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Smells Like Teen Spirit (Part 1/2)

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana (1991)

Released in 1991 on their second album, Nevermind, this rock anthem was dubbed an “anthem for apathetic kids.” Because of the success of the song, and consequently, the album’s success in 1992, Nevermind has been credited by some as the event that launched grunge rock into the mainstream.

Frontman Kurt Cobain credited the influence of the Pixies on this song, even going as far to say: “I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies...I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band - or at least a Pixies cover band.” 

With a title that sticks in the mind as much as the iconic cover art, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” actually had it’s germination in a pretty innocuous event. Kathleen Hanna, the then lead singer of Bikini Kill, had once written “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on Cobain’s wall. Not realizing Hanna was referring to his then girlfriend, Tobi Vail’s, brand of deodorant (Teen Spirit), Cobain interpreted this as a revolutionary slogan; they had been discussing anarchism and punk rock prior.

Cobain’s distinct, often slurred singing voice and the incomprehensibility of the lyrics were both alienating and fascinating to audiences worldwide. “We still feel as if we're teenagers because we don't follow the guidelines of what's expected of us to be adults,” Cobain said about the lyrics in an interview the day Nevermind was released. “The entire song is made up of contradictory ideas,” he added. “[...] It's just making fun of the thought of having a revolution. But it's a nice thought.”

Much like it’s original demographic, I think I first heard this song when I was thirteen or fourteen, and it was like being smacked across the face by teenage angst and riotous nonsensicality. I loved it, I still love it, so let’s do this.

I went in deep on this one, because the fact of the matter is, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has been through the ringer, for better or for worse. To that end, I have rated 20 different covers (or relevant close-to-covers) (you’ll see) over the course of a two part post. Part one can be found below! Happy sailing, you beautiful beans.

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Tori Amos (1992)

One of the earliest and arguably most famous versions of the song, this cover was first released on the album Live at Montreux 1991/1992 in 2008. In 2015, a clean-up version was released on the remastered Little Earthquakes (Deluxe CD Edition). For a little more info on Amos and how cool she is, check out my previous post detailing covers of her song, Cornflake Girl.

The video above is a live recording from that performance. This is also one of the first “Smells Like Teen Spirit” covers I heard (only a couple years ago), because I am a cloistered little gremlin who doesn’t leave the house.

Listenability: 5/5 Absolutely lovely. Amos really brings the melody front-forward with the piano line. Maintains the real haunting element of the song without the same amount of grunge. Great song for curling up with a hot drink on a salty day and feeling quietly validated.

Originality: 4/5 She plays around a lot with this cover, especially with the pacing of the ending and the delivery of the lyrics. It’s much more ethereal than the original, but for the most part, keeps most of the same chords/progressions and the basic feel of the song. Very recognizable, but her spin is fantastic.

Integrity to Original: 3/5 When asked what he thought of the cover Cobain himself said: “It was nice.” Apparently, Nirvana used to play it when coming out for their shows and they’d do ‘interpretive’ dance to it. It’s probably fair to say that he felt somewhat ambivalent about it. Tori had a bit of a meta take to her interpretation. “Within all that male rage, there's something ripped up,” she said in an interview. “[T]here's something sliced open. That's obvious. So I was going after that." I think it’s fair to say that Tori is definitely pulling out something very integral about the original in her cover, but perhaps not it’s intention.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 5/5 Not at all. I love this cover. I am biased because I love Tori, but I love a lot of people and don’t always love their covers. 

Overall: 4.3/5 Love this cover. Fight me. Fucking fight me.

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Xorcist (1993)

Two years after the release of the original song, Xorcist released their cover on the EP, Bitches. Artist “Bat” (AKA Peter Stone, AKA DJ/VJ Bat) formed the one-man act in 1990, adding artist Evoltwist.8 in 1997. Xorcist specializes in electro-industrial and ambient music, and are still active on bandcamp and Xorcist.com.

Listenability: 1/5 The distortion and scratchy kind of synth they have going on here literally make my jaw hurt. This will definitely be a preference thing, cause I have no idea if this is good in the world of electro-industrial music. If you do, let me know! In the world of me being physically stressed out, is it extremely effective in that regard. Also, just long chunks of screaming.

