I humbly submit that there is not. Exhibit A: This clip of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood playing Neil Young’s "Tell Me Why" at LA’s Hollywood Bowl on Monday (big h/t), which I have been unable to prevent myself from playing several times each morning, noon, and night this week, and which I am embedding below in order to force you to join me. (There’s also a cleaner MP3 of this performance out there, if you can’t stomach the shaky camerawork and random crowd yelpers.)
See? I’m obviously biased, but I just can’t get enough of Yorke’s falsetto on Young’s melody. It’s like the song was written for him. Of course, Radiohead has drawn a lot of inspiration from Young’s work over the years, though they’re not exactly known as a country/folk-rock act. Don’t believe me? Check out how often they’ve covered him in concert. Back in 2001, they used to bust out a rockin’ "Cinnamon Girl" toward the end of their Amnesiac tour dates. And they did a beautiful acoustic "After the Gold Rush" several times in ’02 and ’03, both at full-band Hail to the Thief dates and at a couple of solo gigs Yorke played.
Listening to those, it’s clear why Radiohead likes to incorporate Neil Young’s tunes into their setlists. Yorke may be the only vocalist in the world who can out-haunting-falsetto Young, and there’s just something magical about hearing him pull it off. But enough of my enraptured enthusiasm. Let’s hear it: Even if the Young/Yorke tag team isn’t your thing, are there any other serial cover-artist matchups that you dig? Only artists who’ve covered the source artist in question at least three times count…
amazing! this just made my friday morning
Maybe I’m just having the most exhausting day of my life, but that made me cry. Not the first time Radiohead have managed this, of course. Absolutely stunning…
This is pure music gold.
they really nailed it. they also tried to play “tell me why” in seattle last week but screwed it up.
Slayer covering “In-a-Gadda-da-Vida”. That might be a sweeter sound.
i saw them do this at the hollywood bowl and it was beautiful. i loved this song when neil did it 40 years ago and i love it now with thom doing it!
Haha, I was there that night! It was a great show. I’m crying emo tears because they’re leaving.
I know a sweeter sound. How about Reckoner live during this tour. I don’t know what they did, but OMG, that thing is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.
DAMN I love Radiohead.
Another great cover-artist matchup: Patty Griffin and Bruce Springsteen. Her version of “Stolen Car” is on 1000 Kisses, but she’s also done live versions of “Racing In The Street,” “Darkness On The Edge Of Town,” and “Nebraska.” (And possibly others?) Needless to say, she brings out the beautiful sadness in each one.
DAMN I do love that Radiohead.
I don’t suppose The Smithereens’ “Meet the Smithereens!” cover of The Beatles’ “Meet the Beatles!” counts…does it?
It’s good! rolex watch?
luxury watch?