Episode Summary
This week we're discussing some of our favorite cover songs. We know that some covers are better than others, so join us as we listen to a few. For the best experience, listen to the They Reminisce Over You - Music + Talk Edition. That way you can listen with the playlist baked into the episode. Otherwise, listen on your podcast service of choice and manually play the songs from the regular Spotify playlist, linked in the show notes.
Transcript
Christina: Welcome back to They Reminisce Over You. I’m Christina.
Miguel: And I’m Miguel.
Christina: In today’s episode, we’re going to do something a little different again.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: We’re gonna be talking about cover songs. So if you are a fan of hip-hop, R&B, the way we are, a lot of these songs sound familiar because they are often samples or remakes.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: So today we’re going to take a closer look and actually compare some of these original versions versus the cover versions and decide which ones we like better.
Miguel: And you guys can follow along and let us know which ones you like better as well.
Christina: So you have two options for following along. You can just pull up the playlist, which we will have linked in the show notes, or you can listen to...
Miguel: The Anchor version of They Reminisce Over You. It’s called, They Reminisce Over You Music and Talk Edition. You can search for it on Spotify or Anchor. So with that said, we can just get right into it.
Christina: Let's do it.
Miguel: So the first one we’re going to talk about—
Christina: [bing bing] That’s my boxing ring sound effect.
Miguel: Alright. If you say so. So the first song that we’re going to talk about, because we brought it up in one of our previous episodes about Sir Mix-A-Lot, is a song called "Swass." It was on his first album. It’s the title track from his first album. And it was redone, or sampled by someone from Atlanta named Tori Alamaze or Alamaze. I don’t know how to pronounce her name. I’ve never known. I’m going with Alamaze ’cause it sounds fancy.
Christina: Alright, pinkies up.
Miguel: Yes. it was a song called "Don’t Cha." So it was released in 2004 and in 2005 it was re-recorded and re-released by The Pussycat Dolls. So we’re going to get into those songs and we’re going to listen to them right now and then come back and talk to you about what we think about the songs. Okay?
Christina: Okay.
Miguel: Alright.
[music break]
Miguel: Alright. So that was the first song "Swass" by Sir Mix-A-Lot. First thoughts?
Christina: I didn’t even know the song existed until yout told me about it... mmmmm....I don’t know, a few years ago? Semi-recently. Recently in the sense that this song came out like, ’88.
Miguel: Yeah.
Christina: It’s silly.
Miguel: It is.
Christina: But I like it.
Miguel: It’s very silly.
Christina: And it’s very ’80s.
Miguel: Yeah.
Christina: But just like, it feels very fun.
Miguel: It is.
Christina: So, it’s very fun, it’s very infectious, and I like it.
Miguel: And like we said on the episode we talked about Mix-A-Lot, "Swass" doesn’t even mean anything. He said that he used to work at like, an arcade and one of the pinball machines made a sound and it kinda sounded like "Swass." So he was like, Swass. And then he made up an acronym afterwards, which really doesn’t make any sense because he said it was "some wild ass silly shit."
Christina: That don’t make any—like don’t you wish your boyfriend was—
Miguel: Some wild ass silly shit. Yeah. It doesn’t make any sense, but alright, we, we’re going to go with it.
Christina: The only thing is I wish I had heard this song before I heard The Pussycat Dolls because I can’t unhear The Pussycat Dolls.
Miguel: Yeah, well, it was the opposite for me. It was like, who would sample this? Of all the songs in the world CeeLo chose "Swass." Alright.
Christina: I don't know.
Miguel: I don't know why, but...
Christina: The mind of creatives.
Miguel: Basically. And that goes to what we said in the last episode. He’s not a one hit wonder because who would think to sample this one?
Christina: CeeLo.
Miguel: Exactly. Alright. So we’re going to listen to Tori’s version of "Don’t Cha" before we get into The Pussycat Dolls.
[music break]
Miguel: Okay. So we’ve listened to the first version of "Don’t Cha." What are your impressions of it? First of all, have you heard that version before?
Christina: I actually did.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: ’Cause the first time I heard I’m like, what is this?
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: And then, when I heard The Pussycat Dolls, I’m like, this song again?
