Fair warning: this is not about hiking.
I am definitely NOT a musician. But I do like music, and lately for reasons I can't really explain have been captivated by cover songs. These are where an artist records a song originally written and recorded by another, often when the original is iconic. The "cover" can go two ways: either a re-imagining of the song's mood and meaning or an homage to the original. I like both. So here are a few from my current playlist, with notes:
Fast Car, originally by Tracy Chapman & covered by Black Pumas Tracy Chapman's song is quiet, folksy - sad & sweet. Black Pumas make it sound like a howl: we gotta get out of this place. Wow.
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue, originally by Bob Dylan & covered by Van Morrison Patti & I were watching a really bad movie adaptation of a really good book and this song caught our attention. I said, "That sounds like some teenager trying to sound like Van singing Dylan!" Well, it is a teenage Van (with Them) singing Van in a bluesy way. Brilliant!
Wildflowers, originally by Tom Petty & covered by The Wailing Jennies Tom Petty was so cool. The Jennies make this great little song a permission slip to their children.
California Dreaming, originally by The Mommas & The Poppas & covered by Jamestown Revival I don't really like the original which was written from NYC thinking about home. The great duo Jamestown Revival turns the song into a longing for California and a post-COVID life of music and mobility that has been denied us all.
Wide Open Spaces, originally by the Chicks & covered by Soccer Mommy The Chicks were writing about leaving small town limits for the big time. Soccer Mommy (check HER out) turns it on its head to sing about leaving LA for wide open spaces!
I have a lot more of these, but won't bore you with them all right now. But send me a few of your favorite cover songs. BTW, a small group of us went to Tull Canyon on Monday. It was glorious! Don't be afraid of fall hiking. The colors are changing and mushrooms are popping up.
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