Originality: 4/5 It’s definitely not Nirvana’s version. Including the voice that literally sounds at points like nails scraping on the chalkboard and a baseline that doesn’t quite hit that resonate part of your chest and somehow only the eardrums at maximum capacity, there are a lot of unusual added elements. The addition that I actually really enjoy is the little sound bites that seem to have been be taken from a movie, setting the scene and evoking the punk anarchist sound of Chumbawamba and other similar groups. They were well timed, cleverly used, and added a really nice break from the screaming.

Integrity to Original: 4/5 I have a feeling that, on some level, Bat really related to what Kurt was singing about. This definitely sounds the music created by someone who deeply related to his teen experience, or at least to the concept in general. It’s loud and screamy and epitomizes a very specific type of angst, so I guess I'm gonna give it props for that. 

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 1.5/5 I do hate this version...but I could hate it more. Feel more quietly resigned than straight bummed.

Overall: 2.6/5 Very shouty. Liked the sampling. Made me want to take a stress nap.

Smells Like Nirvana - "Weird Al" Yankovic (1993)

While not a cover per say, “Smells Like Nirvana” still felt like a worthy addition. A famous parody by the king of parodies himself, Weird Al Yankovic, this song was released in 1993 after Yankovic called Cobain himself for permission to write the spoof.

According to an interview with Howard Stern in 2016, Cobain first asked if the song was going to be about food; Yankovic explained that it would be about the incomprehensibility of the song’s lyrics, and Cobain signed off. The single would help to revitalize Yankovic's then floundering career.

Yankovic, who first got his start on the comedy radio show hosted by Dr. Demento, got his start in 1976 and is still going strong. After the success of the parody, Cobain is claimed to have said that Nirvana had finally “made it.”

Listenability: 3/5 Like most Weird Al spoofs, it’s very listenable in that way that you’re like, “Okay, I’m gonna sit down and listen to Weird Al today.” Yankovic has the perfect voice for comedy spoofery, and in this one in particular, he leans hard on that grunge whine and sounds extra crazy annoying. But that’s what we’re in it for! 

Originality: 2/5 Because it’s a spoof as opposed to a cover, part of it’s whole charm is that it’s not particularly original. This one also loses some points because it’s one of Yankovic’s fun but more one note songs (ie. “Eat It,” “Tacky,” “Gump”) -- just hitting the unintelligibly of the lyrics over and over with every line -- as opposed to some of his other, slightly goofier songs in which he elaborates more on the point (ie. “Amish Paradise,” “The Saga Begins,” “White & Nerdy”).

Integrity to Original: 4/5 Al’s vocals in this, especially in the verses, are really evocative of that kind of mumbling, low vocal quality of Cobain. At one point, they even do what MTV had to do and scroll the lyrics along the bottom. By it’s definition as a parody, I think it’s recognized that it is both in the spirit of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and lightly poking fun at it.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 4/5 It’s hard not to be a little bummed these days over even a parody Kurt Cobain, but overall, very silly and lighthearted.

Overall: 3.3/5 Spoofy and goofy. Glad it brought a smile to Kurt’s face. Weird Al is a treasure and I wish him nothing but joy in his weird life.

Smells Like Queer Spirit - Pansy Division (1995)

Heads up before you play this one: this song is definitely not safe for work.

Pansy Division formed in 1991 as the “first openly gay rock band,” featured predominantly gay musicians. They toured with Green Day in 1994, subsequently becoming the most commercially successful band in the queercore movement. 

Not quite a cover, and kind of but not quite a spoof, but I couldn’t fucking skip this.

Appearing on their compilation album, Pile Up, “Smells Like Queer Spirit” pretty much just substitutes every line with very explicit lines detailing gay/lesbian sex. As the song says, it is definitely irreverent and in your face.

Listenability: 4/5 Just blast hello, hello, hello homo in my house 24/7. This song is absolutely ridiculous. There are plenty of moments where you have to pause briefly and go, “huh, did they just say...oh, yup, definitely. Cool.” One of those songs that comes up on the family road trip mix and you’re like, “oh hahahaha lemme just change this real quick one sex i mean sex bunsplitters rugmunchers too we screw just how we wanna screw oh god close your ears grandma!” Or you’re like me and just slowly turn up the heat until somebody notices what’s going on.