Miguel: Right.
Christina: So my first impression of it was, I thought it was kind of weird.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: Because, I don’t even know. I think it was just cause it was so... I don’t know how to describe it. She’s like, "I know you DO!" Just it’s so like, it’s so saucy. Like, I don’t know what it is. It’s so, uh, like the way she emphasizes the words. It’s just so... I don’t know, it just kinda threw me off. I was like, what is this? And she’s like, "I know you DO!" "Don't Chaaaa, Don't Chaaaaa." So I was like, what is this, right? That "Don’t Cha" always threw me off. It sounds very like, strip club?
Miguel: Yes.
Christina: Or, I mean, burlesque, which I guess I don’t want to talk about Pussycat Dolls too much just yet, but I mean, it makes sense. It’s funny knowing "Swass" now, that they took this kind of like, goofy party song and made it like a sexy...saucy, sexy song.
Miguel: Yeah. The first time I heard it, it used to get played on Power 106 in LA, and I really didn’t think much of it. And as you know, I have friends who are DJs. So when I was working on cruise ships and one of them left a CD that had this on it. So I would listen to it because I obviously couldn’t listen to the radio, because we’re in the middle of the ocean. And I would listen to this one over and over again, because it was in the mix CD. And then I’m at home like a year later. And just like you, I hear it on the radio again. It’s like, why is this song still being played so much a year later? And then I come to find out that it’s not her but The Pussycat Dolls who had redone it.
Christina: Yeah, I'm pretty sure I’ve had only ever heard this version once. I remember I was in the car. I don’t know why I remember this so specifically, cause I just remember hearing it like probably on the radio if I was in the car and I was just like, what is this?
Miguel: ’Cause, it’s not like—
Christina: And then I just kinda forgot about it.
Miguel: Even though it was being played on the radio is not like it was a hit. So that’s why I was confused that a year later it’s still being played on the radio, but at a much higher rate. It didn’t make any sense to me. And then I found out why. So, now we’re going to get into Pussycat Dolls.
[music break]
Miguel: Okay. So that was The Pussycat Dolls version of "Don’t Cha."
Christina: That we just listened to.
Miguel: That we just finished and they added Busta Rhymes to it. The production is a little more fuller than the original and you can hear CeeLo's vocals a little bit clearer in this version rather than the other version.
Christina: I couldn’t pick him out specifically, but, I was thinking that the original version could have benefited from having some background singers. 'Cause when she sang the chorus, it just sounded hollow or at least have her record background...
Miguel: Right.
Christina: Like more layers or something because it sounded really hollow.
Miguel: Yeah. Well, the reason you didn’t hear it is because I chose the wrong version for us to listen to.
Christina: Of CeeLo? With The Pussycat Dolls.
Miguel: With CeeLo being more prominent on the background vocals. Whereas this one you can hear, like, I assume the other Pussycat Dolls.
Christina: Yes. I can hear them. That’s what I think makes it sound a little fuller as we were saying.
Miguel: Yeah. And I can’t pick out any of their voices because I only know Nicole and Melody. So I don’t know whose voices on the background vocals and whatnot. So, what was your impression of this version?
Christina: Well, what’s interesting is cause, I mean, I know this one the best.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: And it’s interesting listening to this one and the original one back to back because I don’t listen to Pussycat Dolls or Nicole S. So I don’t know what her singing style is like.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: But it’s almost like, like she’s sang it exactly the way, uh...
Miguel: That Tori did.
Christina: Tori sang it. Like, you know how singers will have their own inflections or just ways of singing? But she sang it basically as if Tori was the demo backing—like, many songwriters will record a demo track. So that, or a reference track as they call it so that you know what it’s supposed to sound like.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: But like, most singers will put their own spin on it. But Nicole sounds exactly like her.
Miguel: Which is why I was confused when I heard this on the radio. I was like, what’s going on here?
Christina: Because they even have like a similar tone too. Not only that she was singing it in the same style, but like, their voices are very similar too. So The Pussycat Dolls now, knowing that this other song exists and hearing it back to back, all it does is just sounds like a better produced version of Tori. And Busta Rhymes is on it.
