TRIVIA: Examples of music of one genre adapted in the style of another

[johnnychips]

To get you started, part of Prokoviev's Lieutenant Kije Suite, originally a film score, was used for Greg Lake's pop hit "I believe in Father Christmas".

Sting used a different section of Lieutenant Kije on ‘Russians’.

 

[Bevan Price]

A lot of classic American blues songs by people like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Howlin' Wolf, etc. have been re-done by well known rock bands.
For example.
Yardbirds - Smokestack Lightning (original by Howlin' Wolf)
Beatles - Twist and Shout (first hit version by Isley Brothers, but written by Phil Medley & Bert Berns )
Rolling Stones - It's All Over Now (written by Bobby & Shirley Womack, released by them as The Valentinos)

and lots more. Other songs are derived from classical or near-classical music.
So, "It's Now or Never" by Elvis Presley uses the melody from an Italian song, "O Sole Mio"

 

[Basil Jet]

 

[Ashley Hill]

Have just watched a Top of the Pops from 1994 and was reminded of the awful Dutch pop act Doop. Their No1 single Doop was in a 1920s swing/90s dance style complete with dancers performing the Charleston to it.
And I prefer the Mike Flowers Pops version of Wonderwall. I’ve never liked Oasis.

 

[DustyBin]

And I prefer the Mike Flowers Pops version of Wonderwall. I’ve never liked Oasis.

Heresy!

Although I do think Wonderwall is the most over-rated Oasis song of all time. In fact, I usually skip it when listening to Morning Glory.

 

[weepingwillowb]

The Nice (with Keith Emerson) was a progressive rock group, and their studio recordings included Sibelius' Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite; and America, by Sondheim and Bernstein, from West Side Story. Live recordings by them include Tchaikovsky's Third Movement, Pathetique; and Country Pie/Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 by Bob Dylan and Johann Sebastian Bach.

 

[gswindale]

The Beautiful South did an interesting cover of "Don't Stop Movin" by S Club 7 a few years back.

The Piano Guys have a number of classical interpretations of modern songs including "Eye of the Tiger" as a lullaby and a laid back version of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up"!

 

[Basil Jet]

A ska version of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake...

and a post-punk version of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. RIP Keith Levene.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Have just watched a Top of the Pops from 1994 and was reminded of the awful Dutch pop act Doop. Their No1 single Doop was in a 1920s swing/90s dance style complete with dancers performing the Charleston to it.
And I prefer the Mike Flowers Pops version of Wonderwall. I’ve never liked Oasis.

Heresy!

Although I do think Wonderwall is the most over-rated Oasis song of all time. In fact, I usually skip it when listening to Morning Glory.

Oasis was a glorified pub band. Their only decent single was "Roll With It" which ironically lost the (tabloid-hyped) "battle of the bands" run to No.1 to Blur's worst ever song, the abysmal "Country House".

 

[Gloster]

A version of Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance by Love Sculpture reached No.5 in 1968: the high-speed guitar player was Dave Edmunds.

 

[JD2168]

Don Mcenley made a song called Boys of Summer in the 1980s, in the early 200s DJ Sammy made a dance music version of the song which charted high in the charts when released.

 

[DustyBin]

Oasis was a glorified pub band. Their only decent single was "Roll With It" which ironically lost the (tabloid-hyped) "battle of the bands" run to No.1 to Blur's worst ever song, the abysmal "Country House".

A bit harsh!

Funnily enough Roll With It isn’t one of my favourites (although it’s a decent enough song), and I quite like Country House these days (but I didn’t at the time!).

Don Mcenley made a song called Boys of Summer in the 1980s, in the early 200s DJ Sammy made a dance music version of the song which charted high in the charts when released.

A tune of my youth!

 

[StKeverne1497]

Watching a 2014 programme about BBC2 "design" programmes through the decades, The Home That 2 Built, at one point there was a version of the wonderful Take 5 played with a reggae beat and guitars. Utterly odd.

It's at 32 minutes exactly into the episode covering the 1960s.

 

[PsychoMouse]

My favourite band Ghost, a Swedish rock/metal group, have a history of doing covers which you wouldn't expect them to do, song which don't fit into their usual genre.

Their whole gimmick is that they're a satanic parody of the Catholic Church so all of their covers are songs with names that could also have satanic/anti-religious themes.

I've you've never listened to them I urge you to give them a go, they are not what you imagine ands their music is often upbeat, poppy and melodic.

Here are some of my favourite covers done by them:

Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)

If you have Ghost (Roky Erickson)

It's a Sin (Pet Shop Boys)

Missionary Man (Eurythmics)

I'm a Marionette (ABBA)

 

[Falcon1200]

The Stranglers covered this song by Burt Bacharach (RIP) and was the first example I thought of when reading the OP.

And a brilliant rendition (of Walk on By) it is too!

The Nice (with Keith Emerson) was a progressive rock group, and their studio recordings included Sibelius' Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite; and America, by Sondheim and Bernstein, from West Side Story.

Yes covered America too, and it's not a bad version of the song.

OTOH Kate Bush covered Elton John's Rocket Man in reggae style..... Why Kate, why???

 

[pdeaves]

Pat Boone covered some heavy metal stuff on his album 'No More Mr Nice Guy'.

I have a bluegrass version of David Bowie's Space Oddity; I think the group was called Cornbread.

Let us also remember B Bumble and the Stingers' 'Nut Rocker' (Nutcracker suite redone as a rock and roll instrumental)

 

[trebor79]

About 20 years ago a university friend was popular of a group which did covers of rap music in the style of 1950's singers like Frank Sinatra and lounge singers. Was quite amusing to hear absolutely disgusting explicit lyrics (such as "your father would be disgusted / to see your ***** busted") sung slowly, clearly, melodiously and as though recorded in the 1950's. Unfortunately I can't recall the name of the group!

 

[Broucek]

I have long had a theory that really good music is somewhat indestructible. For example, if a not-that-good school orchestra plays some Mozart or some Beach Boys songs then it will still be enjoyable (even for non-parents) as some of the greatness will still be there.

A few years ago, I saw the theory demonstrated. I went to a concert with a classical choir and a steel band. The Beatles numbers sounded great, so did some Bach and Puccini's "Humming Chorus" was sublime. However, despite the Carribean accompaniment, "No Woman, No Cry" was truly terrible - perhaps because because the song itself needs a particularly charasmatic singer to carry it off...

 

[JD2168]

Alice Cooper made a song called Poison in 1989, in 2003 Groove Coverage made a dance music cover of the same song.

 

[lyndhurst25]

DEVO released an E-Z Listening album of their greatest hits in the style of elevator muzak.

 

[pdeaves]

I have long had a theory that really good music is somewhat indestructible. For example, if a not-that-good school orchestra plays some Mozart or some Beach Boys songs then it will still be enjoyable (even for non-parents) as some of the greatness will still be there.

A few years ago, I saw the theory demonstrated. I went to a concert with a classical choir and a steel band. The Beatles numbers sounded great, so did some Bach and Puccini's "Humming Chorus" was sublime. However, despite the Carribean accompaniment, "No Woman, No Cry" was truly terrible - perhaps because because the song itself needs a particularly charasmatic singer to carry it off...

I suppose, if the song/tune sounds very different to what you are used to, it will sound OK. If it sounds like it 'should' be like the famous version but somehow doesn't quite hit the spot, it won't sound so good. So a classical choir doing some Beatles stuff will almost automatically sound better than four lads trying to sound like the Beatles (unless the choir is really, really bad!)