Originality: 3/5 On the one hand...they just literally replaced every lyric with lyrics about being queer (no complaints there, this is a new anthem). On the other hand, they came up with some pretty great lyrics about explicitly sexual queerness, so???

Integrity to Original: 4/5 It’s definitely got some teen angst! And some non-teen angst! And, much like the original, it’s kind of also a positive anthem in a contradictory sort of way. In an interview in 2009, frontman Jon Ginoli said this: "People can sue you if they feel you’ve defamed their song. You can cover anybody’s song without asking permission, just paying a royalty, but we were changing the lyrics. We figured Nirvana would be cool about it, but Jello Biafra, who was the singer of the Dead Kennedys and who runs the record label we’re on now, Alternative Tentacles, was the MC at a rally in Portland against an anti-gay amendment they were putting on the ballot … and Nirvana played it, which was amazing. And he talked to them about us doing it. He said, ’There’s this band, Pansy Division, and they changed it to "Smells Like Queer Spirit," and do you have a problem with that?’” Apparently, Nirvana was just fine with it, but EMI/Virgin were not and tried to sue them later on (they couldn’t though, cause Nirvana said they gave Pansy Division their permission). So I’m gonna say yeah, solid there.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 5/5 Not bummed. Just delighted. Makes me want to flip a table.

Overall: 4/5 I find it hard, that’s nice to find Forget the closet, never mind

Zidler's Rap Medley/Can Can Dance - Jim Broadbent (2001)

This song, featured in the 2001 jukebox musical romdramcom Moulin Rouge!, directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, is part of a compilation that pulled themes and elements from several different songs including “Lady Marmalade” by Bob Crew and Kenny Nolan and “Because We Can" by Fatboy Slim. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is used as a refrain by the men hoping to become acquainted with the Diamond Dog Dancers at the Moulin Rouge.

Listenability: 2/5 It’s one of those songs that makes sense in the context of the musical itself and is fun to watch, but it probably doesn’t have fantastic replay value outside of the movie. I am saying this, of course, after having played it about ten times in a row. I have a headache. 

Originality: 3/5 It’s a solid remix, combining original content (Zidler’s Rap) with the existing songs that they pulled from. The second part of the original lyrics are structured around the baseline of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which is definitely fun. The layering tends to overwhelm at times though, and sometimes the mixing doesn’t quite commit to the blending or separating of the tracks enough.

Integrity to Original: 2/5 The song was originally about the futility of being a teen, how you feel both like an adult, but you’re also immature and totally helpless and still very much a kid. This remix mostly involved men yelling at courtesans. 

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 4/5 Not really? It’s pretty fun. It’s also a point in the movie where we meet all the dancers who we learn are actually also being exploited, so that’s kind of a bummer.

Overall: 2.8/5

I guess if we can can can, why not not not?

Smells Like Teen Spirit - The Bad Plus (2003)

This jazz trio out of Minneapolis has been playing together off-and-on for about twenty years, finally establishing The Bad Plus in 2000. This cover was featured as the third track on their second album, These Are the Vistas. The album features several other covers, including “Heart of Glass” by Blondie and “Flim” by Aphex Twin.

Listenability: 3/5 I like jazz in that way that a layman in a jazz hall appreciates jazz. I never really know what’s going on, or if it’s innovative or experimental or anything remarkable whatsoever. Around the 3 minute mark, the song gets really dissonant and funky, and I just don’t know if that is good jazz or not? Does my heart appreciate it? Sure! It sounds neat. It sounds like something funky is going on! But do my ears appreciate it? I just don’t know. Couldn’t tell you.

Originality: 4/5 The song has a nice build to it. Though it starts off pretty basic with the piano following the melody line and the bass following the...well...bass line, it takes a real turn past the chorus and into the second verse. It plays with counter-melody and rhythm in a way that makes the song fresh, and each instrument really gets it’s moment to shine with a cool, funky solo, almost as if it were...well...jazz. It ups the chaotic ante of the original, and I think that really works here.