Miguel: Yeah. We’ve added Busta Rhymes to it. Yeah. I was confused because, okay, I hear the song played on the radio and then whoever the DJ was at the time said The Pussycat Dolls. And I was confused as shit because at the time The Pussycat Dolls weren’t a group, at least in my mind. So we’re talking from 2001 to 2004 or five in this range. I only knew them as a burlesque group that performed in Hollywood. They weren’t doing anything musical. They were just known for celebrities randomly doing burlesque with The Pussycat Dolls. Like the one that stands out in my mind is Christina Aguilera performed with them for a while. I saw them perform once it was eh, but it’s one of those things where something blows up in Hollywood and everybody's like, ooh, is this the next best thing. And then a year later it’s like, The Pussycat Dolls are making music? Like, this makes no sense. Why are The Pussycat Dolls making music? Don’t they just stand on stage and grind around in lingerie?
Christina: Well, they still did that.
Miguel: They did.
Christina: But while singing now.
Miguel: Now they’re singing. I was confused as hell.
Christina: Yeah.
Miguel: And I didn’t get it, but here we are.
Christina: Wasn’t that their first single as like, a singing group?
Miguel: Yeah.
Christina: Okay.
Miguel: Which just added to the confusion. I’m like, I’ve heard this song—
Christina: Such a random song to cover.
Miguel: A year ago and now you’re telling me that a burlesque troupe is on the radio? Like, none of this makes any sense. And I didn’t understand it.
Christina: How far apart was it between The Pussycat Dolls and Tori’s version?
Miguel: It was like a year.
Christina: It's kind of strange
Miguel: If it was even a full year.
Christina: I feel like there’s some, some story behind that.
Miguel: I’m sure there has to be. But yeah, they just somehow decided that we’re going to make these dancers into singers. 'Cause I don’t think any of the girls who were in the singing group ever performed in the burlesque troupe.
Christina: I don't know.
Miguel: Me neither. But that’s "Don’t Cha" versus "Swass" by Sir Mix-A-Lot.
Christina: Yeah.
Miguel: So of the three songs that we listened to, which one is your favorite?
Christina: You know what? It’s hard to say because I did not like The Pussycat Dolls / Tori version when I first heard it. Cause I just thought it was...weird. I don’t know. Whereas I liked "Swass" right away, but then I think I was already primed—
Miguel: Which is funny.
Christina: I was primed to like it, because by that point I’d heard "Don't Cha" a million times and it had grown on me. So I don't know. Because I like "Swass." I kind of like it for just being silly.
Miguel: Because it’s so cheesy, and very 80's?
Christina: Yeah. It’s cheesy in a way that I actually like.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: Because it still feels silly when they kinda like made the song sexy, but it was catchy.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: But I think that’s still, that "Don't Chaaaa," it just still feels funny to me. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something just funny about it to me. Whereas "Swass," I think is supposed to be kind of funny.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: So I’m going to go with that.
Miguel: Me too. I’m going with "Swass" only because I heard it first. And I had almost 20 years of knowing the song before I heard Tori or The Pussycat Dolls.
Christina: But The Pussycat Dolls has the best production. So it sounds the best.
Miguel: It’s not even close. That one definitely sounds the best, but I, my favorite is the Sir Mix-A-Lot one because it’s so completely ridiculous. Don’t you wish your boyfriend was "Swass" like me?
Christina: Yeah. It’s silly.
Miguel: That means nothing, man.
Christina: And even just the cadence of how he’s rapping and stuff.
Miguel: Yeah.
Christina: It’s just, it’s very ’80s.
Miguel: It is.
[music break]
Miguel: Alright. So we’re going to move on to Tame Impala, "New Person, Same Old Mistakes." And the cover by Rihanna, "Same Old Mistakes." Alright. So first up is Tame Impala, and we’re going to listen to it right now.
[music break]
Miguel: Okay. So that was "New Person, Same Old Mistakes" by Tame Impala. Your thoughts on that song?
Christina: Well, I’m not going to lie. I’m a little closed minded when it comes to my musical interests. I like what I like, and I don’t really stray too often.
Miguel: I’m aware.
