Monday 17 October 2011

I Got A Letter From The Government The Other Day.



Before I heard Tricky's interpretation of Black Steel if I had read anywhere that somebody was tackling covering Public Enemy I would have thought that they were mad and would have been confident that the results would have been pretty dire.

I wouldn't say that Tricky's version is better, it is on a par with the PE version. I love the way he has dropped the piano sample and replaced it with loud thrashy guitars and poiunding drums. But it is probably Martina Topley-Bird's laid-back delivery of the lyrics which makes this a classic.

Tricky - Black Steel

Btw this was the 1001 piece of nonsense that has been posted on this blog!

11 comments:

Swiss Adam said...

Love this version. Congratulations on the 1001.

dickvandyke said...

That's some achievement Drew and no mistake. Admiration and warmth from little ol me.

Here's to another grand grand.

And an avoidance of the decline that so many others experience!

Kippers said...

Congrats indeed. That's some Roy Castle-type dedication, right there.

Absolutely love this version of Black Steel and I consider it a classic too. Topley-Bird's vocals make it, as you say.

Artog said...

I didn't know it was a cover until quite recently and only checked out the Public Enemy version just now. I far prefer the Tricky version, makes the PE one sound like a rough demo.

adam said...

I know just how many ways this is wrong but I keep reading the title of the post and starting to sing 'So This Is Romance' by Linx.

davyh said...

1001. Sturdy.

Love this, love your work - keep on keepin' on x

Simon said...

1001 posts, nice. I've got a year on you, and still I've only reached 435 posts. My blogging has gone to pot lately though.

This is my favourite version of this track, but then Maxinequaye is one of my all time favourite albums by anybody.

adam said...

Yes, sorry, meant to say before 1001 sturdy indeed. I've been blogging on and off since 2003 and even if you count in everything I've deleted I'm still hundreds behind.

Kippers said...

I'm going to be extremely disappointed if So This Is Romance doesn't make an appearance on PLILAS in the near future now, Adam!

sansserif said...

and a very good 1001st blog it is too...Martina Topley-Bird and Tricky - sublime.

drew said...

la mujer libre - welcome and thanks.