popwreckoning updates

Under Cover: Bruce Springsteen, The Remix

Posted: 13 May 2009 05:20 AM PDT

Welcome back, readers! For months now I’ve dished out the creme de la creme, the shameful of the shameful, and the best of the rest cover versions of many classic songs but I’ve deliberately left out one of my favorite musicians until now– Bruce Springsteen. It’s about time!

Hell, I’m on a Bruce kick and let’s just say you have all been sufficiently warned! When I first took on the Under Cover feature, I had always imagined several posts entirely dedicated to the countless versions I’ve come across from a whole slew of artists and musicians who love The Boss and his discography as much as myself. Two particular tracks of his — “I’m On Fire” and “Dancing In The Dark” — are not only among my favorites, but deserve posts all their own because both are classic Springsteen hits that have inspired legions of other musicians to cover them. Instead of launching right into these, I’ve decided to use this week as a musical amuse-bouche to whet your Springsteen-lovin’ appetites for the upcoming week’s fleshed-out edition. With so many different versions to choose, this Jersey girl needs a little time to organize all the Springsteen adoration. Until then, here’s a little reminder that Jersey boys do it better. And by “it,” I mean just about everything!
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.Bruce Springsteen - “I’m On Fire” (original: 1985)
Bruce has got a “bad desire” and he sure as hell ain’t ashamed to share that with millions of his listeners! I could talk about the genius of this song incessantly…and I have… just ask PopWrecker writer/photographer and fellow Springsteen-lover Ali about this one! This track is the perfect example of a barely 3-minute song that ends just as it was warming up and the listener is left wanting more. More of Bruce, more of the feeling he’s sharing, just more. Between Bruce’s sullen, soulful vocals, the moody and atmospheric synthesizers, and the sparse guitar that punctuate his drawl, this song is hypnotic and has this eerie way of calming the senses of anyone with chronic insomnia or that pesky love interest-induced sleeplessness that just won’t quit. Turn this track on and let the music help you drift away… if not to dreamland than at least to a soothing musical state of consciousness that sure as hell beats the buzz of your TV and those mindless infomercials.
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.DJ Cousin Cole - “I’m On Fire” (Bad Desire Mix):
I cannot take credit for discovering this electronica-tinged, DJ Cousin Cole remixed cover version entirely. In fact, I stumbled upon this thanks to the good people over at QuickcritMusic and instantly took to the slower-paced, extended version (it’s twice as long!) that at first struck me as an instrumental but eventually proved me wrong. I was pleasantly surprised to hear they kept some of Bruce’s vocals and played up the guitar moreso than the original. In fact, I didn’t realize how gorgeous the waves of undulating guitar were until this DJ turned up the volume. This is the ultimately chill track you can leave on in the background or fall asleep listening to with your headphones. I have, and I do… and maybe you will, too.