Christina: So it’s rare that I listen to much outside of R&B and hip-hop or even like, pop.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: Well, I guess they’re kind of pop—anyways, that’s a long way of me saying I’ve never heard of Tame Impala before. Before Rihanna’s cover. But when I heard her cover and realized that wasn’t an original song, I was curious. So I looked them up and I was like, oh, I could get with this. It’s very, uh, [etheral]? Is that, is that how you say the word?
Miguel: Ethereal.
Christina: Ethereal? Yeah, it makes me feel like I’m floating.
Miguel: I can see that.
Christina: So I do really like this song, but again, I think because the genre...even though hers basically sounds exactly the same, I don’t know if maybe it’s his voice that makes it sound, you know, not of the typical music that I listen to. So I do like it, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to it.
Miguel: Okay. Well, I hadn’t heard of it until you were playing the Rihanna version and then you told me that it was a cover and same thing. I went back and listened to this one.
Christina: Oh, actually, sorry. Before I forget. The reason why I even found out it was a cover is because Atlanta played the Tame Impala version in one of their promos[1]. Because when I first heard the music come in, I was like, ah Rihanna! And then I was like, who's this?
Miguel: And then it was a different voice.
Christina: So that’s how I discovered that.
Miguel: Yeah. Listening to it right now is the first time I’ve listened to that much of it. And, like I said, when you told me it was a cover, that’s when I kind of checked it out for the first time, then. But, still really didn’t grab me.
Christina: Yeah.
Miguel: But I’ve heard you play the Rihanna version several times, so—
Christina: Kind of a fan.
Miguel: I’m more familiar with that one. And we’re going to listen to that one right now.
[music break]
Miguel: Alright. So that was "Same Old Mistakes" by Rihanna.
Christina: It’s funny that she changed the title ever so slightly because the song is like, exactly the same.
Miguel: Hey, she had to differentiate between theirs and hers.
Christina: I don’t know...you could tell me if you heard it too, or if it’s just my head, but hearing it back to back like that, I feel like her version may have bumped up the bass a little bit, or...
Miguel: Um, I can’t say...because—
Christina: It felt a little more like, it just felt like a little less dreamy, a little more hard hitting. It still is.
Miguel: Yeah, I can see what you're saying.
Christina: I don’t know how to describe it.
Miguel: Now that you put it that way. Yeah.
Christina: Because their version was very floating on the water.
Miguel: Right. Whereas hers is—
Christina: Hers is still like that too, but you can, I can see myself like cruising down the street, slowly in a car at least.
Miguel: I can see it. I see where you’re going with that. Yeah. I can’t say that I’m a huge Rihanna fan.
Christina: Yep. Boooooo.
Miguel: But I actually liked it. I know. You're going to boo. And other people who are listening are probably booing me and giving me the finger too. That’s okay. But I actually like this song.
Christina: Yeah, it’s funny that I love this song so much. And then the Tame Impala I’m like, meh. Even though, like I said, it’s like almost exactly the same.
Miguel: I like their version too but I like Rihanna's a little bit better.
Christina: Yeah. I do like their version, but again, I don’t know what it is. I just wouldn’t really listen to that again, like, on purpose.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: Like if it came on, I’m not going to be like, turn that shit off, put Rihanna on. But... Because I actually found, uh, someone did a mashup of both versions[2] and it sounds good together. Because she sings it so closely to how they sing it too, that it just sounds like, you know, they’re just kind of singing together.
Miguel: I’m going to have to look that up.
Christina: Yeah. I’ve totally forgot about that until just now. But definitely check it out. But it’s kind of like what I was saying about Nicole... Scherzinger... And it could be because I’m just not familiar with her as a singer.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: How I saying that like, it seems that she’s singing "Don’t Cha" exactly the way Tori did. But even though... I find that Rihanna, her sound and the way she sings does change to match the songwriters.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: So like, her voice sounds different here than it would in "Work" for example, right? But there’s something so Rihanna about her voice still.
Miguel: Yeah.
Christina: That even though she’s singing it basically exactly the way Tame Impala does, it sounds like Rihanna.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: And whatever that "it" is, I just love. Cause you know I’m a huge Rihanna fan.
Miguel: I'm aware.