Integrity to Original: 3/5 This is a weird way to say this, but this cover sounds like what the inside of someone’s head deep in anxiety might put together if trying to recreate “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” It captures some of that existential angst in just the freneticism that overlays the consistent melody almost throughout. I do really miss the lyrics in this version, though, and I think that’s a big part of what makes this song so strange and weirdly relatable.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 4/5 I am a little more stressed out than I was before, but not bummed. There’s too much fun drum stuff happening to be bummed.

Overall: 3.5/5 I feel it in my brain. It sounds like stress. You do you, you funky little cover.

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Paul Anka (2005)

You read correctly, folks. This is Paul Anka’s swing jazz cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Anka performed his version of the Nirvana classic on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2005. It was, without a doubt, a bold choice.

Released on the 2005 album, Rock Swings followed a trend of similar rock/metal-to-swing cover albums of the late 90s/early 2000s. According to an article featured in Maclean’s the year of the album’s release, the song “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson was also supposed to be featured, but Anka couldn’t get through out without bursting into laughter.

Listenability: 4/5 While perhaps slightly misguided, this cover is smooth as a baby porpoise’s tummy. Just slip on your spats and your fedora (not a trilby, do not be that high school neck beard who wears neon green ties and says ‘milady’) and you can almost pretend you’re hanging in some Rat Pack club, drinking martini’s and warming up for the opening act to get there and listening to the decent but slightly misguided, sweet-piped fellow singing onstage. 

Almost.

Originality: 4/5 It really has that level of distinctiveness that makes you go: “why?” 

Integrity to Original: 0/5 Without a hint of irony in the lines “Here we are now/Entertain us,” I have the distinct feeling that Anka (bless his heart) has entirely missed the point.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 3/5 It doesn’t quite bum me out, but honestly, by the eighth or ninth listen in the row, the strange hollowness of it all really gets to you.

Overall: 2.8/5 Jovially empty. Like an empty Looney Tunes collector's glass.

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Scala & Kolacny Brothers (2006)

Scala, a Belgian girls choir originally out of Aarschot, was first formed in 1996. Brothers Stijn Kolacny and Steven Kolacny conduct and arrange/accompany the choir respectively. They advertise themselves as an “indie-rock choir,” and have covered such musicians as Oasis, Björk, and Radiohead. Their 16th album, Solstice, was released in 2016. The following video is from a live performance in 2006.

The choir is best known for it’s haunting, all-female vocal renditions of some of the most popular indie songs of all time. Their version of “Creep,” lauded by Radiohead themselves as the best cover of the song, was famously (magnificently, appropriately) featured in the US trailer for The Social Network (2010). "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was featured on their UK debut album, Scala & Kolacny Brothers (2011).

Listenability: 3/5 To say there isn’t something a little bit dirge-like in this version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” would be, frankly, a bald-faced lie. It’s definitely not a jam, grunge or otherwise. But it is absolutely beautiful. Would probably be a great addition to a spooky Halloween playlist. Smells like Teen Spirit? More like Smells like Teen SPIRITS, ammirite??

Originality: 4/5 I really fucking dig this arrangement. It strips everything down, just leaving the piano to back the truly lovely vocal arrangement. Something about the fact that it's performed by all young women really ups the haunting element of it, leaving you to wonder what other, more ominious meanings could be twisted into this song. The build in the second chorus is highly spoopy and foreboding, and I definitely think this should be featured in a horror movie at some point. 

Integrity to Original: 4/5 Again, maybe it’s in part because this version is in fact performed by mostly teen girls, but I actually think it fits very nicely as a beautiful counterpart to the angst of the male-lead original. When I was in high school, I used to have a playlist of Dead Can Dance, creepy Silent Hill songs, and like just the acoustic intros of a bunch of heavy metal songs. This is for sure a mood, and I don’t think that mood is all that far off from what Cobain infused into this original song.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 2/5 100% an A+ bummer. Just a real downer. I love it. I want to bathe in it. It would be a dark, swirly, mystical bath bomb that smells like jasmine and the moon.

Overall: 3.3/5 Take this as an example of my personal feelings not always affecting the score. I like this version much better than The Bad Plus cover, but you know what? I just gotta be honest. Also, immediately burn this onto my angsty high school AMV playlist.

