Run for Cover(s)!

H'okay, so I am declaring this November to be GOOD (COVER) SONG Month! Hip hip hooray! Huzzah! And there was much rejoicing. This month's posts will be dedicated to artists who have done great covers of songs by other artists. There are many. It will be a difficult task to narrow it down to just a few, but I will proceed, undaunted in my quest.
Here goes nothin':

You can tell he's a metalhead because he has long hair parted in the middle.
And because she looks pissed. 

GOOD (COVER) SONG #1: Orion by Rodrigo Y Gabriela (the original is by Metallica).

I have never been the biggest Metallica fan, so maybe this good cover song post is a bit unfair, since I'm bound to think that many covers of this song will be better than the original. But whatever. The cover is legitimately really amazing. And am I surprised? No. Rodrigo Y Gabriela are insanely good musicians.

Originally from Mexico, they began their music careers playing in a metal band. Hence their awesome musical chops. Much as I dislike a lot of metal, technically, metal musicians are often the best of the best (as my former metalhead brother likes to remind me). They grew frustrated with the scene, moved to Europe, started busking in Ireland, and the rest is history. Their most recent album, 11:11, dropped in fall of 2009. Their surprisingly cool blend of flamenco guitar with metal riffs is quite unique and a lot of fun to listen to. I guess it makes sense- both the metal world and the flamenco guitar world revolve around guitar and percussion, and give rise to a lot of virtuosos. Listen to that percussion-- all done on the guitar itself! So cool. They way they use their hands reminds me a lot of these guys.
If you have to get up at 3:30 am and give a loved one a ride to the airport in the dark, and you're still tired, they're a good band to listen to. Trust me on that one.

If you liked this song, you might also like:

Metallica (obviously)
Slayer
Led Zeppelin
Gypsy Kings
Paco de Lucia

Over and out,
Anna

Love and the Lack Thereof: February Post #3

Let the love-themed songs continue!

I've been asking around about what people consider good "love songs" (which I am leaving as a very loosely defined idea here, folks), and been getting some interesting suggestions. 
For instance, this one, which my friend Everett recommended to me:
GOOD (LOVE) SONG: Volver  by Carlos Gardel.


Again, here I am venturing into musical territory that I am not very well acquainted with, but oh well. Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead! 
Carlos Gardel was one of, if not the, most famous of the tango singers in history. He had an incredible baritone, and was famous for being super-guapo (that's my Spanglish for you). Unfortunately, he died in a tragic plane crash at the height of his career. I like the fact that apparently even though this guy has been dead for longer than I've been alive, people still say that "Gardel canta cada dia mejor" (Gardel sings better every day). There is clearly a real love for this man and his music. Apparently he was also pretty badass, too, because he was shot in the lung at the beginning of his career. The bullet stayed in his lung. Dag.  

See, this is why I wish men still wore hats.

Anyhoo, this particular song is one of his most famous. Understandably. The lyrics are quite poetic. An old man sings about his first love, and returning to the town where it all happened. It's a beautiful song filled with longing for the past and for a love that one cannot forget. I know that doesn't make it the most upbeat, cheerful of love songs, but hey, I warned you I liked healthy doses of realism.  Here is the last stanza translated from the original Spanish (thanks Everett!)-- I like the last line: 


"I fear my encounter with the past, 
which returns to confront my life.
I fear the nights, which, 
populated with memories,
chain my dreams.
But the traveler that flees
sooner or later ceases his goings.
And although time has destroyed my old hope,
it holds, hidden, a humble expectation,
which is my life's entire treasure."


Another line from this song became a famous saying in Latin America: "Veinte años no es nada"--Twenty years is nothing.  
That, friends, is a real love song. 


If you liked this song, you might also check out:
(according to my research)
Roberto Goyeneche
Julio Sosa
Juan D'Arienzo


Or maybe you should just move to Argentina. 


Over and out,
Anna