Apr 272011
Although this is nowhere near as much to deal with as what we dealt with last time, I found this clip a bit…challenging. Maybe part of it has to do with being a fan of The Band and never considering “It Makes No Difference” to lend itself to a solo dance performance. I eventually came to terms with it. How about you?
Probably was the cheapest option they came up with at the time. At least Tom isn’t doing any interpretive dance moves. Not that I think this is good, or anything…and I like The Mekons a lot.This Band cover pales in comparison to their raucous cover of “The Shape I’m In”. No strong feeling, one way or another….and there didn’t seem to be much on their end, either. Forgettable, but forgivable (for me, at least).
The unbuttoned cuffs with a sports coat is a different look. Not a good look, but a look.
Also, as uninteresting and awkward as it is, I wouldn’t really call what he’s doing a “solo dance performance”. He’s just kind of swaying to the music as he lip syncs the song…not really bustin’ any “moves”, per se. Still, I have to wonder why they even bothered.
He’s dancing. Solo. DEAL WITH IT! 🙂
Okay, okay…so, he’s dancing. Solo. Again, at least it isn’t an interpretive dance performance.
I never got into the Mekons much – they’re a marginally interesting band whom I never felt compelled to investigate beyond what I heard on college radio. Not a particularly imaginative cover of the Band song, is it? As for the video, while not as openly “idiot-arty” as Thom Yorke, the best that can be said for this guy is that he’s not self-conscious. I have to wonder, though – is he doing a parody of “clueless white guy” dancing? Or is it the Happy Mondays’ Bez after doing a handful of downs?
My guess is that it’s a parody of the famous Rick Astley video for Never Gonna Give You Up. That was in 1987, and this Mekons track is from 1990.
I’ve always thought this was the most over-rated Band song ever. The harmony singing on the chorus is beautiful, but lead vocal is overwrought mugging, and the lyrics are just awful.
I have 20 Mekons albums, and now I have to get the live one with The Shape I’m In on it. Thanks.
The song – not their best effort. I’m forever a fan of “So Good It Hurts” so can’t write it off entirely. The dance – I’ve seen 6th grade boys dance better than that. Given the Mekons’ love of Americana, I’m guessing this is some subtle dig at American dance crap of the time, but I’m liking BigSteve’s Rick Astley hypothesis.
Steve, it’s on the live ROIR release, “New York – On The Road ’86 – ’87” – never did a studio version as far as I know. Here’s a link with the CD info:
http://www.roir-usa.com/8269.htm