An interview with Johnny Marr is featured in the latest edition of British mag Vive Le Rock! which is available here. Among other things, Marr was asked about some of the cover versions of Smiths songs that have been recorded over the years:
You say it's flattering when other bands cover your songs, but has there ever been one where you think 'that's fucking awful. put the instruments down lad and give up'
"Well, I know it's supposed to be funny but when the Word had Bernard Manning doing it. Did you see it? Bernard Manning's Smith medley. See, you're getting more than you bargained for there, mate (laughs). Him spinning around with flowers in his back pocket singing "Girlfriend In A Coma" is something I really wished I hadn't seen in my lifetime. Fuck's sake.
"I've always been pleased because the sort of bands that cover The Smiths have always been from a culture that I think is alright. I mean, Placebo did "Big Mouth Strikes Again" and that was great. To be honest with you, I only remember the good stuff. Low did a version of "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" and that was just so good and I think Supergrass did a version of something too. It's always been people with great intentions from a really good culture so it would be horribly churlish to look at it with any kind of serious criticism"
Marr is right, this Bernard Manning medley is so awful I couldn't get through the entire clip and it's only about a minute long. See how long you can go before YOU bail:
Bernard Manning Sings the Smiths:
Cleanse your ears with Placebo and Low covering The Smiths:
Placebo "Big Mouth Strikes Again"
Low "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me"
FYI, the Supergrass cover Marr was referencing was "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" which sadly isn't available to stream here.
You say it's flattering when other bands cover your songs, but has there ever been one where you think 'that's fucking awful. put the instruments down lad and give up'
"Well, I know it's supposed to be funny but when the Word had Bernard Manning doing it. Did you see it? Bernard Manning's Smith medley. See, you're getting more than you bargained for there, mate (laughs). Him spinning around with flowers in his back pocket singing "Girlfriend In A Coma" is something I really wished I hadn't seen in my lifetime. Fuck's sake.
"I've always been pleased because the sort of bands that cover The Smiths have always been from a culture that I think is alright. I mean, Placebo did "Big Mouth Strikes Again" and that was great. To be honest with you, I only remember the good stuff. Low did a version of "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" and that was just so good and I think Supergrass did a version of something too. It's always been people with great intentions from a really good culture so it would be horribly churlish to look at it with any kind of serious criticism"
Marr is right, this Bernard Manning medley is so awful I couldn't get through the entire clip and it's only about a minute long. See how long you can go before YOU bail:
Bernard Manning Sings the Smiths:
Cleanse your ears with Placebo and Low covering The Smiths:
Placebo "Big Mouth Strikes Again"
Low "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me"
FYI, the Supergrass cover Marr was referencing was "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" which sadly isn't available to stream here.
