Covers of Elvis songs

Pretty self-explanatory
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

Image

Image

Erich Selheim , makers on these videos, has recorded versions of all the tracks (Rhino extras and all) of MAIT & TYM. He sent me copies. After seeing these videos I asked if he had done more such recordings. He has & is sending me copies of his versions of AF & GH!!. - yay!


http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... CFwQ7gEwBg
sweetest punch
Posts: 5963
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:49 am
Location: Belgium

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by sweetest punch »

Festival Choir at the 2015 National Folk Festival in Canberra covers Tripwire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8Lerk-G0Hc
Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.
Mr. Getgood
Posts: 2970
Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 5:40 am
Location: The backsides of beasts

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by Mr. Getgood »

This is always good for a giggle - Elvis Prestello performing Alison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXL_qov1kOc
I love you just as much as I hate your guts.
User avatar
A rope leash
Posts: 1835
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 6:47 pm
Location: southern misery, USA

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by A rope leash »

Thanks, I needed that...
User avatar
docinwestchester
Posts: 2321
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 7:58 pm
Location: Westchester County, NY

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by docinwestchester »

Mr. Getgood wrote:This is always good for a giggle - Elvis Prestello performing Alison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXL_qov1kOc
Goon Squad (live):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-PU30s7yTY
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

Just got Erich Selheim's versions of AF & GH - extras 'n all...

Image


Image
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-1ODdbLB1E

Sönder - Broken (Costello)

Soprano: Charlotta Hammar
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

I complimented Erich Selheim on his performances, how my lack of German meant I concentrated on & appreciated all the more the melodies & commented on my curiosity at how he managed to fit German versions of all those consonants into the tunes etc.

He answered -

Yes, I feel the same way about Elvis' songs; I've known them for decades, but re-recording the brilliant backing tracks makes me realise how many rhythmic and melodic details there are which I'd never really paid attention to.

Regarding my translations, I've tried to remain as literal as possible; but as you've guessed yourself, some compromises had to be made in order to keep the rhymes and the syllabic structure intact. As far as I could make them out, I even tried to use German puns where Elvis' original lyrics had English ones (though there would probably be precious few people in the world who'd appreciate this effort, as English-speaking listeners generally don't understand German, and German listeners generally don't speak enough English to understand Costello's wordplay). The biggest problem is: The English language has more one-syllable words than the German one, and thus you normally need less syllables to say something, so in translation it's often difficult to get the message across in the same space. "This Year's Girl", for example, would be translated into something like "Das Mädchen dieses Jahres" or "Das Mädchen des Jahres" - 3 syllables to 6 or 7. So I tried to find something shorter which would still catch some of the original's spirit: "Das Gesicht" ("The Face").
Azmuda
Posts: 846
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by Azmuda »

johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

sweetest punch
Posts: 5963
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:49 am
Location: Belgium

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by sweetest punch »

Hear 30 seconds of Giacomo Gates singing "Almost Blue": http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011NS4TAE/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk6
Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.
Mr. Getgood
Posts: 2970
Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 5:40 am
Location: The backsides of beasts

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by Mr. Getgood »

Good energy on this one - Dylan Gardner doing No Action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP5EQHttKW8
I love you just as much as I hate your guts.
sweetest punch
Posts: 5963
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:49 am
Location: Belgium

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by sweetest punch »

A Capella version of God Give Me Strength: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiNfhU0ea3A
Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=y ... pp=desktop

The Mono LPs - Pump It Up 2013


A Twitter exchange in the last few days between Elvis & this Liverpool group has led to the discovery that his group's cello player , Vicky, is related to Elvis.

Image
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

User avatar
krm
Posts: 1141
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:10 am
Location: Sweden Skåne

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by krm »

Ida Sand - swedish keyboard player covers "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQsmpgnFyB0[/youtube]


https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Love ... d-album%29
The imposter
Posts: 600
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:37 am
Location: Permanent Vacation

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by The imposter »

Don't know if this has been posted before, Watching The Detectives - Keep Calm and Ultra Lounge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMc-MF9nlSQ
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

Erich Selheim has followed on from his German versions of Elvis's early albums with covers of songs from Trust -


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClXbwR ... zxsJIxWrog






I complimented Erich Selheim on his earlier performances, how my lack of German meant I concentrated on & appreciated all the more the melodies & commented on my curiosity at how he managed to fit German versions of all those consonants into the tunes etc.

He answered -

Yes, I feel the same way about Elvis' songs; I've known them for decades, but re-recording the brilliant backing tracks makes me realise how many rhythmic and melodic details there are which I'd never really paid attention to.

Regarding my translations, I've tried to remain as literal as possible; but as you've guessed yourself, some compromises had to be made in order to keep the rhymes and the syllabic structure intact. As far as I could make them out, I even tried to use German puns where Elvis' original lyrics had English ones (though there would probably be precious few people in the world who'd appreciate this effort, as English-speaking listeners generally don't understand German, and German listeners generally don't speak enough English to understand Costello's wordplay). The biggest problem is: The English language has more one-syllable words than the German one, and thus you normally need less syllables to say something, so in translation it's often difficult to get the message across in the same space. "This Year's Girl", for example, would be translated into something like "Das Mädchen dieses Jahres" or "Das Mädchen des Jahres" - 3 syllables to 6 or 7. So I tried to find something shorter which would still catch some of the original's spirit: "Das Gesicht" ("The Face").
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

Erich tells me via email -

Yes, I love Trust; it has some of my all-time favourite Elvis songs (New Lace Sleeves, Pretty Words, You'll Never Be A Man, etc.). Currently I'm working on the next three albums simultaneously, but none of them are finished yet (I'm getting help by some friends for Almost Blue's steel guitar and Punch The Clock's brass section, and this kind of slows things down a bit).
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

Image


Image


Be afraid! The latest of Erich Sellheim's recordings of German versions of Elvis's albums arrives, Trust, reissue extras 'n all. PM me for a copy, if you like.
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/inde ... ruary_1985


I occasionally hear interesting versions of my songs. I only have knowledge of one mercenary cover — where I know for a fact that the producer of the record strong-armed the group into recording one of my songs. That was the Outlaws. I believe they've no interest at all in that track ("Miracle Man"), they're totally embarrassed by the fact that they were made to do it because it's so out of what they normally do. I only heard it for the first time very recently. - Elvis , 1985


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS0_T8f9taw
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

A Japanese disco & salsa version of Alison from 2002 has come to my attention - pass!

https://www.discogs.com/Emmina-Alison/release/6904865


Image
johnfoyle
Posts: 14852
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:37 pm
Location: Dublin , Ireland

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by johnfoyle »

emotional_fascism076
Posts: 193
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:56 pm

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by emotional_fascism076 »

Very interesting take on it.
Who on earth is tapping at the window?
sweetest punch
Posts: 5963
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:49 am
Location: Belgium

Re: Covers of Elvis songs

Post by sweetest punch »

Since you put me down, it seems i've been very gloomy. You may laugh but pretty girls look right through me.
Post Reply