Category Archives: Music

Sounds Eclectic: The Covers Project

Song #13 The Magic Numbers – Crazy in Love

Why I Picked It: You read it right.  Not Beyonce featuring Jay-Z.  The Magic Numbers.  This is from KCRW’s Sounds Eclectic The Covers Project.  I share this version whenever I can.

Why I Liked It: This is one of my favorite cover songs because it’s in such stark contrast to the beat-laden, hip-hop original.  The Magic Numbers playfully sing the iconic “oh oh oh” that open and fill in so much of the music you miss in the original with the use of different acoustic instruments.  I really believe this version gives a greater appreciation to the original.

Ruby Slippers

I wrote this awhile ago and in testing out my new guitar, I ended up recording a YouTube video of it.  The song has obvious references to The Wizard of Oz and is about the idea of the yellow brick road as the road to life.

YouTube and Lyrics below

Ruby Slippers (cc.tran)

Ruby slippers on my feet
They cant seem to take me home
Howd I end up so deep?
To feel so alone?

Every time I seem to walk
The further I get behind
Every time I seem to run
Im running out of time

Colbie Caillat's Breakthrough album

Song #12 Colbie Caillat’s You Got Me

Why I Picked It: This is on my “happy song” list.  Every time I hear it, it makes me happy. You Got Me is from Colbie Caillat’s album Breakthrough.

Why I Like It: The happiness of the song is evident in its predominantly head-bopping beat and the playful chord sounds of a synth keyboard.  The simple playfulness of the song is expressed lyrically as well in the sentiment of how another person can make one happy – from the opening verse:

Heartbeats from Jose Gonzalez's Veneer album

Song #11 Jose Gonzalez’s Heartbeats

Why I Picked It: I couldn’t think of anything today, but this was on my list of songs to feature.  Jose Gonzalez’s Heartbeats (from his Veneer album) is an acoustic guitar driven, slow down of the electropop original by The Knife.  I learned about the song in an episode of Bones entitled “The Salt in the Wounds” and is one of my favorite cover songs since.

Everlong is on Foo Fighters' Skin & Bones

Song #10 Everlong

Why I Picked It: Not just any version of Everlong by the Foo Fighters.  The KROQ Acoustic version.  I actually heard this version first and though I do enjoy the original (from their Skin and Bones album), the acoustic version is my favorite.  I heard the acoustic version when I went with my friend Matt to a concert featuring Foo Fighters and Weezer.  It was definitely one of my more memorable concert experiences.