Ryan Adams Covers "Panic" by The Smiths

Every month Ryan Adams releases a cover of one of his favourite (or, perhaps, otherwise) and this month's selection is "Panic".



Looking forward to reading the takes on this one.

 

[gashonthenail]

Not bad at all. I like cover versions that sound very little like the original and have the stamp of the cover artist rather than the original artist. Not sure about his use of the f word. Jars with the overall tone. Full marks for trying though. Not an easy song to cover.

 

[SteveWS]

I never understood the fuss about Panic's lyrics. It felt to me like a manufactured controversy, or else a journalist (Paolo Hewitt) - arguably wrongly - assuming that his personal conclusions about the lyrics were correct.

For me at least, the words 'Disco' and 'DJ' were associated in my mind with both black and white folks; not solely black, as Hewitt suggested or implied.

------

Paolo Hewitt wrote, in the NME:, "If Morrissey wants to have a go at Radio 1 and Steve Wright, then fine [but] when he starts using words like disco and DJ, with all the attendant imagery that brings up for what is a predominantly white audience, he is being imprecise and offensive."

 

[Redacted]

I never understood the fuss about Panic's lyrics. It felt to me like a manufactured controversy, or else a journalist (Paolo Hewitt) - arguably wrongly - assuming that his personal conclusions about the lyrics were correct.

For me at least, the words 'Disco' and 'DJ' were associated in my mind with both black and white folks; not solely black, as Hewitt suggested or implied.

------

Paolo Hewitt wrote, in the NME:, "If Morrissey wants to have a go at Radio 1 and Steve Wright, then fine [but] when he starts using words like disco and DJ, with all the attendant imagery that brings up for what is a predominantly white audience, he is being imprecise and offensive."

Right? I didn't know discos and djs are exclusively black. I never got the fuss over Panic either.

 

[Redacted]

I also wondered what was like to have Morrissey call you honey pie while thrusting his hips, but we can't have everything we want

 

[Ashley_TakeABow]

Every month Ryan Adams releases a cover of one of his favourite (or, perhaps, otherwise) and this month's selection is "Panic".



Looking forward to reading the takes on this one.

A bit boring as it goes on, but the first half gave me goosebumps. It was fun hearing it in this type of way.

 

[BookishBoy]

I never understood the fuss about Panic's lyrics. It felt to me like a manufactured controversy, or else a journalist (Paolo Hewitt) - arguably wrongly - assuming that his personal conclusions about the lyrics were correct.

For me at least, the words 'Disco' and 'DJ' were associated in my mind with both black and white folks; not solely black, as Hewitt suggested or implied.

------

Paolo Hewitt wrote, in the NME:, "If Morrissey wants to have a go at Radio 1 and Steve Wright, then fine [but] when he starts using words like disco and DJ, with all the attendant imagery that brings up for what is a predominantly white audience, he is being imprecise and offensive."

Completely agree: that never rang true to me, either. Yes, "disco music" was predominantly black, but when Morrissey sang "burn down the disco" literally the only thing that sprang to mind were tacky nightclubs that played chart/dance music to crowds of drunk, neurotypical young people who hated indie music and The Smiths in particular.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Completely agree: that never rang true to me, either. Yes, "disco music" was predominantly black, but when Morrissey sang "burn down the disco" literally the only thing that sprang to mind were tacky nightclubs that played chart/dance music to crowds of drunk, neurotypical young people who hated indie music and The Smiths in particular.

Exactly this.

 

[thejusticecode]

Ugh, people need to stop covering The Smiths and Morrissey. I wish I could buy this on CD so I could throw it in the trash.

 

[lazy_sunbather]

This is just fantastic.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

sounds like a parody. Comical, think SNL skit.

I do prefer when people do their own thing when covering a song, but IMO, this one fails.

Though, if he had a more interesting vocal tone… someone like John Cale w/piano could probably pull it off. Now, that, would be something to hear.

 

[celibate]

OK, its a live version, wish Ryan done it more acoustic ...and indeed lyrics did it... the F***'... did not do ok for me, let it as close as possible to the original. ***&half out of 5 stars.

Thanks Ryan for some music the Marr-Morrissey 42 years catfight gets laughable, oh...that was the main reason.

 

[NealCassidy]

pervert

 

[Johnnie Ray]

This song cuts like a knife (B)ryan Adams.

 

[Was I ever any good]

Probably the cover of any smiths or Mozz
Songs EVER.

 

[William Fisher]

This is something The Smiths never were. Boring.

 

[Phranc & Open]

Not my cup of tea, defregmenting it completely.

 

[Andy Rourke]

Does it sound good? - Sure. Is it still inspiring without Johnny's guitar? - It never is

 

[TheSmiths_1985]

Not bad at all. I like cover versions that sound very little like the original and have the stamp of the cover artist rather than the original artist. Not sure about his use of the f word. Jars with the overall tone. Full marks for trying though. Not an easy song to cover.

So that’s helpful.

 

[gonzax]

Completely agree: that never rang true to me, either. Yes, "disco music" was predominantly black, but when Morrissey sang "burn down the disco" literally the only thing that sprang to mind were tacky nightclubs that played chart/dance music to crowds of drunk, neurotypical young people who hated indie music and The Smiths in particular.

Well, like Johnny Marr said back in the day "there aren't many black members in New Order, right? and they make excellent disco music"
Personally I never associated disco music with black music. To me the song rings very true and I could totally relate to it every time I was in a disco and the DJ would play awful music, which was most of the time. I couldnt agree more with the "hand the DJ!" line, it's exactly like Morrissey sings it: "hang the blessed DJ because the music that they constantly play says nothing to me about my life"; there is nothing against black people here, it's just about a DJ playing meaningless music, no second meaning at all behind it IMO.