Regina Spektor covers “No Surprises”

I’m tired of people effing up Thom’s music, No Surprises was perfect, it doesn’t need some airy voiced bitch beating it to hell.

I’m tired of people thinking RADIOHEAD (not “Thom’s music”) is in some way holy and above the global music community, and should never be covered by any other artists ever. Radiohead doesn’t need narrow-minded internet elitists bitching whenever someone interprets their music in a different way.

What the hell is so offensive about this? It’s a good, humble cover thats given a personal touch by the artist. Are you unable to listen to any Radiohead song that doesn’t sound exactly like it did on the original album? Do you moan when Radiohead plays this song acoustically? Do you go to their concerts and yell at them for playing Idioteque too fast?

Jeepers.

Thumbs up Regina! imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…
There’s a huge Radiohead fan community back in Chile
Is “Chile” in the post by the way…

Jarod you sound like a douche.

Especially since, you know, it’s for charity and all. Bad regina spektor for covering a radiohead song even if you’re not doing it for your own benefit! C’mon, even if I don’t like the song there’s no point in discouraging others from enjoying it, especially since it’s for a good cause.

I’m one of those people that feels some sort of “ownership” of Radiohead and don’t like sharing them sometimes……but I think this is a very nice cover. It makes me hear what their songs would sound like if girls like me sang them (not that I don’t sing it loudly in the car!)
I think she did a great job.

sweet, better then peter,s cover of street spirit.

up for regina _how can somebody not enjoy this ? _______its an angel singing [ a beautiful russian angel ] .
and
@JohnyJoe [ Do you moan when Radiohead plays this song acoustically? Do you go to their concerts and yell at them for playing Idioteque too fast? ] i loved the way you putted into words . very smart m8__

oh i forgot . . . happy arbol day [ now off to plant some . . . ]
pantrus

“It is Chile”…. Covers Suck!

on second thoughts… I really hate that bitch… she looks like my mom

i love my mom you stupid fake pantrus – do you even know who your mom was ?

Not a fan of the cover simply because I don’t like Regina Spektor’s style.

Say it with me, now: covers don’t affect the original. If you don’t like Regina Spektor’s version, don’t listen to it. Go listen to the original Radiohead version. The end!

relax

I really hate how all of these new indie hipster coffee shop female singers like Spektor and Feist have that imitation Billie Holiday jazzy affectation to their voice. Its really unoriginal and cliche. I wish they would stop making music that other people have already made…and made better.

I do not like this cover. Im not gonna be mad at her or anything for doing it, but this is a lot like Peter Gabriels cover of Street Spirit. To me both Regena and Peter missed the point of these two songs. I understand making a song your own, but when you really detract from the message of a song, it is awful.

Radioheads music is a work of art, its like giving the mona lisa to a four year old to try and recreate it with crayons, don’t fix what isn’t broken, i wouldn’t have minded if she had stayed true to the original but changing someones music is like a personal slap in the face, its like saying ” i don’t like how you did so i’m gonna try and make it better” its disrespectful, i would be pissed if someone did that with my music.

I initially felt sorta bad for responding so harsh to your first post, Jarod… but I don’t anymore.

This song that has an orchestration which could be seen as lullaby suitable but has an opposite melodic represetation enhanced by the lyrics to what a lullaby traditionally represents

Well she totally failed to understand that contradiction

sigh…

Nothing wrong with a four year old trying to recreate the mona lisa, it’s all about influence and inspiration.

Jarod is right. You guys must not really be Radiohead fans, but Regina Spektor fans instead!!!

Thou shalt not worship false idols!!!!

When I first heard her, I suspected Sony and Epic had covered up an automobile accident that claimed the lives of Fiona Apple and Tori Amos; with the body parts they were able to salvage from the wreckage, they built Regina Spektor. And I thought, where are those torch-and-pitchfork-wielding villagers when you really need ‘em?

“i would be pissed if someone did that with my music.”

Don’t worry Jarod, I think your music’s quite safe from being covered.

haha royston, mean, but i laughed… shit haha

That makes sense as i have not made my music public in any form (youtube or otherwise) and you would know so much on the subject right? With all that musical knowledge you have? I would love to hear your explanation of a Bm or a diminish chord.

