I agree it's a pretty corny song, but not even this version? The exception that proves the rule.
My father hates "California Dreamin'" and used to turn it off everytime it came on the radio. He said it reminded him of his days in the Army during Vietnam.
IMO California Dreamin' just seems like one of those songs mandatory for every disposable Miramax-ish crime movie made in the 90s, right along side the Animals version of "House of the Rising Sun" and "Summer in the City" (although i am still a sucker for the latter). but CD, i think it's been tritely used for so long that the song itself sounds bland to me.
Crinky, can you name one bad version of California Dreaming? I think I like them all.
It's not so much that I think it's an especially terrible song, or that I've heard especially terrible versions of it, so much as I could just totally do without it alltogether. It's just another bland 60's pop anthem. The versions I can deal with are OK despite the song.
you forgot the grandaddy of all the overcooked sixties standards: "little green apples." aint heard a version of this song ive liked YET. even if weird al yankovic did a parody version, it would still stink.
you forgot the grandaddy of all the overcooked sixties standards: "little green apples." aint heard a version of this song ive liked YET. even if weird al yankovic did a parody version, it would still stink.
...And that song about a cake in the rain with stripped pants.
you forgot the grandaddy of all the overcooked sixties standards: "little green apples." aint heard a version of this song ive liked YET. even if weird al yankovic did a parody version, it would still stink.
...And that song about a cake in the rain with stripped pants.
I like this one. Especially cheesy instrumentals and the Dusty Springfield original. But I can understand others distaste.
No co-sign. When done well, this song is beautiful. I don't know if I've ever heard a version of "California Dreamin" that didn't had me thinking corn syrup.
I aint a'feerd to admit that California Dreaming is one of my favorite songs, ever. Im talking about the OG, too. You can keep your soul versions, sir, ill take a helping of those insane MAP vocal harmonies anyday. The arrangement is pretty damn genius.
This is neither here nor there, but i feel similarly about the Theme from MASH. The intro - those strings, the medics running to the helicopter, alan alda, the california shrubbery - gets me all warm.
DocMcCoy"Go and laugh in your own country!" 5,917 Posts
How about 'The Look of Love'? *blech*
Oh, now I gotta chime in here before it starts to get real stupid.
There's at least two great covers without even mentioning the Dusty version; Gladys Knight & the Pips (the best version bar none, imho), and Isaac Hayes.
(UK-only bonus track) The Wild Bunch feat. Shara Nelson.
Personally, I've never liked the song. The arrangement isn't bad at all
which arrangement? there's been like 5-10 mentioned in this thread already
It's not a BAD song, but there's not really anything that great about it either. There's some really great versions of it but they have more to do with arrangement, performance, and/or production than the song itself.
"Wichita Lineman" I would argue is an ingenious song with some really interesting and unique things going on compositionally.
Bacharach- that guy was just a great songwriter. Really well written songs.
I aint a'feerd to admit that California Dreaming is one of my favorite songs, ever. Im talking about the OG, too. You can keep your soul versions, sir, ill take a helping of those insane MAP vocal harmonies anyday. The arrangement is pretty damn genius.
This is neither here nor there, but i feel similarly about the Theme from MASH. The intro - those strings, the medics running to the helicopter, alan alda, the california shrubbery - gets me all warm.
while i do love california dreaming, the theme from MASH, is one of the most depressing songs i would prefer to never hear again. along with the theme from Taxi.
something about both those songs is just super depressing to me, and theyre both instrumentals (although i have a vocal version of the mash theme on 45)
p.s. one of my favorite versions of california dreaming became the basis for my track 'soul 69'
the theme from MASH, is one of the most depressing songs i would prefer to never hear again
well no wonder, the lyrics to the vocal version are pro-suicide!
(and were supposedly written by a 13-year-old)
i always thought the "suicide is painless" lyrics were tongue in cheek and silly, just like the movie. they're not?
From WikkiPaedia:
"Suicide Is Painless" is a song written by Johnny Mandel (music) and Mike Altman (lyrics), which is best known for being featured as the theme song for both the movie and TV series M*A*S*H. Mike Altman was the son of the original film's director, Robert Altman, and was 14 years old when he composed the song's lyrics. On an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the 1980s, Robert Altman said that his son earned more than a million dollars for co-writing the song while he only made $70,000 for directing the movie.
The original phraseoloogy of the song goes like this: "Stopped into a church/I passed along the way/Well, I got down on my knees/And I pretend to pray/You know the preacher likes the cold/He knows I'm gonna stay"
Which is a pretty cold slap at religion, at that. Dude's just trying to keep warm, is all.
Comments
The exception that proves the rule.
Can't argue with that.
Nah, not even that one.
It's not so much that I think it's an especially terrible song, or that I've heard especially terrible versions of it, so much as I could just totally do without it alltogether. It's just another bland 60's pop anthem. The versions I can deal with are OK despite the song.
"California Soul" >>>>>>>>> "California Dreaming"
...And that song about a cake in the rain with stripped pants.
Ah..."MacArthur Park."
I like this one. Especially cheesy instrumentals and the Dusty Springfield original. But I can understand others distaste.
No co-sign. When done well, this song is beautiful. I don't know if I've ever heard a version of "California Dreamin" that didn't had me thinking corn syrup.
This is neither here nor there, but i feel similarly about the Theme from MASH. The intro - those strings, the medics running to the helicopter, alan alda, the california shrubbery - gets me all warm.
Oh, now I gotta chime in here before it starts to get real stupid.
There's at least two great covers without even mentioning the Dusty version; Gladys Knight & the Pips (the best version bar none, imho), and Isaac Hayes.
(UK-only bonus track) The Wild Bunch feat. Shara Nelson.
which arrangement? there's been like 5-10 mentioned in this thread already
It's not a BAD song, but there's not really anything that great about it either. There's some really great versions of it but they have more to do with arrangement, performance, and/or production than the song itself.
"Wichita Lineman" I would argue is an ingenious song with some really interesting and unique things going on compositionally.
Bacharach- that guy was just a great songwriter. Really well written songs.
About the number of times it played in Chungking Express - but I still love it.
Any chance you can dl the whole live record? Peace.
UMMMM......
IMG src=http://spaceage.streetnine.com/graphics/ellm.gif>
while i do love california dreaming, the theme from MASH, is one of the most depressing songs i would prefer to never hear again. along with the theme from Taxi.
something about both those songs is just super depressing to me, and theyre both instrumentals (although i have a vocal version of the mash theme on 45)
p.s. one of my favorite versions of california dreaming became the basis for my track 'soul 69'
well no wonder, the lyrics to the vocal version are pro-suicide!
(and were supposedly written by a 13-year-old)
haha, but i was talking about the instrumental version!
whats the title again? "suicide is painless" or something?
i always thought the "suicide is painless" lyrics were tongue in cheek and silly, just like the movie. they're not?
What about Ahmad Jamals cover of MASH?
dunno if i'd call it a facemelt, but it's definitely not your grandma's windmills of your mind...
dont know that one, but Bobby Hutcherson's is really nice
COMPARITIVELY facemelting...but really it was pretty facemelt the first time i heard it. shit is pretty ahead of its time.
From WikkiPaedia:
The original phraseoloogy of the song goes like this: "Stopped into a church/I passed along the way/Well, I got down on my knees/And I pretend to pray/You know the preacher likes the cold/He knows I'm gonna stay"
Which is a pretty cold slap at religion, at that. Dude's just trying to keep warm, is all.