Dance The Night Away

Sometimes a song shouldn't be covered, and if it is great care should be taken.  Case in point, Santana's cover of 'Dance the Night Away' from Van Halen 2.  I could take the easy route and just say it sucks and be done with it but for me it goes beyond that.  A cover should bring something new to the table.  Spin it in a different direction, off course if you will.  You should still hear the original intent but why not push it a bit.  


The cover on the album 'Strummin' with the Devil' is an example.  I'll admit I'm not totally in love with this version either but at least they re-interpreted it a bit. 


When it comes to Santana, I'm starting to get a little disappointed in some of the choices made in the twilight of his career.  He seems to be content with noodling over top of other peoples music and cashing the cheques.  The music he made early in his career ranks up there with some of the all time classic rock songs.  Now, not so much. He has instead decided to cover others peoples songs.  And while I applaud the idea of making a cover album of great guitar rock songs, there really should be a 'parachute clause' built into the process where if what is coming out of the speakers sucks everyone involved should stop before anymore damage is done.  For those of you that haven't heard it here is a link:


http://www.vhnd.com/2010/09/19/santanas-cover-of-dance-the-night-away/


I won't post it on here because, well, I don't like so it has no business on this blog.


This is the Stummin version:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7XHoncmCd0&p=014FCCBAF3257C32&playnext=1&index=1

Now in an effort to cleanse here is the orig...

Now that is how it should be done.  The covers can now drift away into obscurity please.