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)
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13 comments:

  1. davyh11 May 2011 at 08:19

    Nancu Sinatra = goddess.

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  2. davyh11 May 2011 at 08:19

    Er, and Nancy.

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  3. Simon11 May 2011 at 11:22

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

    Perhaps not.

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  4. Artog11 May 2011 at 12:29

    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

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  5. Simon11 May 2011 at 13:14

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

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  6. davyh11 May 2011 at 13:59

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

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  7. davyh11 May 2011 at 14:00

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. davyh11 May 2011 at 14:01

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

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  9. Mondo11 May 2011 at 14:19

    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..

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  10. drew11 May 2011 at 14:47

    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

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  11. Mondo11 May 2011 at 20:15

    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

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  12. davyh11 May 2011 at 21:14

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

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  13. drew11 May 2011 at 22:14

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

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