My brain got turned around a few years back for some reason I thought millennium pop star, Britney Spears’ “Oops I Did It Again” was a cover. I don’t know where I got that idea unless it had something to do with my first contender.
Max Raabe, a German jazz singer, covers the song with a retro flare of the 20s and 30s. It’s really quite interesting, maybe even a little weird at first listen but I ask that you keep an open mind. I rather think it’s a fun twist. Listen for yourself to see what you think of Max Raabe!
The next artist is Richard Thompson, an English guitarist, singer/songwriter, whose been in the industry since the 60s. I don’t believe I ever heard of him before now. In the video below his audience laughs at the opening of his song choice. Frankly, it is an odd one for anyone to cover especially a seasoned musician you’d think but I think that was the point. He shows us how spinning this pop song is more appealing to someone no longer in their teens. There’s nothing wrong with liking the original. However, Thompson’s arrangement I instantly liked. Please listen to Richard’s cover!
At this point, I leave it up to you to pick your favorite cover artist. There’s no wrong way to vote. This is all done in fun, so don’t sweat it. Which version do you prefer, Max Raabe or Richard Thompson?
Voting ends at 12 noon ET on Apr 6th!
I invite you to cast your vote in fellow BOTBer participating and you’ll find their links in my right side menu. Watch for the results of this showdown to appear on April 10th in the edition of Monday’s Music Moves Me. Speaking of which, swing by this Monday to hit the dance floor with me and my pals!
This is CAAC signing off, have a boogietastic weekend! X
X, Cathy
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I like the retro covers Richard Thompson gets my vote
Mike,
You slide your vote in for RICHARD THOMPSON with only hours to spare. Thanks for making it by to cast yours, my friend.
Hmmmmm I think I got thrown in on your mail by mistake… that’s okay I always love hearing from you…. hugs & smooches talk to you tomorrow & don’t forget SAVE ME A DANCE!!!! hehehehe OH having probs with passwords too, but I think I have it under control. HUGS, MARIE
Marie,
Don’t worry, you’ll get everything straightened out.
Still prefer Richard… Have you heard another very different Britney Spears cover by Joan as Policewoman – https://youtu.be/wXGlNKyX4ck
I’m not too familiar with Britney’s music library. “Overprotected” didn’t jingle a bell with me which comes as no surprise. I definitely like Joan as Policewoman’s cover a 1000% better over the original. I plan to spend time sampling more of her stuff on her YT channel. Thanks for the introduction, the share, and the visit!
Oh I love the Richard Thomson version and in fact that whole album One Thousand Years of Popular Music – now I will check out Max
Thanks for playing along. I have you down for RICHARD THOMPSON!
I think I like the Thompson dude too!
Thanks Brian for voting for RICHARD THOMPSON, my furriend!
I’m probably on the losing side this week, but the retro-style of Max Raabe got me, although the other was fabulous as well.
Mimi,
MAX RAABE is doing better than I thought he would in this round. His cover is truly unique an so much fun. I’m super glad that he’s not getting clobbered.
CAThy! It’s That Me (The Fool in ‘April Fool’s Day’) ~
Ha! You’ve gotten really good at BOTB. You find a lot of unique cover versions. (I mean, anyone who can get me to love a simplistic Beatles’ song is doin’ sumpin’ right!)
Richard Thompson I have known about since the ’70s, but Max Raabe was completely new to me.
So, for a guy who was a hardcore Hard Rock fan in his teenage years, you can imagine what a shock it was to me to discover that I liked Rudy Valle’s style back when I was all about Thin Lizzy, Blue Oyster Cult, & Deep Purple, etc.
I think it was The Tubes who prepared me for Vallee, and it was Vallee who later prepared me for Tiny Tim.
I saw this was a Britney Spears song and thought: Oh, No. Not that. Please – not THAT!!
Then Max Raabe starts in and I very nearly laughed out loud! Great stuffs! Funny, irreverent, and appropriately Tiny Tim-ish. I loved it.
After that, ‘Poor Richard’ really didn’t have a chance with me. He was… OK. But MAX was way better’n OK.
~ D-FensDogG (thoroughly entertained)
Stephen,
I’m so honored that you’ve enjoyed the last couple of battles. It’s not easy to come up with interesting contenders but I’m trying and am learning much from fellow BOTBers. I hadn’t thought about MAX RAABE sounding a bit like Tiny Tim but I’m hearing that now.
