So the Paul dream threw me into a frenzy that’s resulted in several hours of Beatles/Paul consumption today. (I imagine it’s what it would be like for a recovering heroin addict to dream about shooting up) Anyway, after downing The Beatles first two albums, I was wondering if bands today would be able to pull off covering popular girl groups like the Fab 4 did so masterfully?
Just think of The Shins singing a song by The Pussycat Dolls, or Radiohead dropping a little Beyonce, or upstarts Vampire Weekend performing their ode to Jessica Simpson. Hmmm…Though this is quite the fun thought, I think the logic behind the process here is rather simple. The reason The Beatles were able to pull it off so seamlessly on songs like “Please Mr. Postman” is because, by and large, Motown groups like the Marvelettes were respected during the 60s. Sure, the girl groups at the time were manufactured insomuch as they had men (and women) writing songs for them, but it’s nowhere near the level of say, a Pussycat Dolls today.
And it’s because the educated music consumer of today realizes bands like the Pussycat Dolls are one big conglomeration set forth only to make money and not contribute anything of substantial worth to the music world — although, “Don’t Cha” is rather catchy — any attempt at a cover is most always met with laughter by an audience. (Can they really be serious with this?) When Ben Gibbard covers Avril Lavigne or Backstreet Boys the audience always laughs. (At least in the live recordings I have.) And the funny thing is this: these are good covers.
But people will always laugh. Because for as much money and popularity as the Backstreet Boys or Jessica Simpson or Ashlee Simpson-Wentz may garner, a song of theirs covered by a quality artist of today just won’t fly. The game done changed.
All of which is not to mention that the majority of pop songs covered by indie artists are done in a totally ironic way. Like, “Aren’t we funny we know how bad this song is but we’re SINGING IT ANYWAY. Everyone laugh AND sing along! Win-win!” The Beatles were not, it is safe to say, being ironic. They were being capitalists.
The covers The Beatles did worked because they were a.) harder than the originals, but no less poppy, and b.) sung by four cute British dudes totally exotic to American teen girls. Those two factors served a previously desperate demographic craving a departure from the normalcy of the 1950’s and early 60’s, but still feeling tethered to the familiar. Voila! Record sales through the roof.
And, as Ryan mentions, merit is a factor. No offense to our contemporaries, but nothing on TRL in the late 90’s hangs with Please Mr. Postman. Sorry.
