Wednesday 11 May 2011

Music Played And People Sang



For along time I was under the mistaken impression that Bang Bang was originally recorded by Nancy Sinatra and it wasn't until about 1999/2000 with the aid of the internet that I discovered that it was written for Cher by Sonny Bono and released early the same year that Sinatra would cover the track, 1966.

I prefer Nancy's interpretation there is something really beguiling about her version, the almost whispered vocals and the tremelo effect is a lot subtler than the inferior Sonny and Cher version which kind of loses it half way through when it goes all gypsy campfire stylee.

Therre is a rather good version of the song by Isobel Campbell whose soft vocals and sparse instrumentation basically mirror the Sinatra version. I also quite like the Audio Bullys track from 2005 which samples the vocal. However the "original" Sinatra version would be my preference any day.

Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

13 comments:

davyh said...

Nancu Sinatra = goddess.

davyh said...

Er, and Nancy.

Simon said...

Nancusinatra may well have been an ancient Sumerian goddess, there are probably marbles depicting her face in the British Museum.

Perhaps not.

Artog said...

The Nancy version is definitely way better but when I heard the original was by Sonny and Cher (and that Sonny actually wrote it) it threw me a bit. Not enough to actually investigate their back catalogue. But last week I saw on Delta Swamp Rock that Cher had done a cover of I Walk On Gilded Splinters. So, quite cool really.

That said my favourite track of theirs is still Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

Simon said...

Never listen to the Weller version of Bang Bang, it's not very good.

davyh said...

Nancy's Dad also had a go at it, saloon stylee, on one of his final albums.

davyh said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
davyh said...

PS: Artog - arf and arf again, very good.

Mondo said...

Sometimes I'll put on Steve Wright for an integrity test. How much can I take before I retune? Usually two tunes tops. However last year on the way to Norfolk (23rd August - In know, as I Shazzed it). He played a cracker - which turned out to be Nancy Sinatra Highway Song. Almost 9 months on I still haven't grabbed it though..

drew said...

That's not terribly good is it Mr H?

Simon, a lot of Weller's covers are woeful

Artog - Cher's version of Walking On Gilded Splinters is very good.

Mondo - here you go

http://www.box.net/shared/s414peykgr

Mondo said...

Drew you're a star - what a backbeat. Although I could imagine Benny Hill doing an opening song/skit based around a refit of it

davyh said...

No, it's not terribly good. But interesting for you to hear, I thought.

drew said...

Everything is probably worth listening to once unless it's by that oirish band from Dublin City Irland.