I love both versions so much better than the original..lol. Each are great but my heart goes to Raabe who made me think of a 1928 German Cabaret. I love that inventiveness.
Birgit,
I had a sneaky hunch that you’d go with MAX RAABE.
What a fantastic Battle! Both very different versions by excellent artists.
I’d heard of Max Raabe before though I’m not at all familiar with his work. I love this kind of stuff like he does here and was ready to vote for this one. But then…
Along came Richard Thompson’s version. I bought a few of his albums back in the eighties and nineties and enjoyed his solo work along with the stuff he did with his wife Linda and the group Fairport Convention who I ran across in the seventies. Yeah, he’s been around a long time and he’s really good.
I like the way Thompson made this song sound like one of his own. He did a great interpretation of a song that I actually like. Give my vote to Richard Thompson.
Lee
Lee,
I did a little reading on both artists learning a bit about both. I’m pretty confident that I hadn’t heard of your favorite pick RICHARD THOMPSON before this battle but I really do enjoy his style.
Hi Cathy!
Max Raabe’s playful version was interesting. Never heard of either artist before now, but I’ve just become a fan of Richard Thompson! A vote for Richard, please
Diedre,
I’m happy to introduce you to two new artists. Thanks for voting for RICHARD THOMPSON, my friend!
Hi, Cathy! Hands down for me is Richard Thompson. I liked his version better and like Debbie, I enjoyed the guitar riffs.
Eugenia,
RICHARD THOMPSON is going to be difficult to bet in this round I fear. The guitar riffs are cool. He’s so talented. I want to listen to more of his music.
Hi, Cathy!
Happy April and BOTB Day, dear friend! I hope you and DH had a great week.
I enjoyed Max Raabe’s imaginative, retro style rendition of “Oops,” right down to the spoken word finale which references Titanic and the coeur de la mer (The Heart of the Ocean), the rare diamond pendant worn by American socialite and actress Rose DeWitt Bukater, one of the survivors of the historic sinking. His recording brings to mind Guy Marks who had a hit in 1968 with “Loving You Has Made Me Bananas,” a single that parodies the jazz and swing big band era broadcasts of the early 20th century, as well as New Vaudeville Band, the English novelty act that gave us “Winchester Cathedral,” a song reminiscent of the British music hall era and American vaudeville. Max Raabe’s is such an unusual arrangement of Britney’s dance-pop hit that it seemed jarring at first, but I got into what he was doing as the song progressed.
In your contest, Max Raabe’s version has the advantage of studio quality sound, but the disadvantage of being presented as a slideshow. Contestant #2, veteran musician Richard Thompson, has the disadvantage of live sound which is not as clear and strong as that produced in the studio, but the advantage of appearing in a performance clip in which he can more effectively sell his version. All in all, I thought Richard’s version was quirky and goofy but not as creative and fun as Max’s. I also hate when an artist on stage stops singing in the middle of a song and aims the mic at the audience, encouraging them to do the singing. That negative pushed me back in Max’s direction and was the determining factor.
Max Raabe’s silver hammer came down upon my head… and I give him my vote.
Have a safe and happy weekend and a wonderful April, dear friend Cathy!
That’s really funny, CK, we also think Richard Thompson did do a great job on the song, we like it even more than Britneys. Great found! Double Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend
Granny & Kitties,
I’m with you RICHARD THOMPSON I like a 1000x better than Britney’s. Thanks for voting!
Max Raabe certainly made this interesting, but for listening pleasure, I wouldn’t go there again. As a huge Richard Thompson fan, I’m surprised he would cover a Britney Spears song, but he did it well and I enjoyed the guitar riffs as well. A vote for Richard Thompson!
Debbie,
This battle introduced me to Richard Thompson or at least I think it did. Despite this being a live recording, I really liked the way he presented Britney’s song which is much better than the original. RICHARD THOMPASON gets a vote.
Hiya Cathy!
Fun battle! It’s always great when we can have a little fun with different songs. I actually really liked Max Raabe’s version. I’m casting my vote for him.
My battle will go live at 12am Mountain Time Saturday. It’s a fun one as well. Hope you can stop by to cast a vote (bring your friends!)
Mary
McCarthy’s Lovers Battle
In case I screwed up the html (it happens), here is the link:
Mary,
Max has an interesting style. There’s no one out there like him today. I’m glad you enjoyed his cover. Max Raabe gets the first vote!