles during their stint in Hamburg. He also delved into rock, blues, soul, gospel and folk, and recorded many songs in Frisian and Low German (none of them Beatles covers, unfortunately).
And here's a cover by Czech pop singer Judita Čeřovská:
language: German
performers: Knut Kiesewetter, Judita Čeřovská
Knut Kiesewetter grew up in North Friesland in Germany and became a renowned jazz trombonist and composer. Notably he and his jazz band once shared the stage with the Beatles during their stint in Hamburg. He also delved into rock, blues, soul, gospel and folk, and recorded many songs in Frisian and Low German (none of them Beatles covers, unfortunately).
And here's a cover by Czech pop singer Judita Čeřovská:
te adoro
song: I Need You
language: Portuguese
performer: Os Golden Boys
The Golden Boys were a Brazilian band made up of three brothers and a cousin who were popular in the late 50s and 60s.
language: Portuguese
performer: Os Golden Boys
The Golden Boys were a Brazilian band made up of three brothers and a cousin who were popular in the late 50s and 60s.
Friday, January 4, 2013
брангуртысь песянайёс
songs: Let it Be, Yesterday
language: Udmurt
performer: Buranovskiye Babushki
The "Buranovo Grannies" were the feel-good story of the 2012 Eurovision contest, where they finished 2nd with their song Party for Everybody. An actual group of singing grandmothers from Udmurtia (a republic in the Russian Federation), they're all over 70 and are now bona fide pop stars. Certainly the novelty of a bunch of elderly women singing in a language most people (Russians included) had never heard (nor heard of) is a component of their celebrity.
But listen to them; they sing beautifully, honestly, with none of the glitz that surrounds them on stage. It's obvious it comes from somewhere culturally deep and rich (which makes the contrast at Eurovision all the starker).
So, here they are singing Let it Be (accompanied by a group called Sappy), followed by Yesterday.
language: Udmurt
performer: Buranovskiye Babushki
The "Buranovo Grannies" were the feel-good story of the 2012 Eurovision contest, where they finished 2nd with their song Party for Everybody. An actual group of singing grandmothers from Udmurtia (a republic in the Russian Federation), they're all over 70 and are now bona fide pop stars. Certainly the novelty of a bunch of elderly women singing in a language most people (Russians included) had never heard (nor heard of) is a component of their celebrity.
But listen to them; they sing beautifully, honestly, with none of the glitz that surrounds them on stage. It's obvious it comes from somewhere culturally deep and rich (which makes the contrast at Eurovision all the starker).
So, here they are singing Let it Be (accompanied by a group called Sappy), followed by Yesterday.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
los xochimilcas
songs: She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand, And I Love Her
language: Spanish
performer: Los Xochimilcas
I was surprised that there doesn't seem to be anything out there on Los Xochimilcas - not even a Spanish wikipedia page. From looking at the many YouTube videos of them, they seem to have been a popular - if not taken seriously - band that blended popular and Mexican musical styles with broad humor. A sort of Mexican Spike Jones or Mickey Katz. And like Katz, whose great talent for klezmer music was often overlooked due to his shtick, Los Xochimilcas were very talented musicians beneath the clowning. Their versions of these three Beatles songs reveal a sensitive ear for arranging and an expert incorporation of pop and Mexican idioms.
And they're funny too: The first video, a cover of She Loves You, begins with a verse in random English before switching to Spanish:
language: Spanish
performer: Los Xochimilcas
I was surprised that there doesn't seem to be anything out there on Los Xochimilcas - not even a Spanish wikipedia page. From looking at the many YouTube videos of them, they seem to have been a popular - if not taken seriously - band that blended popular and Mexican musical styles with broad humor. A sort of Mexican Spike Jones or Mickey Katz. And like Katz, whose great talent for klezmer music was often overlooked due to his shtick, Los Xochimilcas were very talented musicians beneath the clowning. Their versions of these three Beatles songs reveal a sensitive ear for arranging and an expert incorporation of pop and Mexican idioms.
And they're funny too: The first video, a cover of She Loves You, begins with a verse in random English before switching to Spanish:
A one two three four fiveThe other two covers are instrumentals.
