Je n’ai rien appris – English hits in other languages

Here we have a bunch of American and British hit singles, with the original artists, re-cut in foreign languages. Why did the world’s biggest artists feel the need to re-record their hit songs with vocals in different languages? To sell more records, of course.

Don’t worry – people like Johnny Cash didn’t know German, or the Police didn’t speak Japanese. They got their song lyrics translated and sang them phonetically. God knows what kind of job they did – if you speak French or German or Japanese, let us know.

MP3: “Fuego d’Amor” (Ring Of Fire)  by Johnny Cash (Spanish)

MP3: “Ring Ring” (German version) by ABBA

MP3: “Oui Tu Es Mon Ami” (Sweet City Woman) by the Stampeders (French)

MP3: “Jennifer Juniper” (Italian version) by Donovan

MP3: “De Do Do Do De Da Da Da” (Japanese version) by the Police

MP3: “Ganz Allien” (In My Room) by the Beach Boys (German)

MP3: “Regardez Par Des Fenetres” (Look Through Any Window) by the Hollies (French)

MP3: “Si No Estas Tu” (Without You) by Harry Nilsson (Spanish)

MP3: “Warten Und Hoffen” (Wishin’ and Hopin’) by Dusty Springfield (German)

MP3: “Con Le Mie Lacrime” (As Tears Go By) by the Rolling Stones (Italian)

MP3: “Francene” (Spanish version) by ZZ Top

MP3: “Geh Raus” (Get Back) by the Beatles (German)

Soul Of The Departed

We are still trying to right our barbaric ways.  Sunday (Nov. 2) is the celebration of All Souls’ Day, remembering those souls who may be on the way to heaven, but for some reason they haven’t arrived yet.  Yesterday we name checked the Saints, those beatific types who are already upstairs partying with the Man; All Souls Day is for those who haven’t gotten there yet because of a minor infraction and they’re still serving their time.  The Catholic church says they haven’t yet achieved the “Beatific Vision.”

So today, let’s flip our catechism to those dearly departed who achieved their “Beatific Vision” while they were on earth – yes, I’m talkin’ about Soul singers!  “Do you like good music?” (Let’s hear an “Amen!”) “Ha! That sweet soul music!” This is dedicated to those soul singers who are no longer with us.  Don’t they all look great, ya’ll?

MP3: “Please, Please, Please” by James Brown, R.I.P.

MP3: “Can’t Stop A Man In Love” by Wilson Pickett, R.I.P.

MP3: “Hands Off My Baby” by Mary Wells, R.I.P.

MP3: “Never Can Say Goodbye” by Isaac Hayes, R.I.P.

MP3: “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” by the Four Tops (Levi Stubbs, R.I.P.)

MP3: “What A Woman Really Means” by Donny Hathaway, R.I.P.

MP3: “I Love You More Than Words Can Say” by Otis Redding, R.I.P.

MP3: “Breakfast In Bed” by Dusty Springfield, R.I.P.

MP3: “Drown In My Own Tears” by Ray Charles, R.I.P.

MP3: “Ain’t That Peculiar” by Marvin Gaye, R.I.P.

MP3: “Strokin'” by Clarence Carter, R.I.P.

MP3: “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” by the Temptations (Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams and David Ruffin, R.I.P.)

MP3: “We’re A Winner” by the Impressions (Curtis Mayfield, R.I.P.)

MP3: “Chain Gang” (live) by Sam Cooke, R.I.P.

MP3: “Sweet Soul Music”  by Arthur Conley, R.I.P.

Live: Tony Joe White, Houston

 

Tony Joe White is probably the funkiest white dude on the planet.  It helps that he is from Louisiana, he’s 65 years old, and that he’s written songs like “Rainy Night In Georgia” and “Polk Salad Annie.”  He has a guitar strap made out of rattlesnake hide (complete with snake head baring its fangs) and he gets some of the weirdest sounds of out of his beat-up Fender that you’ll ever hear.

White made a stop at Houston’s Cactus Music and The Record Ranch Saturday (August 2) en route to his gig later that night at the Continental Club.  With his drummer tapping away on a cardboard box, Tony Joe served up some of the greasiest tunes I’ve heard in years.

Review: “Deep Cuts,” Tony Joe White

Tony Joe White is perhaps the swampiest of the swamp rockers.  He wrote and recorded “Polk Salad Annie,” most famously covered by Elvis Presley, and originated a greasy, funky, dark sound more popularly known as Louisiana swamp rock.  After 40 years in the bidness, Tony Joe has released Deep Cuts, his 21st album that tries to update his signature sound.  White’s “sound” is his deep voice and his distorted guitar playing, on Deep Cuts son Jody White adds samples, beats and loops to his father’s songs, some of them new and others that reach as far back as 1969.  (Which is probably when that cover photo was taken … nice sideburns!)  One of the updated oldies, “Willie and Laura Mae Jones” (covered by Dusty Springfield), gets a psychedelic sheen and an industrial beat and may actually lose something in the process.  But then there’s “Swamp Water,” which is thicker and darker than a cup of Catahoula coffee.  And “Homemade Ice Cream,” an instrumental, comes out into the sun with White’s underrated harmonica playing set over a lazy beat.  “Set The Hook” does just that – it snags you with White’s voice, harmonica and ominous guitar.  Overall, Deep Cuts is a fiery and fierce piece of work that will not fail to get your blood pumping.

MP3: “Set The Hook”

MP3: “As The Crow Flies”

Video: “Polk Salad Annie” (1969)

Tony Joe White official website