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Patti Smith (2007)

“Punk poet laureate” Patti Smith is famed within the punk rock community for her music, her poetry, and her visual art. This cover was released on her tenth album, Twelve, which features twelve cover songs by such artists as Jimi Hendrix, R.E.M, and the Doors. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the tenth track.

This “moody Appalachian folk” cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is perhaps best described in Josh Jones’s article for Open Culture: “As most songwriters will tell you, a good song should strip down to voice and guitar without losing its heart. Smith’s version of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ proves that Kurt Cobain’s songwriting stands up to the test.”

Listenability: 3/5 If you’re into the twangy of sounds of the banjo and Smith’s voice, then this is definitely the cover for you. Much like Bob Dylan or Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith does have an incredibly distinctive voice that you might have to be in the right mood to hear (although I am always in the mood to have Stevie sing to me, and I bet die-hard Smith fans will feel just about the same about this evaluation). It’s got that kind of jazz thing going on where it’s just short of a cacophony, but it works for the style, and I think overall, it works for the song.

Originality: 4/5 This version is so beautifully different from the original, both in it’s instrumentation - relying heavily on the violin, guitar, banjo - and it’s arrangement. Patti also adds her own little riffs here and there, especially during that section at the three minute thirty second mark. There’s something about this video that feels very much like a memorial - something Jones too points out in his article - through the use of the black and white, the lingering close-ups, the use of what appears to be a death mask, and the general gloominess this video evokes.

Integrity to Original: 4/5 As mentioned above, I think there’s a mourning quality in this song that really tugs at something at the core of the original. There’s a bit of hopelessness in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” an evocation of the futility of adolescence, but also a level of sadness of not being heard. “We know it’s confusing,” it seems to say. “We know we’re a mess. Help make sense of this, cause we don’t know what the hell to do.” Smith’s version, in many ways, seems to be the natural successor, the “grown-up” confrontation of passing time and death, coming to the terms that we still don’t have those answers. This is a little more serious than I usually go. Here is a Vine compilation if you need a break.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 4/5 It doesn’t really? It’s definitely about kind of depressing subject matter, but goddamn trying to feel depressed when you’ve got a banjo twanging around in the background!

Overall: 3.8/5 This is a neat, sad cover. Makes you feel like you’re trying to figure out how to escape your small town life in a coal mining town and everyone you know has the black lung, pop [tiny coughs].

Smells Like Teen Spirit - The Flying Pickets (2008)

Founded in 1982, The Flying Pickets are a British a cappella group best known for making the UK Singles Chart in 1983 with their cover of “Only You” by Yazoo. The Pickets usually have six members; the founding members have all since retired or, in the case of founder Brian Hibbard, passed away. 

The original Pickets recorded “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in 1994. This version was released in 2008, performed by current members Michael Henry, Andy Laycock, and Simon Foster, as well as past members Andrea Figallo and  Damion Scarcella.

Listenability: 3/5 A capella is so hit and miss. When it’s done well, it can be mindblowingly good. When it’s anything but, I feel like you can actually feel the mediocrity sinking into your pores with every ill-attempted counter-melody or questionable remix. This cover falls very snugly in the mid-range of a capella covers I’ve heard, and it’s safe blandness lukewarms the cockles of my heart.

Originality: 3/5 I mean, it’s a capella. Everyone is being an instrument. The arrangement certainly takes a degree of creativity, but it’s also...mostly just them following the original instrumentation. I’m not saying I could do it. I’m just sitting behind a computer screen, critiquing hardworking, talented people for no apparent reason.

Integrity to Original: 1/5 This is not really “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” It’s “Smells Like the Glee Club is Up to Something Again.”

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 2/5 No, it definitely bums me out.

Overall: 2.3/5 As Judy Berman wrote of this cover in her 2011 Flavorwire article “10 ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ Covers That are Worse Than Miley’s”: “Just because you can do it...doesn’t mean you should.”

THAT’S ALL FOR PART ONE, FOLKS!  Stay tuned for PART 2 coming to you...eventually!

