Monday, July 11, 2011

Dylan Cover #19 Parkin' Meters Band "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by the Parkin' Meters Band of the Dylan tune "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)"

Thoughts on Dylan Original:
A layered and moving song, the real highlight on a mixed up Dylan album (Street Legal), "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)" is musically riveting and lyrically haunting.  Acoustic plucking, rolling drums and a forlorn trumpet color the tune musically while some straight ahead lyrics mix with the surreal and backup singers add "Oooh and Aaaah" behind the nasal delivery of the Bard.  Looking at the "Painted Wagon" and smelling the "Tail of the Dragon" are just two examples of bizarre lyrics that could pertain to nuclear war or something else entirely making it all even more enchanting.  A gorgeous music background with perplexing lyrics and a strong vocal performance...yup, I dig this one a ton.       
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
I don't have many thoughts on the Parkin' Meters Band as this is all that I know about them.  Unfortunately their website is in German and I only know a little German....
ahhh any day I can make a Top Secret! reference I am in heaven. 
Thoughts on Cover:
When the tune started rolling out I enjoyed it as "Senor..." can play excellently as a deep and moving tune and that is what the Parkin' Meter Band is going for.  Ms. Nina Widjaja doesn't overpower things with her excellent voice...at the start.  As the song progressed my taste for it soured, it went from powerful to over the top Broadway in my opinion.  The violins certainly added to this, as did Widjaja's increasingly dramatic vocals.  While it doesn't drag on very long (a plus) it does seem to try too hard for my tastes musically pandering, taking the sting out of the original.  If I had to guess I bet Wilson will dig this one...then again I thought he would like Tweedy's cover, so what do I know...

Grade: D
 
Wilson's Take:

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