Neil Young Song Cover Database: 2016 Annual Report
Lately, there have been quite a few -- shall we say heated discussions -- over various trends ... ominous and not so ominous galactic trends.
But one of the most disturbing trends to emerge from 2016 is the over 40% drop in Neil Young cover songs.
According to the Neil Young Song Cover Database 2016 Annual Report (via Rusted Moon): only 23 cover versions found their way to an official album of another musician in the past year. By way of comparison, in 2015 there were 41 cover versions.
Notably in 2016, Norah Jones album "Day Breaks" covers Neil Young's "Don't Be Denied".
"Don't Be Denied"
Norah Jones w/ Neil Young
2016 Bridge School Benefit Concert
(watch Neil carefully @ ~4:15)
(watch Neil carefully @ ~4:15)
In terms of cover frequency, "Cinnamon Girl", "After The Gold Rush", "Heart Of Gold", "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and "Rockin' in the Free World" are consistently covered year after year.
The "only" good news is that the number of Neil Young cover versions of the current decade (from 2010 - present) has overtaken the 1990s. (See Figure #3.) The "golden years" for Neil Young cover songs remains the decade from 2000 to 2010, in which over 750 cover versions of the songs of Neil Young have appeared.
The seriousness of this trend is very troubling here in the editorial offices of Thrasher's Wheat Universal Headquarters. The lack of global protests and musicians uprising against their tyrannical "mis-management" overlords is clearly a signal that the beginning of the end of the beginning is near at hand. Hence, the continued vigilanace of The Citizen Thrasher's around the world to creatively separate the wheat from the chaff. Or the REAL from the Fake. Or The Truth from the Lie.
Good and bad news aside, we all must re-double our efforts to arrest this disturbing trend which emerged in 2016 and turn the tide in 2017 before it is too late. The future of Neil Young cover songs is in YOUR hands ... and hearts.
More statistical analysis on the Neil Young Song Cover Database 2016 Annual Report via Rusted Moon.
ps - "Numbers add up to nothing."
Labels: cover, neil young, songs
by thrasher@PermaLink: 2/04/2017 10:47:00 AM
3 comments
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3 Comments:
Nora y Eddie do a beautiful job covering Neil's songs.
Thrasher y Thrashette do a beautiful job covering all things Neil.
"...Never straight. Always forward!"
Muchas gracias! Y de nada!
I'm wondering if there's an analysis anywhere that compares the cover versions with the year that Neil wrote and/or released the original song. I was thrilled recently when a favorite band of mine (The Fawns) covered a Neil song. It was "Burned" -- a song that predates any of the band member births.
Also: I'm guessing, based on the performers involved, that Norah's "Don't Be Denied" began as a recording by one of her side projects (Puss'n'Boots). Here's they are performing "Down by the River."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyK5KoFHLro
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