Christina: So... And I guess this sound was also very different, that we hadn’t heard something like this from Rihanna before, when this was released. So I was like, I really like this kind of like mellow little sound here. So this was actually one of my favorite songs off of this album.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: So it’s clear which one I liked better, I would say.
Miguel: Yes. And you should embrace it because that’s the last Rihanna album you're ever going to get.
Christina: I know! Well, it’s fine. If this is the last album, I can’t complain because this is like my favorite Rihanna album and also one of my favorite albums, period.
[music break]
Miguel: Alright. So we're going to move on to the next song. It’s Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew featuring MC Ricky D aka Slick Rick. It’s called "La Di Da Di."
Christina: "We likes to party."
Miguel: Yes.
[music break]
Miguel: Okay. So that was "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick.
Christina: Yes.
Miguel: Thoughts on that one?
Christina: Well, I knew of this song, but since it was 1985, a little bit before my time.
Miguel: It was. You were six.
Christina: I was six.
Miguel: And living in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Christina: Yes. And my older sisters were not listening to Slick Rick. Or Doug E. Fresh. So I had no idea what this song was until... I dunno later. So I don’t remember when I became aware of it. But I knew it existed. But that’s probably the most I’ve ever listened to it.
Miguel: Okay. We should have listened to all of it then.
Christina: Yeah. After. But I like it. I have to say, I really enjoy, sort of like the rhythmic nature of '80s rap.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: It’s funny because, you know, when we see like old videos and old pictures of how New York was in the '80s. Especially like, you know, some of the less affluent areas, shall we say. It looked like a goddamn war zone.
Miguel: It did.
Christina: Like, there’s literally just crumbling buildings everywhere and stuff. Right?
Miguel: There's always something on fire.
Christina: Yeah. But the music is so whimsical. I mean, I guess you kind of have to like, find joy where you can, right? But it’s so like fun and whimsical and stuff. I mean, I guess—yeah, for the most part, most of '80s rap more party music. Right?
Miguel: Yeah, a few—
Christina: "The Message," I guess that...
Miguel: That was one of a few that were like, ugh, Debbie Downer.
Christina: Yeah.
Miguel: But for the most part, even when we watch all these documentaries talking about the early days of hip-hop and whatnot, you always see them at a party. It’s always a jam in the park or partying in a school gymnasium or something.
Christina: Right.
Miguel: They were all having fun. And this kind of went along with it. Like, you got a dude rapping and a guy beat boxing, and that’s all you need.
Christina: 'Cause it’s just, it’s very whimsical and infectious. Where you just like, you just kind of want to party and have fun, right? So I definitely like it, but I kind of feel like that Spice Adams little video sketch that you sent me where he discovers Mary J. Blige used a sample.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: So in the video, he’s listening to what he thinks is a Mary J. Blige song, but it’s actually...
Miguel: Barry White.
Christina: Barry White, which she sampled. And he kept waiting for the song to come in[3], like her part. And that’s kind of how I felt when I kept listening to this, because I’m familiar with Snoop’s, which we’ll listen to after this. So I kind of kept waiting for the "la di da di" and I’m like, why is he still beatboxing? So I'm just sitting here just like, waiting, waiting for the part that I know.
Miguel: And then he finally got into it.
Christina: He finally got into it.
Miguel: So with that said, let’s listen to "Lodi Dodi" from Snoop’s Doggystyle album.
[music break]
Miguel: Okay. So that was "Lodi Dodi" by Snoop Doggy Dogg, as he was known at the time. The thing with Snoop’s version is, you really don’t get covers in hip-hop.
Christina: Right.
Miguel: Because rappers are very territorial when it comes to their lyrics and other people’s lyrics and being accused of stealing people’s lyrics.
Christina: Or not writing their own rhymes.
Miguel: Or not writing their own. So this is the first cover that I can recall ever hearing. And he did a good job with it. He wasn’t disrespectful and changed too much of it. It was pretty much almost word for word what Slick Rick said. He changed a few things to fit the Dogg Pound and him. And of course the difference is you have an actual beat behind it instead of Doug E. Fresh beatboxing.
Christina: Right.
Miguel: So with that, what’d you think of this version?
Christina: Well, this version is much less whimsical.
