Tune du Jour: “Personality Crisis” – New York Dolls
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Billy Carter vs. Sonic Youth vs. Teenage Fan Club feat Donna Matthews
VOTE, COMMENT, then BUY SOMETHING FUNKY BUT CHIC
CoverMeImpressed.com CoverMeImpressed.com CoverMeImpressed.com
Everybody’s Dressin’ Funny … Cover Me Impressed!
The Original
New York Dolls:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Billy Carter vs. Sonic Youth vs. Teenage Fan Club feat Donna Matthews
Billy Carter:
Well this is patently unfair but I could not decide whether I liked Billy Carter’s acoustic or electric version of Personality Crisis better. So I’m offering up both.
Acoustic:
Electric (Sound quality is not very good but the performance still shines!):
Sonic Youth:
Teenage Fan Club featuring Donna Matthews:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 
Amazing – for two females from South Korea who call themselves Billy Carter, this song has to be their theme song. What Hey Hey We’re the Monkeys was to the Monkeys, a song titled Personality Crisis is to Billy Carter. It remains to be seen whether or not Billy Carter gets their own Saturday morning cartoon series. Sonic Youth’s version is yet another contribution to a catalog of music that has us once again scratching our heads and wondering why exactly were these guys so popular 25 years ago. Teenage Fanclub/Donna Matthews get no extra credit for creativity. But at least they executed very well and seemed to capture the spirit of the song. They get my vote.
When I was working for the SUNY Binghamton Concert Commission, I got to work backstage during a concert. It was Dave Mason, with David Johansen opening. I never saw Dave Mason (nor did I want to), but I got to meet and actually play frisbee with David Johansen. There was some event on campus where they were giving out frisbees, and I grabbed a bunch. David Johansen asked if he could have a few to toss out into the audience, so I gave him some. We tossed one around in the big dressing room. I also had brought my copy of “In Too Much Too Soon” with me, and he signed it. Anyway… I saw “Billy Carter” and thought for a second that it would be pretty unlikely that President Carter’s alcoholic hick dead brother had recorded this song before he died, although two South Korean girls covering the song under that moniker is nearly as unlikely. And yet. Admirable version, I must say. I’m in agreement with Cuspid about Sonic Youth. After hearing years of accolades, I went out and bought Daydream Nation, their supposed masterpiece. I was underwhelmed. I also bought Dirty, based on hearing one song of theirs on alternative radio at the time (can’t remember what song, even) and figuring again, there must be something there, given the raves the band gets, but once again, I just didn’t get it. This totally lifeless version of a very upbeat song similarly has me perplexed. Did the band all drink a bucket of Nyquil before hitting the stage? I was yawning before the first chorus hit. Teenage Fanclub do the song the way it should be done. Not stellar, but at least I detected a pulse in the band members.
I enjoyed Sonic Youth’s low-energy interpretation, loved Donna Matthews & Teenage Fan Club’s high-energy rant yet voted for Billy Carter. I’m hoping my vote was not based solely on on how adorable the pair are. It is a shame that the sound quality is poor on their electric version. I think it might have bettered DM&TFC, although, it is really hard to say. And I am a lover of acoustic versions of rockers so the also enjoyed that version..