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Cornflake Girl

Let’s talk about Cornflake Girl, shall we? This was the song that started it all and inspired this blog and we're gonna get into WHY (kind of, don't expect anything too deep, this is gonna get goofy).

If you don't know this song, it's fuckin great.

Cornflake Girl - Tori Amos (1994)

Tori Amos, a legend out of North Carolina (and somewhat honorary citizen of the UK), released the song "Cornflake Girl" in 1994. The song was released as a single, then later featured as the eighth track on her second studio album, Under the Pink.

Influenced in part by a recent exposure to reggae music, discussions of female genital mutilation, and Alice Walker's novel, Possessing the Secret of Joy, this song addresses the concept of the "cornflake girl," women who would hurt other women despite a close personal relationship, often to appease some patriarchal construct. This referred, in part, to the fact that the ratio of raisins to cornflakes in breakfast cereal is much lower, making "raisin girls" harder to find - "Thought it was a good solution/Hanging with the raisin girls."

(Fun bonus fact, she is not saying "rabbi," but "Rabbit," the name of her friend, a "fantastic, magical creature" who lives in the woods with their partner, Fox.)

"Cornflake Girl" reached #4 on the UK singles charts, paving the way for later hits off Under the Pink including "God," "Pretty Good Year," and "Past the Mission." A lovely video discussing more about these ideas can be found here. Amos released both an American and a UK version of the music videos, both which are definitely worth seeing if you haven't.

Now...let's talk about some covers.

Cornflake Girl - Florence and the Machine (2018)

This is the cover I heard this radio on the morning. The intro came on and, not seeing what the song was, I was like '...uh...who stole the intro to Cornflake Girl?"

The answer to that question would be Florence Welch, who covered the song in September 2018 as an exclusive release for Spotify.

So let's get into the nitty gritty.

(All of these qualities are being measured in comparison to the original song, and are my opinions, so with that disclaimer out of the way, come with me and we'll be in a land of PURE IMAGINATION.)

Listenability: 4/5

It's a good cover. This version is much smoother and less choppy than the original...though whether that's a plus or a minus is completely up to the listener's discretion. As a fan of Tori's ability to really fuck you up mid-song (wait, this was just in a fucking 4/4 and now it's in 3/4?! Or maybe it's 2/3, I don't know shit about time keeping, I just know I'm distressed), I would say...not quite as good as the original. Sorry, Flo.

Originality: 2/5

Ahhhhhhh it's just pretty much a nice, safe homage to Tori. The instruments are all pretty evocative of the original song, Florence's vocals are absolutely beautiful, but she really does follow the same cadences as Amos does. Nice use of the occasional drum, though.

Integrity to Original: 4/5

I mean, it's hard to say anything else when this is almost a direct copy of the original. To my knowledge, Welch hasn't gone on the record saying anything about this particular cover, but as an artist who was almost certainly influenced by Amos (this is a total uninformed claim on my part, but like...fuck, they are both redheaded indie mythical wood deities in their own right, so they've probably consorted in the moonlight at least once), I would say she was probably well aware of the intention of this song. What I really appreciate about this version is the clarity of the lyrics - Amos is notoriously tricksy with her pronounciations - which allows this truly haunting song to be brought home even more.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 5/5

Not bummed out. Love Florence. Love Tori. They are both magical. This cover did make me want to make this blog to explicitly talk about covers that had more theoretical potential, so ironically, it got me more hyped.

Overall: 4/5

Good cover. Good Song. Could have done more with it, but only because we've come to expect so much more from you, Florence.

Cornflake Girl - Jawbox (1996)

In 1996, Jawbox, an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., released their cover of "Cornflake Girl" on their fourth and final self-titled album, Jawbox.

Originally, the band didn't take the song particularly seriously in their repertoire. In an 2015 article from AV club, frontman J. Robbins admitted that the cover had started as a goof, but became serious enough that the group made a music video of the cover (see above).

Listenability: 3.5/5

I actually like this cover a lot. It's got some of the 90s/2000s grunge rock, wall-of-sound element, while still being recognizable as the song we know and love. It's a jam (a slow-jam, but a jam nonetheless). I do feel as though it lose a bit of the fun instrumentality of the original in the cover, but overall, would definitely make the roadtrip mix.