Miguel: It is.
Christina: And it is very west coast, '90s.
Miguel: Yeah.
Christina: It’s that signature sound.
Miguel: Yes.
Christina: Um...how many bottles of Cool Water cologne was sold because of this version? Do you think?
Miguel: Who knows, but everybody had a Cool Water cologne reference back in the day.
Christina: Yeah. So, you know, I’m biased. I like this version better because it’s the one I know. And like, the other one is fun, but I’m just more familiar with this. So this is something that like, I would put on. Whereas the Slick Rick version, that would be something that will come on, that Sonos old school station that I liked to listen to. And I would enjoy it. But I wouldn’t go out of my way to put it on.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: So I’m going to go with this one, probably just because of familiarity. I’m just used to it.
Miguel: Yeah.
Christina: It's a song I've listened to a lot. Not so much as of late, but definitely a lot in '93 or whatever it was. But it is interesting to hear these covers back to back. So normally when we prepare for episodes, we generally listen to stuff or watch videos and stuff before. But for this, we were like, okay, we just don’t want to listen to this stuff.
Miguel: And just hear it back to back.
Christina: Yeah. So it’s not like I’ve never heard these songs before, but hearing them fresh, as in, I haven’t heard either in awhile, back to back, it’s funny to hear how, how different it sounds.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: Because I never thought of Snoop’s version as being like, a not happy song or whatever. But just hearing it right after the Slick Rick version. It's like, oh, you kinda took, kinda all the joy out of it though.
Miguel: It's a joyless version of "La Di Da Di."
Christina: Yeah.
Miguel: Oh man.
Christina: So yeah, Snoop's version is not really a party song.
Miguel: No it isn't.
Christina: It’s a catchy song, but it’s not a party song.
Miguel: It's definitely not a party song. And just with the sequencing of Doggystyle, the song that follows it is "Murder Was the Case." So, yeah, it's dark.
Christina: It almost feels like a prequel. Like there is something slightly dark about how it feels.
Miguel: Yeah. It’s very sinister.
Christina: Well, I mean, it’s gonna be like, November or something by the time this episode comes out. But I was going to say it kind of reminds—it's like, it’s perfect timing for Halloween.
Miguel: It is.
Christina: It has kind of that creepy feel.
Miguel: Yeah, it does.
Christina: But despite it being the joyless version, I prefer, I like this one better.
Miguel: Okay.
[music break]
Miguel: And with that, we’re going to move on to the next song, which is the one that I’ve been waiting for.
Christina: Okay.
Miguel: It's from the dirtiest of the dirty macks, of all time, Bobby Womack. And "If You Think You’re Lonely Now."
Christina: Wooo!
Miguel: Yeah.
[music break]
Miguel: Alright.
Christina: I'm sweating.
Miguel: So, "If You Think You’re Lonely Now" by Mr. Bobby Womack.
Christina: Woo! That was a journey.
Miguel: "When it’s cold outside. Who are you holding?"
Christina: Oh, wait, wait, wait. Before we even get there, "this is dedicated to all the lovers."
Miguel: Yes. Oh man. If—
Christina: I don't know how this song is dedicated to the lovers.
Miguel: And if you guys don't know about Bobby Womack’s history, take some time and Google Bobby Womack and Sam Cooke.
Christina: Or DuckDuckGo, if you don't want to be tracked.
Miguel: Or if you don’t want to use Google and use DuckDuckGo instead. But search, do a web search for—
Christina: Ask Jeeves.
Miguel: Ask Jeeves about Bobby Womack and Sam Cooke and your life will be forever changed.
Christina: King of the dirty macks.
Miguel: He is the king of the dirty macks. I’ll give you a little, a little bit of who Bobby was. He was friends with Sam Cooke. Sam Cooke dies. He comes to Sam Cooke’s funeral, with Sam’s wife, wearing Sam's suit, in Sam’s car. That’s all I’m going to leave you with.
Christina: I’m shaking my head.
Miguel: She is. What do you think about this song?
Christina: I think this song is violence.
Miguel: It is. This man said "if you think you lonely now..."
Christina: Wait until tonight!
Miguel: Wait until tonight, because I am not going to be there.
