Bang a Gong

[Ai]

I didn't see this being discussed anywhere else?

 

[cobl04]

Rubbish version compared to the all-time best:

 

[lazarus]

It ain't Dancing Barefoot, that's for sure.

 

[LemonMelon]

This is very strange. I'm not sure Edge even plays guitar on this, the brass is louder than Bono, who whispers and/or moans every syllable, the eerie synthesizer from Dirty Day is all over the song, then Elton starts hamming it up at the end with Kermit vocals that would make Lovetown Bono blush. It's like a fever dream.

 

[Hewson]

I don't hear any guitar whatsoever.
Picture Edge just sitting in the studio watching Elton play piano thinking of how he can incorporate that into the next U2 album and tour.

 

[pacemaker]

I heard some palm muted guitar around the 2:30 mark - Edge on fire, confirmed.

It's not terrible, but this cover is... kinda bumming me out. I think they blew it with the arrangement - it's an interesting take to replace an iconic guitar riff with horns, but almost nothing else about the song has changed to warrant the shift. Drop the tempo a bit more, give it some swing and some atmosphere, and figure out if the horns are the hook, or the annoying jazzy-bluesy piano runs that feature a little too prominently in the mix.

Whether we ever hear it or not, I'm sure there's at least one other mix that subdues the horns in favor of a guitar playing the main riff. It would make a good >2minute b-stage cover, I'm sure.

 

[Ai]

FYI, that piano is done by a guy named Elton John.

 

[ascender_RS]

Its the whispered vocal I have the most problems with! I thought it was going to be something just for the first verse, but I guess not.

Very, very strange...

 

[Hewson]

- it's an interesting take to replace an iconic guitar riff with horns, .

Since it was recorded while on the JT tour, they must have decided RHMT sounded so good that they'd try the formula again.
Clueless.

 

[lazarus]

Its the whispered vocal I have the most problems with! I thought it was going to be something just for the first verse, but I guess not.

More like Brush A Gong, amirite??

 

[ascender_RS]

Can we just agree its Ryan Tedder’s fault and move on?

 

[MrPryck2U]

Often when an artist performs a cover, the "goal" is to sound nothing like the original. I'd say mission accomplished.

 

[Nate Dogg]

It sounds like what I expected. Remember, U2 themselves admit they are not a covers band.

 

[ascender_RS]

I want to retract my previous comments. I went back to this last night after listening to the original (which does kind of have a similar vocal style) and apart from the lack of guitar, I really like it.

There’s quite a good groove going on, Elton’s piano playing is very suited to it and I like the high vocal doubling from Bono/Edge too.

Its kind of fun. I approve,

 

[Hollow Island]

Its the whispered vocal I have the most problems with! I thought it was going to be something just for the first verse, but I guess not.

Very, very strange...

that's how bolan sang it. bono's being faithful to the original. elton over plays just a bit though. good god!

 

[Hollow Island]

cigarettes & alcohol is the best cover of bang a gong

 

[ascender_RS]

that's how bolan sang it. bono's being faithful to the original. elton over plays just a bit though. good god!

He does go to town on it doesn’t he? Which I have no problems with now! Is in the spirit of the whole thing I say.

And yeah, my mind had genuinely blanked-out how Bolan sang it - it was only when watching performances on Youtube that it came back to me.

 

[MrPryck2U]

that's how bolan sang it. bono's being faithful to the original. elton over plays just a bit though. good god!

Yes, Bono's vocals did sound similar to Bolan's. I thought Bono did a fine job.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Tedder has nothing to do with this - it was all Hal Willner.

I'm pretty sure the horns are Trombone Shorty and his backing band.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

that's how bolan sang it. bono's being faithful to the original. elton over plays just a bit though. good god!

Yea I'm not sure how people are missing that... too many covers of the song I guess

https://youtu.be/TVEhDrJzM8E

 

[trevgreg]

cigarettes & alcohol is the best cover of bang a gong

Ha!

 

[Nate Dogg]

Anyone have an MP3 from the iTunes version? Njf377@gmail.com

 

[powernoize]

Anyone have an MP3 from the iTunes version? Njf377@gmail.com

Can someone please pm/email me with the track as well? thanks in advance. kkosko1@hotmail.com

 

[lu2cho]

Please send me too...It was not released in Chile yet.

lu2cho@gmail.com

 

[Hewson]

It was not released in Chile yet.

Probably a slight to Leo and his mom.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Gong, of course, being Leo's mom's name

 

[Hewson]

gong, of course, being leo's mom's name

 

[Nate Dogg]

FYI- you can buy the song as a single now on iTunes