Like an explanation about something defined and generally accepted will tell you if someone is cabable of producing music that stands the test of time. The only interesting thing about chord theory is not just the explanation of it’s harmonic structure but what you might do with it.
Yeah sure you can think a chord progression to life but it doesn’t mean anything if you fail to understand what it might represent when you just listen to it.
The most shallow and narrow-minded thing a musician can do is hiding his inability to compose and to understand what the music might represent intuitively/instinctively behind his theoretical knowledge, developed ear or his playing skills.

This is basically how I feel about music theory in general. Why should you care about the explanation of what a fugue is. It is what it is, and doesn’t matter if you forget what it is ’cause it’s explanation will be there forever but you do know that it exists which is more important.
The area where I find music theory really interesting is when it starts to talk about human nature. Concepts like consonance and dissonance are really eyeopeners.

Person A who never paid any attention to an instrument or music theory is perfectly capable of grasping the intentions of a composer through listening better then person B who did or does pay attention. ‘Cause person A his way of listening is more similar to the composer’s way.
But this still doesn’t mean that any of the two understands the process of creating that piece of music.

diminishED, Jarod. it’s a minor triad with a diminished (flat) fifth.
Bm is B, D, and F#, and there’s not much more to say than that. You can go now.
Regina could have done better, but she obviously enjoys and appreciates Radiohead enough to cover their music (and release it publicly). That’s respectable, and who gives a flying damn if someone wants to cover someone else’s song.. fuckin go for it. My music DOESN’T suck, and when people cover it I get all tingly. Music should never be about pride…

well, i mean thom yorke even said, he’s happy when people remix, or do their thing with their music. He loves it, he said he would even be happy giving musicians his own music he cant figure out what to do with. danny said it right on, ‘music should never be about pride”. I could care less if the musician i’m listening to knows an e chord from an Fmajor7thdiminished chord (made that up…)
this isn’t even about the cover anymore is it?

No its not, its now about morons who don’t know what the hell they’re talking about, i gave my opinion, somebody didn’t like it so that automatically means its invalid i suppose, their always right, everyone else is always wrong, that’s the way the world works

I believe it would be rather arrogant for any musician to cover music to “improve it”. Sure, this isn’t as good as the original, but hell, the song is genius, who could possibly improve it? Whether you like or dislike it is irrelevant, I’m failing to see how this cover is as abysmal as people are making it out to be.

Personally, I like it, it’s a somber and simple take on an amazing song. To compare it to what Peter Gabriel did however…..well…that’s friggin absurd. I can’t see any comparison.

Peter Gabriel’s cover was ridiculous lol i swear he spent like five minutes on it and purposefully made it as awful as he possibly could

“i gave my opinion, somebody didn’t like it so that automatically means its invalid i suppose, their always right, everyone else is always wrong, that’s the way the world works”

No, the world works like this:

You called Regina Spektor an “airy voiced bitch” simply because she covered a Radiohead song – not necessarily because it was a bad cover. That was your opinion, and you’re 100% entitled to it.

I thought your opinion was ridiculous and disrespectful. That was my opinion, so I stated it. I, too, am entitled to do that.

I have nothing against you and I am not a part of a conspiracy to silence you. I just think being hostile against such a nice, simple cover is pretty stupid. Sorry if I pissed you off.

jarod jarod jarod . . . i hope you re young and still have time to learn to be open minded_

if you re not . . . don’t worry . . . you are just one more of THEM.

and don t worry also, because the world [ on your words ] works like . . . YOU ! ! ! exactly like you think on your little very little mind . . . so you re safe [ and wrong ] – i truly think you re doing this in purpose . . . you cannot be like that . . .

It is kinda silly to argue over this stuff but i still stand by the “airy voiced bitch” comment lol

I particullary dont like it; just that, no pretencious argumments. i just dont.

;( ;( Radiohead official web is offline for 5 days already, what’s wrong? Anybody?

This is one of the most entertaining blog fights I have ever come across. Thanks for your Jarod.

Also, I do agree with what Jason said… There does need to be a bit more originality.

*comments

Haha ur welcome steller, i used to be alot better at it but i’m to tired to think of any arguments these days so i usually just end up telling people to lick my balls

@Jarod So I’m sure you wish these kids ill as well?

