Love Will Tear Us Apart :: Joy Division

Today I'm following the example of the amazing and nifty Kim who blogs on this website on Thursdays. Namely, I'm gonna blog about the song "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division, but I'm including several covers that I enjoy.
First, a little bit about Joy Division. I know, I know many people are familiar with them, but bear with me. Joy Division formed in 1976 under the moniker Warsaw. Their music evolved out of punk rock, and they're credited with developing the beginnings of the post punk music of the 70s. They had released their debut album in 1979, entitled Unknown Pleasures, and started to be noticed by the British press. Unfortunately, Ian Curtis, lead singer suffered from epilepsy and severe depression. He also reportedly had a lot of issues in his marriage, and the song "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is said to reflect his frustration with that relationship. He committed suicide in the spring of 1980, one month after "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was released as a single. Ironically, this track was the first Joy Division song to chart in the UK, and was their most successful single. The other members of Joy Division went on to form the band New Order.

The first cover of the song I'm posting is by Susanna and the Magical Orchestra. The first time I heard this song I was confused because it seemed so familiar, but I couldn't place it. Then I realized it was a cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and was pretty astonished that Susanna was able to pull of such a stylistically different cover of the song. Then again, when you completely shift the musical style of the song, those tend to be the best covers.

The second cover is The Cure. This one has more subtle differences from the Joy Division version, but it is by The Cure and they do have a different style from Joy Division. And it's The Cure and they're neat.

Ok. So now the lyrics.

When the routine bites hard
And ambitions are low
And the resentment rides high
But emotions wont grow
And we're changing our ways,
Taking different roads
Then love, love will tear us apart again

Why is the bedroom so cold
Turned away on your side?
Is my timing that flawed,
Our respect run so dry?
Yet there's still this appeal
That we've kept through our lives
Love, love will tear us apart again

Do you cry out in your sleep
All my failings exposed?
Get a taste in my mouth
As desperation takes hold
How is it something so good
Just can't function no more?
When love, love will tear us apart again

Joy Division - The original version of the song. Hurray!


Susanna and the Magical Orchestra


The Cure

Knife :: Grizzly Bear

Keeping on the "bear" theme I started last week with Panda Bear, I have selected a Grizzly Bear tune for today: "Knife". Roar!

The twist?

Today we have one song, four ways: one original, one upbeat electropop cover, one experimentally ambient cover, and one hip hop infused remix.

I love finding/seeing/hearing/experiencing reinterpretations of things I dig. Appropriation, darling! We all do it, and when done cleverly, it can be fun and exciting. It can also be horrifying. But these reinterpretations all made me really pleased.

Let's start at the beginning. Grizzly Bear is a band out of Brooklyn. Although they've been around for years, I was just formally introduced to them a few months ago. This song is off their album Yellow House (2006), passed to me by my dear friend Amy. I already knew "Knife"; it is kind of an ubiquitous track. But listening to it on the album, it struck me differently and has become one of my current favorites. Then, I came across the cover by CSS. Turns out that this cover is featured on Grizzly Bear's EP Friend (2007), along with another one by Atlas Sound. Two solid, band approved covers? Holy buckets. Then, I came across a remix by Girl Talk. Oh, Girl Talk! Girl Talk rocks me...and so does this remix.

Okay, without further adieu, let the journey begin! Though I'm tempted to indulge myself, I'm going to save you a lengthy analysis of each one. Explore the similarities, intersections, and digressions for yourself, and enjoy the trip.

Lyrics:
i want you to know
when i look in your eyes
with every blow
comes another lie

you think its alright
you think its alright
you think its alright
you think its alright

can't you feel the knife?
can't you feel the knife?
can't you feel the knife?
can't you feel the knife?

The original by Grizzly Bear:

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The cover by CSS:

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The cover by Atlas Sound (I can't really get enough of this one):

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The kickin' Girl Talk remix (love it! brilliant!):

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How much fun was that?

Sunshine, ponies, and lollipops,
Kim