Vice Versa

“There is a light that never goes out” Morrissey sings into my head. I work on, aware that the tune was familiar, from somewhere else? (I don’t listen to The Smiths that often, did they do cover versions??). I paused to listen to the lyrics. VERY familiar. Where had I heard it before?

Somewhere. Faster maybe? Something with more of a beat to it? But surely The Smiths wouldn’t have borrow the lyrics from another song, no no, it can’t be that.

Then it came to me. Erlend Øye used the lyrics on “There Silikon Soul remix” on the DJ Kicks album bearing his name. A split second later I realised that, of course, it was he who had used the lyrics from The Smiths song, not vice versa.

A most odd feeling that, when a newer track takes on higher precedence, in my own personal song rating system, than the original. Doesn’t happen often. In fact I don’t think it’s ever happened to me before. I knew, and liked, the Smiths song long before I’d even heard OF Erlend Øye let alone heard anything he’d done. Yet somehow, his use of the lyrics has completely obliterated any recollection of the original track. Until now.

It’s not like having just heard the original version of a song you only knew as a cover version (even though you didn’t realise it WAS a cover version until you heard the original) nor is it the same as hearing an existing song reworked into something completely new as, in that case, you still have the existing song in your head.

No, for some reason my brain had switched the association of the lyrics “Take me out tonight, cos I want to see people who are young and alive, driving in your car, please don’t drive me home, because it’s not my home, it’s their home…” to the new Erlend Øye track and it was a bit of a jolt to hear the original Smiths version. Most odd indeed.

Having re-read that, I’m not sure it even makes any sense but then, when have I ever bothered about that?

My point is this; sometimes, despite the fact you know the original version of something, it doesn’t mean that it can’t change and replace itself in your affections. In other words, things change, sometimes for the better, and whilst you never really forget the original you do put it to the back of your mind whilst embracing the new.

I’m sure there is a deeper meaning in there somewhere.