Remakes

Apocalyptica via last.fm

My son just introduced me to Apocalyptica. I like it... But he just had to play me this one song featuring a German singer. The song was very profound and dark, and the singer's voice was very growly and serious. I liked it, but it just had this ring of familiarity I couldn't place... You probably already know where I'm going with this, don't you?

It was 'We Can Be Heroes' done originally by David Bowie. Now it's called 'Helden', apparently German for Heroes. It's good, give it a listen. The thing that was pretty funny was how messed up my teenage son got over the fact that I knew the song. It gave me quite the giggles, but then it started bringing back memories for me. Memories of my best friend's mom singing along with the brand new (we thought) pop hit 'Sea of Love' in the early eighties. When she said it was a remake of a song that came out when she was a teenager we were so... disappointed?? Disturbed by the fact that we were reminded that parents had lives too? That who they are now is not who they once were, but what we will someday be? Sure enough, heeere we are! A little gray, a little soft around the edges, and humming along with 'new' songs on the radio.

Speaking of which, I don't know who the band is, but while I was in a store the other day I heard a song that had one of Heart's guitar lines in it. Not bad, figured it was a remake... but NO! It was a totally different song, but with the whole guitar riff totally ripped off! I have to say I am not thrilled with remakes, show some originality, boys, but if you can do it better more power to you--but if you're going to rip off another band's music, at least throw them some credit! Big thumbs down!