Originality: 4/5

Jawbox does a lot of very cool things with this. It definitely leans more alt-rock than indie-pop, which I think gives those drops in the song a real kick. The stutter-step rhythm is a really good addition, and I think it makes a nice homage to Tori's style, which often plays around with rhythm in similar ways.

Integrity to Original: 3/5

I'm gonna play this card: I don't think it has quite the same impact coming from a dude. He does not know what it means to be a cornflake, nor a raisin girl. The music video mostly seems like a series of bizarre images that seem to - probably jokingly - take the "cornflake" imagery pretty literally, with someone being force-fed milk from a tube and someone's soft tummy being poked with a spoon (also, a dude with his mouth full of pennies, so who the fuck knows). Not all covers have to say the same thing the original was saying, or anything at all for that matter, but for this one, I'm gonna land right in the middle for ?????

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 4/5

Nah, not really! Besides the fact men are involved (always a bummer) (jk) (or am I?), I enjoyed the change of pace.

Overall: 3.5/5

Solid cover. Loud. Wall of music. Still couldn't dance to it. Nice level of angst. Too many men involved.

Cornflake Girl - Imogen Heap (2010)

A one time, live performance! In 2010, Imogen Heap covered "Cornflake Girl" in Melbourne, Australia. The performance was an auction item for the charity Concern Worldwide; the winning bidder got a chance to meet Heap and receive "A Song Just for You." Heap offers her own unique interpretation of the song, which can be seen in the video aboce.

Listenability: 2/5

This is due MAINLY to the fact that this is a live performance. A more polished, recorded version would probably actually be pretty killer. Still probably not a 'have it on in the background, good for the party mix' kind of song, but definitely a get kinda stoned and listen to it on repeat a couple times song.

Originality: 5/5

Amazing range of sounds and instruments she's able to play with since she's performing electronically/has an array of instruments on stage. Fantastic use of double tracking and creating her own vocal loops on the spot. She really makes the song her own in this performance.

Integrity to Original: 3/5

I do really think this is in the spirit of the original, and she plays with an similar set of instruments that Amos herself uses while incorperating her own flair. The lyrics feel a little bit throwaway, which is kind of a shame, because honestly, Tori Amos is nothing if not an incredible lyricist. That being said, most electoric music (in my experience) is more about the instrumentation/sampling, so this makes some sense from Heap, I think.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 4/5

Yeah, it's cool. She takes some real risks with this cover, and I think for the most part, they pay off.

Overall: 4/5

You do you, Imogen. It's a cool cover. It's neat. I dig it. Do your dance. Do some fun looping things. Wear your hair like Bart from Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (jk, she wears her hair like you). Dig it.

Cornflake Girl - Noah Hawley & Jeff Russo (2018)

Legion, an FX series based on the Marvel character David Haller (aka Legion) (surprise surprise) first debuted in February 2017. The show revolves around David, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age, only to find out in his thirties that there may be much more to his mental illness than he'd previously thought.

This cover of "Cornflake Girl" was featured in the finale of Legion Season 2. I have not personally gotten this far in the show yet (it's good, but a little exhausting and hard to binge for me, so much withholding information), but I watched the clip and it makes no sense to me, so that's a start!

Listenability: 3/5

It pretty much sounds exactly like a Coldplay song, so depending on how you feel about Coldplay, this could go either way. I'm mid-road.

Originality: 2/5

I mean, eh. They make the chorus a minor key and put in some synths. It would play well over the trailer. I bet it will in the future.

Integrity to Original: 2/5

I feel like this is one of those many cases where people just take the lines This is not real/This is not really happening/You bet your life it is and they're like THAT COULD APPLY TO THIS FUCKED UP SITUATION and you know what you're right it does well done gold star for you.

Does this Cover Not Bum Me Out: 1/5

Definitely a bummer. Bumming hard listening to this on repeat.

Overall: 2/5

Is it BAD? No. You know what it is? Meh. Just meh.

[covtocov]

Welcome to Cover to Cover

Hey all,

My name is Isabella, and I like music. 

What is the blog? What is the point of this? I’m here to talk about cover songs, their original versions, and what I think.

That’s it.