Christina: And the thing is he talking about how she’s complaining about what her friends mans is doing, but he’s leaving out the fact that he ain't shit!
Miguel: Yes, he neglected to add that part.
Christina: He neglected to add that she has a reason to be complaining. But the reason why I say this song is violence, because the way he sings "wait until tonight," oh that’s a threat.
Miguel: It is.
Christina: And a promise.
Miguel: "If you think you’re lonely now, wait until tonight."
Christina: Wait until tonight!
Miguel: "When those skeletons come out of the closet, and start chasing you around the room." That’s my favorite line of this song.
Christina: And you know, he catching the Holy Ghost while he’s singing. It was that "Ahhhhhhh!"
Miguel: Yes. "When the skeletons come out of the closet and start to chase you around that room. And the memories sail around like a ghost and dance to a sad, slow tune."
Christina: The song is a journey.
Miguel: This man ain’t shit. But you know what? This song slap though.
Christina: It does.
Miguel: "If you think you’re lonely now..."
Christina: This is classic, toxic, male gold.
Miguel: It is, it really is. And when you think it couldn’t get more toxic, who covers it? K-Ci Hailey. And we will listen to that one right now.
Christina: This is a good way to end it.
Miguel: It is.
[music break]
Miguel: So that was Mr. K-Ci Hailey from the Jason’s Lyric soundtrack with his version of "If You Think You’re Lonely Now." And it’s comedy.
Christina: It is also amazing.
Miguel: It is. It is amazing. And the reason I say that is because Bobby gave him the blueprint. And then he really K-Ci'd it.
Christina: He threw in an, of course, "ooh yeah!" 'Cause he’s Mr. Ooh Yeah[4]. 'Cause the original version didn’t have any ooh yeah's, right?
Miguel: It doesn't.
Christina: That’s K-Ci's signature right there.
Miguel: That's all K-Ci and his ad-libs. So he sprinkled his K-Ci onto it and completely changed the song for me.
Christina: I think that he has the right voice to cover this song. Because they both have that very church, definitely grew up in a church kind of sound. His didn’t cut as deep though.
Miguel: It didn't.
Christina: The way Bobby sings it. Oh, it cuts you.
Miguel: And I’ll tell you why, because Bobby’s voice. You hear that voice and you just hear ain’t shit man. If that makes any sense to you.
Christina: It does.
Miguel: So, just the way his voice sounds, the tone of his voice, his pace and speaking, it sounds like somebody who just ain't shit.
Christina: His voice is... what’s his name, on uh, Dead Presidents? When he rolled up.
Miguel: Oh, Cutty.
Christina: Cutty. Like that’s what his, if his voice had to look that wasn’t Bobby’s look, it’d be Cutty. Just rolling up. This man just came back from war, and he rolling up to his lady talking about, "You alright?" I can’t even remember what he said.
Miguel: Something like, "how's our girl doing?" Talking about another man's daughter.
Christina: As he’s sitting right there, but anyways, yeah. As much as K-Ci’s voice, inflections, all of that, he did a great job.
Miguel: He did.
Christina: He, his words don’t cut as deep. They’re not as hurtful. K-Ci, you’re just like, whatever. Next.
Miguel: He's just talking shit.
Christina: Yeah. But then Bobby you’re like, ouch!
Miguel: Like he means every word of this.
Christina: And you know that he’s the problem, but he’s cutting you deep somehow.
Miguel: Yes.
Christina: Whereas K-Ci’s like, you ain’t shit. I’ll just find somebody else.
Miguel: Next.
Christina: Yep.
Miguel: But Bobby it's like, alright I’m stuck with him. I can’t leave. So I'm gonna be, we’re dealing with these skeletons as they chase me around the room.
Christina: Like why is skeletons chasing her around the room when you are the one... Anyways.
Miguel: I say this because Bobby also has the song, "I Wish He Didn’t Trust Me So Much.[5]"
Christina: Ah yes.
Miguel: So that’s the kind of dude he is.
Christina: The king of ain’t shits.
Miguel: Yes.
Christina: "I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much." It's your fault I'm cheating, 'cause you're just too trusting. It's not my fault.