Seven eighteen, seven eighteen
Kiss me once again
Is forever, is forever
And my sister! And my sister waits for me
Very happy, very happy, same to you!
aquí, allá y donde sea
song: Here, There and Everywhere
language: Spanish
performers: Los Darts, Los Juniors, Los Tijuana Five
Three versions found on the intertubes, but I could only ID two. Los Darts formed in Venezuela in 1964 and are still together:
Los Juniors rocked around Mexico for most of the 60s:
And finally, this video,which has no info on its source by Mexican band Los Tijuana Five (h/t to commenter Odradek for the info):
language: Spanish
performers: Los Darts, Los Juniors, Los Tijuana Five
Three versions found on the intertubes, but I could only ID two. Los Darts formed in Venezuela in 1964 and are still together:
Los Juniors rocked around Mexico for most of the 60s:
And finally, this video,
y la amo
song: And I Love Her
language: Spanish
performers: Jose Alberto, Los Mustang, Los Apson Boys, Los Dayson, Los Hermanos Carrión
The first of our five Spanish versions of And I Love Her comes courtesy of Los Apson Boys, a Mexican band that formed in 1957, reached their height in the mid to late 60s, and are still performing:
Next up, Barcelona's Los Mustang:
Next, Mexican rock 'n' roll pioneers Los Hermanos Carrión:
From the Dominican Republic, "El Canario" ("The Canary") Jose Alberto:
And finally, back to Spain with Los Dayson:
language: Spanish
performers: Jose Alberto, Los Mustang, Los Apson Boys, Los Dayson, Los Hermanos Carrión
The first of our five Spanish versions of And I Love Her comes courtesy of Los Apson Boys, a Mexican band that formed in 1957, reached their height in the mid to late 60s, and are still performing:
Next up, Barcelona's Los Mustang:
Next, Mexican rock 'n' roll pioneers Los Hermanos Carrión:
From the Dominican Republic, "El Canario" ("The Canary") Jose Alberto:
And finally, back to Spain with Los Dayson:
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
конь тугезый
song: Come Together
language: Tuvan
performer: Bugotak
Bugotak is a Siberian group that blends indigenous styles with modern world influences. Here is their wonderfully trippy video for their throat-singing cover of Come Together. The band's philosophy regards innovation as essential to keeping tradition alive and safe from fossilization, and this is quite the example here, with references to Genghis Khan and nanotechnology. The Russian/Tuvan title, pronounced "kon tugezy" ("horse Togezy", not sure if that's like "Togezy's horse" or "a horse named Togezy" or something else), is clearly homophonic. The song is included on their album Coverlar, which contains similar treatments of other rock classics, from Metallica to the Mission Impossible theme.
language: Tuvan
performer: Bugotak
Bugotak is a Siberian group that blends indigenous styles with modern world influences. Here is their wonderfully trippy video for their throat-singing cover of Come Together. The band's philosophy regards innovation as essential to keeping tradition alive and safe from fossilization, and this is quite the example here, with references to Genghis Khan and nanotechnology. The Russian/Tuvan title, pronounced "kon tugezy" ("horse Togezy", not sure if that's like "Togezy's horse" or "a horse named Togezy" or something else), is clearly homophonic. The song is included on their album Coverlar, which contains similar treatments of other rock classics, from Metallica to the Mission Impossible theme.
가야금
songs: Hey Jude, Let it Be, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
performers: Sookmyung Gayageum Orchestra
Here are some clips of instrumental covers, played on the traditional Korean zither (gayageum). The last two clips are by the Sookmyung Gayageum Orchestra, and the first may be as well, though the players aren't credited. The first clip also features a haegeum, a small violin similar to the Chinese erhu, taking the melody lines.
performers: Sookmyung Gayageum Orchestra
Here are some clips of instrumental covers, played on the traditional Korean zither (gayageum). The last two clips are by the Sookmyung Gayageum Orchestra, and the first may be as well, though the players aren't credited. The first clip also features a haegeum, a small violin similar to the Chinese erhu, taking the melody lines.
