Latest criminal ripoff of 80s: Julio Iglesias CD
Julio Iglesias has a new CD out. (Who cares?) It's full of covers of some of our most beloved 80s classics. (Blasphemy!)
It pains me to even report this news. I was minding my own business this morning, watching "Tora Tora Tora" on TV when an infomercial for his "Romantic Classics" CD broke the bad news to me. And I thought Paul Anka's pillaging of 80s tunes last year was the last of the great war crimes.
Some of the Julio's covers: Wham!'s "Careless Whispers," The Car's "Drive," and two tunes from Foreigner -- Waiting for a Girl Like You and I Want To Know What Love Is.
How do they sound? Check it out on his website. It's like a skit on Saturday Night Live. Personally, I don't care if he rips off every Foreigner song in the book -- I'm no big fan of their 80s work. But reworking "Drive" is akin to Madonna crucifying herself in the Sistine Chapel on Good Friday. (Oh, please, don't pass that suggestion on to her, unless you're sure they'll finally arrest her.)
Someone ought to tell Julio that "Drive" isn't a love song. Maybe Ric Ocasek could show up on his doorstep one night, break down his door and force him to actually read the lyrics. In the meantime, I'll have to find a safer channel to watch on Sunday mornings.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
I liked Paul Anka's CD. I couldn't figure out the lyrics to Smells Like Teen Spirit until I heard Paul Anka's version, and now I can sing along to Nirvana with actual words instead of just slurred sounds together, so I thank him for that (I know, that's not an 80s song, but still). Plus Eye of the Tiger was great.
I haven't heard Julio Iglesias' album yet and I'd like to keep it that way.
Posted by: Nabila | September 18, 2006 at 11:20 PM
yuck
Posted by: L | September 18, 2006 at 09:36 PM
I've heard songs from both CDs and they're both difficult to listen to. Though I think we gave Paul Anka a little more latitude.
Posted by: Steve Spears | September 18, 2006 at 04:04 AM
Yep, Carla, Episode #2, IIRC.
Posted by: Producer Dave | September 17, 2006 at 11:42 PM
Didn't you guys do a show on Paul Anka doing the same thing. What are they thinking?? I believe I'd buy Paul's cd before Julio.
Posted by: Carla | September 17, 2006 at 10:16 PM
...to all the songs I've destroyed before...
Julio covering Careless Whisper? Even George Michael would say that was gay.
Posted by: Bassnote | September 17, 2006 at 08:06 PM