Miguel: And if you think you lonely now, wait until tonight. Oh God.
Christina: She had the nerve to tell me to go get a job.
Miguel: Right. Ahh.
Christina: Oh man. So which one you like better?
Miguel: I’m going with ain't shit Bobby for all the reasons that we listed, because it cuts a little deeper.
Christina: Mmhmm, it's a hard one for me.
Miguel: You know what? Now that I think about it... no, I’m going to stick with Bobby. I’m going to stay with Bobby.
Christina: I want to know your thoughts.
Miguel: No, no, no, no. I’m going to save it.
Christina: Okay. Save it for what?
Miguel: Another episode because we have more Bobby Womack to talk about.
Christina: Okay.
Miguel: We are going to be doing more of these episodes and I’m going to save it for that.
Christina: Okay. Um, but that’s a hard one for me. 'Cause you know, I’m a huge Jodeci fan.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: And K-Ci 'cause he’s the "ci" of Jodeci. So I mean, I definitely am biased. Bobby’s is almost more fun in a way because it's—
Miguel: It is.
Christina: Because he’s so, as we were saying, he’s too much. That it’s just like, funny listening to how much, how much he’s putting behind this, to prove that he’s the catch somehow.
Miguel: Right.
Christina: So it’s just more entertaining. But you know, I love a K-Ci "ooh yeah." So I’m just going to go with K-Ci.
Miguel: Okay.
Christina: That’s where my heart is.
Miguel: Alright, I get it. I understand. Under normal circumstances, if it was K-Ci matched up against somebody else, I would choose K-Ci.
Christina: Right.
Miguel: But in this case, this man said, "when the skeletons come out of the closet and start to chase you around that room." Come on, man.
Christina: Just that "wait until tonight" it cuts deep!
Miguel: Wait until tonight.
Christina: "If you think you’re lonely now..."
Miguel: It’s two o’clock in the afternoon, and you're alone—
Christina: "Wait until tonight." Ouch.
Miguel: Yeah. So I’m going with Bobby.
Christina: Alright.
Miguel: I think that’s enough for one episode.
Christina: I think so.
Miguel: So we’re going to wrap this up here, going out on a high note.
Christina: Or a low note.
Miguel: Or a low note, possibly.
Christina: Depending on how you want to look at it.
Miguel: I’m going to say it’s a high note.
Christina: Okay.
Miguel: With "If You Think You’re Lonely Now" by both Bobby Womack and K-Ci Hailey.
Christina: Look at us celebrating toxic male masculinity.
Miguel: Yes.
Christina: Hey, that shit slap sometimes.
Miguel: It does.
Christina: Wait, does music slap or does food slap?
Miguel: No food does not slap.
Christina: Food does not slap, music slaps.
Miguel: The official word from E-40. Food does not slap, music does.
Christina: Music slaps. Alright. So that, that toxic male masculinity gets you every time.
Miguel: I can never remember her name, but like the writer from Atlanta says, melodic misogyny[6].
Christina: Ah, yes.
Miguel: That’s what it is.
Christina: Cause the songs have a hold on me. I’m not gonna lie.
Miguel: Oh man. So let’s wrap this up and get out of here. Thank you again for listening. Appreciate everybody who listens. So keep coming back for more. We’re going to continue this series because we have lots of covers to get through. So maybe in the next month or so you hear another episode like this. Also make sure to rate and review and subscribe on your podcast service of choice. Follow us on all of our socials, Instagram, MySpace, Twitter.
Christina: You need to stop with that. Just Instagram and Twitter.
Miguel: Instagram and Twitter, @troypodcast. Check out our website, troypodcast.com. Catch up on previous episodes. See other little tidbits that we’ve added to the website. Other treats for you to go and check out.
Christina: Especially if you wanna dive a little deeper. It’s like a wiki.
Miguel: If you want more information on this silly stuff that we talk about, go check out the website. You got anything else you wanna add?
Christina: You know what? You always ask me that. And I don’t think I ever do.
Miguel: You never do. I guess I'm just gonna stop asking.
Christina: I'll just interrupt you.
Miguel: Alright. With that said, it's time for us to go, so we'll be talking to you again in two weeks. Bye.
Christina: Bye.