Song of the Day 12/12: Talking Heads, “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)”
The WXPN 885 cover songs countdown ended last evening, and there were no surprises among the top finishers: Jimi Hendrix covering “All Along the Watchtower” was No. 1, Johnny Cash doing “Hurt” No. 2 and Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” No. 3, all of which were easy to predict.
There were plenty of surprises further down the list. The biggest one for me: The songs that appeared on the list most often. There was a three-way tie for the top spot, with five covers apiece. “Hallelujah,” which has been recorded by more than 500 people, naturally was one of them, and Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” another. It was the third song that startled me: the Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).” I had no idea it was so popular among other artists.
It’s a fairly recent phenomenon, too. Released in 1983 on the band’s “Speaking in Tongues” album, it flopped as the follow-up single to “Burning Down the House,” stalling at No. 62. It was over a decade before its first cover, by Shawn Colvin (No. 386 on the XPN list). It wasn’t until the 2010s that it became a popular choice. The Lumineers (No. 225), Kishi Bashi (No. 354) and Iron and Wine (No. 387) all recorded versions in that decade that made the countdown.
Here’s the original, with a video directed by frontman David Byrne.
Many covers succeed by stripping down a song’s original production, better revealing its lyrics and structure – Colvin, the Lumineers and Iron and Wine all treated it that way. Kishi Bashi arranged it for string quartet. But my favorite of the five was by a band I’d never heard of, Sure Sure, who basically updated Talking Heads’ synth-based arrangement while making it more danceable.
I’m sick of “Hallelujah.” The Hendrix song is good of course but I think there are more interesting Dylan covers. I’d say “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele is not one of them (second Dylan on the list at No. 29). I really like Amy Winehouse’s version of “Valerie” but a little surprised enough other people did to make it No. 10.
All Hallelujahs sound pretty much the same; Buckley’s voice is best so it ranks highest.
El Somnambulo was accurate with his over/under on Dylan covers. He set it at 35 but said he would take the over; Dylan’s final count was 39.
I prefer the Zutons’ version of “Valerie,” but then, I’m a rockist.
I was resigned to Jeff Buckley’s ‘Hallelujah’ being #1. Didn’t count on too many ‘Hallelujah’s canceling each other out.
Love Leonard Cohen. Can’t stand that song.
BTW, it’s late, but perhaps it’s time for me to monetize–anything I can.
SO–if someone wishes to generously underwrite my efforts, I will create my version of the song. Already have the first verse and chorus completed. I suspect that no other song ever written rhymes ‘halitosis’ with ‘bromidrosis’…