Superstar
Original Artist: Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Cover Versions by The Carpenters, Sonic Youth
Okay. This is rather embarrassing, okay not rather but really. I found out about the original artist of this song only YESTERDAY! I tried to find details of this song, I looked into Wikipedia then, lo and behold, this is the first paragraph of Wikipedia’s article for this song: “‘Superstar’ is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell that has been a hit for many artists in different genres and interpretations in the years since; the best known version is by The Carpenters in 1971.” What?! It wasn't The Carpenters?!
Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett were husband-and-wife members of Delaney Bonnie & Friends ensemble. This group existed from 1967–1972, and along the way, they collaborated and became important influence to many great musicians (such as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, King Curtis, etc). "Delaney taught me everything I know about singing," said Clapton. Delaney was also acknowledged as the one who taught George Harrison learned slide.
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends' version of the song is entitled Groupie (Superstar) and was released in 1969 as a B-side to the single "Comin' Home". Eric Clapton was mentioned in the single’s credit. As the title says, this song is about how a groupie got so crazy about his superstar idol. As simple as that. But the song itself is far from simple. It is an extraordinary and everlasting one.
The Carpenters was the one who responsible in making this song a big hit when they released it as a single in 1971. Richard was the one who made the whole musical arrangement in this song (and any other Carpenters’ songs). It’s another proof that he’s truly a genius. He brought in specific instruments (like oboe) to match Karen’s vocal character (a “clear contralto” according to Wikipedia). In Superstar, Karen’s voice is… Man, just listen to it in each verse. Her voice is like…melancholically resonating in the air. (I wanna call it haunting, but Wikipedia already uses it.) Before it soars in the chorus. Simply beautiful.
Now, we come to the second cover version (which I meant to be the CHOSEN ONE before I found out about the original artist). Sonic Youth is a noise-rock band from New York. The members are Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals, noises) Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, screams, noises), Lee Ranaldo (lead guitar, vocals, noises), and Steve Shelley (drums, percussions, noises), plus a lattest member Mark Ibold (bass, guitar). It’s a noise-rock band! They made their version as part of If I Were a Carpenter (a tribute album) which was released in 1994, and later on, their version became part of Juno Soundtrack in 2007. In their version, Sonic Youth offers a “different translation” of the melancholy of the song. Moore’s gentle vocal, the low piano hits in every end of the verse, the dark and grungy guitar distortion, and also the synthesizer effects, all of those build a perfect atmosphere for the solitary and longing sense of the lyrics. Absolutely an awesome cover!
Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett were husband-and-wife members of Delaney Bonnie & Friends ensemble. This group existed from 1967–1972, and along the way, they collaborated and became important influence to many great musicians (such as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, King Curtis, etc). "Delaney taught me everything I know about singing," said Clapton. Delaney was also acknowledged as the one who taught George Harrison learned slide.
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends' version of the song is entitled Groupie (Superstar) and was released in 1969 as a B-side to the single "Comin' Home". Eric Clapton was mentioned in the single’s credit. As the title says, this song is about how a groupie got so crazy about his superstar idol. As simple as that. But the song itself is far from simple. It is an extraordinary and everlasting one.
The Carpenters was the one who responsible in making this song a big hit when they released it as a single in 1971. Richard was the one who made the whole musical arrangement in this song (and any other Carpenters’ songs). It’s another proof that he’s truly a genius. He brought in specific instruments (like oboe) to match Karen’s vocal character (a “clear contralto” according to Wikipedia). In Superstar, Karen’s voice is… Man, just listen to it in each verse. Her voice is like…melancholically resonating in the air. (I wanna call it haunting, but Wikipedia already uses it.) Before it soars in the chorus. Simply beautiful.
Now, we come to the second cover version (which I meant to be the CHOSEN ONE before I found out about the original artist). Sonic Youth is a noise-rock band from New York. The members are Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals, noises) Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, screams, noises), Lee Ranaldo (lead guitar, vocals, noises), and Steve Shelley (drums, percussions, noises), plus a lattest member Mark Ibold (bass, guitar). It’s a noise-rock band! They made their version as part of If I Were a Carpenter (a tribute album) which was released in 1994, and later on, their version became part of Juno Soundtrack in 2007. In their version, Sonic Youth offers a “different translation” of the melancholy of the song. Moore’s gentle vocal, the low piano hits in every end of the verse, the dark and grungy guitar distortion, and also the synthesizer effects, all of those build a perfect atmosphere for the solitary and longing sense of the lyrics. Absolutely an awesome cover!
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