@Jarod So I’m sure you wish these kids ill as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSxj6krDO_M

yeah i’d do her…

wow, it scares me how easily this can look like a youtube comment page.

This cover actually made me laugh … a lot … and quit listening halfway through.
But since i’m not forced to go through the other half, who cares.

Jarod, if this were facebook I’d ‘Like’ your comments. If it ain’t broke…

Ahahaha! JaredJoe is right, stop criticizing other peoples covers so harshly! Its THEIR intrepretation of the song.

I don’t understand why people have a problem with other artists covering songs from other artists. Isn’t it a good thing when someone covers Radiohead? I think it means they are very much appreciated in the music industry when artists like Regina Spektor, who has no musical similarity to Radiohead, are covering their songs. Even a jackass like Kanye West and an the annoying Miley Cyrus are fans of Radiohead. How can someone not appreciate Radiohead. Let people cover their songs and stop whining about it. At least this one benefits a good cause.

It does matter….
I’m not gonna say too much about it but whether your conscious about it or not, you can’t look at it in a absolute way. You can not seperate who the artist is through their image and music. What Radiohead means to many can conflict with what someone like Miley Cyrus or Regina Spektor represents. Especially when you feel they are trying to capitalize a certain thing by bringing themself in relationship with Radiohead.

You can not help it being protective of the music towards other artists who cover Radiohead but you shouldn’t have the same level of protectiveness towards everyone

I just find it ridiculous that people are so “protective” of their favorite music. Get a life. Music is meant to be loved by all and covering songs is a way to show appreciation for a certain artist. No one covers songs with the intention of trashing the band they are covering. They cover the song because they like the song. If you don’t like the cover, then don’t listen to it, just listen to the original. You are not getting hurt when someone covers a song from your favorite artist. Nothing bad is happening to you or anyone else. People who have a problem with covers are just elitist douchebags. You enjoy the original, so why not just stick with that and not care what someone else does with the song? I’m a huge Radiohead fan, and if I was in a cover band or something like that, you can bet I’d cover Radiohead songs, does that mean I’m a piece of shit and deserve to get criticized?

Radiohead covered Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”, and I guarantee you that none of you people had a problem with it. So who cares if someone else covers Radiohead? I certainly don’t.

chris__even if you try your best , lot of people [ a lot of close minded people here ] wont understand – that s everything i would love to add to your thoughts _ dont waste your time – you cannot make them change or stop them from doing some yellow journalism – is the TV era is the bullshit lying cheating fake era we live at __just pick up the good things and forget about this prehistoric comments or opinions __

laterz [ ps : i am still listening to the cover almost once everyday since i ve downloaded it , there s no point on saying something wrong about it of course and is OBVIOUS she extremely love singing NO SURPRISES , what else do we need ? enjoy ! ! ! ]

You simply don’t get it…

It’s not about it not being Radiohead but about destroying the aspects that make a song feel great. Whatever it’s orchestration is.
Assuming that every fan experience the same song in the same way is retarded.
Two or more fans can like a song for different reasons.
When a cover doesn’t have that essential bit that is necessary for ones experience and it hasn’t been replaced. Then that person has every right to say he doesn’t like it as a cover and as a new song.
The idea that there are no artists around that cover songs to ridicule the original artist IS extremely naive

Why do you think some bands who are mainstream draw a line in their involvement within the mainstream pop culture.
Because they want to protect themself from non-music related yellow journalism and try to keep some control. Not ’cause of some kind of elitism.
This is music related.

I rather feel this MUSIC ERA (not TV era) is quite euphemistic.

Who cares if someone covers a Radiohead song? How does it affect your life? It doesn’t at all. Just ignore the cover and listen to the original. People who get their panties in a bunch over a cover song are just plain ridiculous. The world isn’t coming to an end if someone decides to cover a Radiohead song. I bet you are the kind of guy who thinks that no cover could ever be better than the original. That is absolute horseshit. There are many covers of songs that are better than the original. Not Radiohead covers, but Hendrix’s cover of “All Along The Watchtower” is in my opinion 100 times better than Dylan’s original. There are many cover songs out there that are actually good and whoever thinks that there isn’t is extremely narrow minded.

I guessed you would comment something like that. It’s self-evident that a cover can be better, so why mention this.

I suggest you read my comment again. You might find out I’m saying why people do care and why it could be normal to have all these different reactions.