코리언 키튼즈
song: Can't Buy Me Love
language: Korean
performer: The Korean Kittens
The Korean Kittens were a girl-group modeled after the Kim Sisters; their success was more limited but one member, Yoon Bok-hee, went on have to a long singing career. Here they sing Can't Buy Me Love on the BBC's Tonight show: verses in English, chorus in Korean.
language: Korean
performer: The Korean Kittens
The Korean Kittens were a girl-group modeled after the Kim Sisters; their success was more limited but one member, Yoon Bok-hee, went on have to a long singing career. Here they sing Can't Buy Me Love on the BBC's Tonight show: verses in English, chorus in Korean.
一周八天
song: Eight Days a Week
language: Chinese
performers unknown
In this scene from the film Romantic Thief (1968), star Connie Chan and her gang escape from their deluxe jail cell by singing Eight Days a Week in Cantonese to cover up the sound of the hacksaw (Officer Toody seems easily snookered). Before you laugh, consider that when this came out, Get Smart was finishing up its third season.
language: Chinese
performers unknown
In this scene from the film Romantic Thief (1968), star Connie Chan and her gang escape from their deluxe jail cell by singing Eight Days a Week in Cantonese to cover up the sound of the hacksaw (Officer Toody seems easily snookered). Before you laugh, consider that when this came out, Get Smart was finishing up its third season.
the cheatles
songs: Let it Be, Love Me Do
language: Chinese
performer: The Cheatles
Not to be confused with the British band of the same name, The Cheatles are a Chinese Beatles tribute band, made up of two German nationals and the two sons of one of them (awkward phrasing, but hard to put succinctly!). Here are two of their videos: Let it Be (with a bit of A Little Help from My Friends at the end), a proper music video complete with rooftop performance, and Love Me Do from a live show.
language: Chinese
performer: The Cheatles
Not to be confused with the British band of the same name, The Cheatles are a Chinese Beatles tribute band, made up of two German nationals and the two sons of one of them (awkward phrasing, but hard to put succinctly!). Here are two of their videos: Let it Be (with a bit of A Little Help from My Friends at the end), a proper music video complete with rooftop performance, and Love Me Do from a live show.
shan kuan liu yun
songs: Can't Buy Me Love, I Saw Her Standing There
language: Chinese
performer: Singapore Shan Kuan Liu Yun
Yet another Singaporean Chinese singer covering the Beatles, and yet another performer I can't find any info on. In this case I'd say it's no great loss. According to the uploader and commenters, he's singing in Cantonese and the backup band is called The Antarctics.
language: Chinese
performer: Singapore Shan Kuan Liu Yun
Yet another Singaporean Chinese singer covering the Beatles, and yet another performer I can't find any info on. In this case I'd say it's no great loss. According to the uploader and commenters, he's singing in Cantonese and the backup band is called The Antarctics.
从我到你
song: From Me to You
language: Chinese
performer: Maggie Wong & the Jungle Lynxs
Maggie Wong is/was a Malaysian singer who released an EP of Beatles covers in Chinese, from which this is taken. I can't find out anything else about her. The Jungle Lynxs were a popular Malaysian band who also supported Vince Chu, "Penang's Elvis".
language: Chinese
performer: Maggie Wong & the Jungle Lynxs
Maggie Wong is/was a Malaysian singer who released an EP of Beatles covers in Chinese, from which this is taken. I can't find out anything else about her. The Jungle Lynxs were a popular Malaysian band who also supported Vince Chu, "Penang's Elvis".
我要握您的手
song: I Want to Hold Your Hand
language: Chinese
performers: Billie Tam, Singapore Chan Siao Fong & The Silhouettes, The Four Dummies
Three Chinese (all Cantonese?) covers of I Want to Hold Your Hand.
First up, Billie Tam, a traditional-style singer who found success when she switched to western pop in the 60s:
Next, Singapore Chan Siao Fong & The Silhouettes:
And finally, The Four Dummies (in actuality Cantonese film stars), who parody the Beatles here.
language: Chinese
performers: Billie Tam, Singapore Chan Siao Fong & The Silhouettes, The Four Dummies
Three Chinese (all Cantonese?) covers of I Want to Hold Your Hand.
First up, Billie Tam, a traditional-style singer who found success when she switched to western pop in the 60s:
Next, Singapore Chan Siao Fong & The Silhouettes:
And finally, The Four Dummies (in actuality Cantonese film stars), who parody the Beatles here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)