The most narrow mind argument is saying the others are narrow minded.
‘Cause many times it shows the inability to take a different point of view.

musation , jason , jarod and etcs [ perhaps you re all the same person ] i will take this opportunity to try to make you understand, that no one said you cannot like a song – we re just saying that the ” way ” you express like a bitch that you dont like a song, is kind of out of mood for the arts – i bet that if you just wrote ” i dont like it ” no one would have ever said anything about it – so and again , just relax – get some hot tea – smoke some – sit back and relax – you re just hating yourself being so like you are – try to respect yourself and your life and be more open minded, not just a reaction machine ready to fight back [ to fight back what you actually see wrong when it is not ] –

best regards

I really hate it when you see the same patterns from a political debate appearing in a debate about something that shouldn’t be controversial at all.

Open minded to what?

* To agree not to agree ’cause we’re supposibly divided in a close minded side and an open minded side
* The illusion that anyone here is really telling you not to like or dislike this or any cover
* To not learn to cope with a whole range of poorly expressed emotional reactions

It’s been clear to me from the beginning that some here are really having difficulties with one’s style of expression. And are mainly reacting against that and are now trying to keep any discussion about this particular cover or the possible importance of who is covering it in the margin.

I started reacting against this idea….

Chris: (comment 48)
” I don’t understand why people have a problem with other artists covering songs from other artists. Isn’t it a good thing when someone covers Radiohead? I think it means they are very much appreciated in the music industry when artists like Regina Spektor, who has no musical similarity to Radiohead, are covering their songs. Even a jackass like Kanye West and an the annoying Miley Cyrus are fans of Radiohead. How can someone not appreciate Radiohead. Let people cover their songs and stop whining about it. At least this one benefits a good cause. ”

….. it’s too naive

@musation

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn32/pantrus/thumbsdowncol.gif

Oh my God guys…

It’s 4 minutes of someone playing someone else’s song for charity. Stop frothing at the mouth. There’s been enough of that already.

as i said earlier…this message board could easily be mistaken as a youtube comments page…do i get the last word? Do i win?

Pretty much guessed what this would sound like before listening to it. Although the out of tune (and place) high-pitched noises came as an unpleasant surprise.

There’s a lot of female singers doing this kind of nonsense these days, so it’s nothing totally earth shattering. The last few years there have been many covers of songs stripped down in this way, usually more complex or heavier or faster songs though.

But fair play to her, she likes radiohead and did a cover for charity.

I need a new life…

why would you even think so . . . that really shows that you dont know me . . . which is good because for sometime, i even thought your non sense trying to bother me was a joke from a friend of mine . . .

so is good you just wrote that

thank you for clearing my mind – never bother me too much and now i am even more confortable with it -

i love U

pantrus

ps :

http://www.atomsforpeace.co.uk/

I actually didn’t mind it, and I’m pretty precious about Radiohead, and it’s a good cause too.

I haven’t heard this yet, what does it sound like?

This cover was absolutely beautiful, she did a great job with putting her own spin on the tune through out. Makes you feel hollow no matter how full of shit you are.

I don’t know Regina Spektor, haven’t really heard of her and her work, but I like a lot this cover. It could be much much worse and she’s got-at least- some kind of voice unlike others, Miley Cyrus for example (just because she was mentioned).
I prefer the original, though.
I don’t understand, guys, why you’re fighting. Everyone has an opinion of their own, it would be very boring if we all agreed. I understand your arguments but, for God’s sake, don’t be so fanatic.

[...] 2010 · 0 comments Ex-Dresden Doll Amanda Palmer probably thought to herself, “Hey, Regina Spektor is covering Radiohead, I should too!” Okay, probably not. Anyway, there’s no denying that people love to [...]

69.

No one else comment ever.

Regina Spektor is awesome and this is a beautiful cover!!

Damnit….

The intro sounds lots like last flowers i wonder if this link is deliberate

“i have not made my music public in any form (youtube or otherwise)”

Jarod, this explains it all. There is nothing more sad than artistry unshared. When you grow a pair and put your work out there to be criticized and flamed, then you will have earned the integrity to question Regina Spektor’s right to cover this.

For now, you are just one more frustrated musician who would rather take potshots at those more successful than yourself than put in the work on your own material.

Grow up