Fuddland

When Paul McCartney wrote Yesterday, he was sure that he’d copied another song; the melody sounded very familiar, yet he, nor no-one that he played it to, could tell him exactly where they’d heard it before. Eventually they decided that it was an original piece, but it was just so good that it made you feel as though you’d already heard it [which goes some way to explain why it’s apparently the most-covered song ever.]

On a musical high from re-stringing my guitar, I decided to dust off my long-neglected mandolin, give it some fresh strings and have a little play. After double-checking that I could still remember the basics of Losing My Religion [which, sad as it may be, was essentially the reason I bought it in the first place], I worked out the beginnings of a couple of short, original tunes. Or so I thought.

Now I’m in no way claiming to have written the mandolin-equivalent of Yesterday, but one of them sounds familiar. Sometime-housemate Kav also thought it was someone else’s tune, but after we’d ruled out Peter Gabriel’s Salisbury Solsbury Hill, we can’t pin it down. If you’d like to have a go, have a listen and see if you can identify it. [Do excuse the fairly shoddy playing, it’s been a couple of years since I last picked up the thing, and I don’t generally like using a plectrum, but you really have to with a mandolin.]

#1

mrtn | 2005 / 03 / 29 – 19:10

er, sure sounds like something ;)

steeleye span maybe?

oh, that’s solsbury hill btw…

#2

David | 2005 / 03 / 29 – 19:30

Re #1: Not familiar with the Span so can’t confirm nor deny that rumour. Thanks for the correction though; think the mistake stems from Kav initially referring to the song as Salisbury Plain earlier today. :)

#3

clair | 2005 / 03 / 30 – 09:30

The beginning certainly sounds familiar. No idea why.

#4

Brownpants | 2005 / 03 / 30 – 09:48

I wonder what would happen if you Shazam‘d it.

#5

Gordon | 2005 / 03 / 30 – 11:01

Status Quo?
Radiohead?

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit?

The opening (and repeated) phrase is probably familiar through it’s pacing rather than it’s tone.

#6

David | 2005 / 03 / 30 – 12:13

Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear oh dear. Oh. Dear.

It’s the chorus of Snooker Loopy by Chas ‘n’ Dave, isn’t it? Arse.

#7

felicity | 2005 / 03 / 30 – 13:39

very folksy feel to it - but that may be just ‘cause it’s a mandolin. a simple yet effective chord change. what’s it sound like on the piano or guitar… maybe you should do some overlaying tracks and bring out your own single….
btw here’s 75p for the downloaded MP3…

#8

Kav | 2005 / 03 / 30 – 19:03

Solsbury, not Salisbury. Learn summink new everyday.
Anyway, I have thought about what it reminds me of and its the opening bars of ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ by Joni Mitchell (sp?). I think the version I am thinking of is a cover by Amy Grant from a few years ago but it could be in the original itself. I don’t have the version with me but if you look in the black CD boxes in my bedroom, you should find an album with it on for you to compare. I shall now brace myself for my taste in music to be severely mocked…

#9

David | 2005 / 03 / 30 – 20:16

Re #7: Actually I have it more as a melody over a single chord [G, as it happens] with the occasional C thrown in for good measure now and again. But a more interesting chord patten may develop, who knows? :)

Re #8: Okay, I have undergone great personal risk and played your Amy Grant CD [with headphones on, obviously, on the off-chance that any passers-by catch a bar or two and my reputation is destroyed forever], and I can see where you’re coming from. The intro to the song is similar, but markedly different. But then, anything is better than it being Chas ‘n’ Dave, so we’ll go with your idea for now. ;)

#10

Kav | 2005 / 03 / 31 – 14:30

Similar but markedly different. Sure. If that soothes your rip-off-merchant conscience then so be it. ;)

So when are you going to turn it into a single? Quick, write some lyrics and find someone who can write it down.

By the way, please put my Amy Grant CD back now. You don’t have to keep playing it over and over, you know. Admit it, she looks foxy on the cover eh?

#11

David | 2005 / 03 / 31 – 15:20

Re #10: Missing it are you? “Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone been flogged on eBay…” ;)

#12

Kav | 2005 / 03 / 31 – 15:56

Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone been flogged on eBay…”

ooh, that must have been 50p well earned…
Anyway, I have the superior, Counting Crows version of that song with me now. Shame, that probably would have got you at least 60p…

#13

David | 2005 / 03 / 31 – 18:10

Re #12: Wow, I have that version myself and I didn’t even know it. Not bad, but you just can’t beat the original IMHO, especially how she sings the very last line — makes me smile every time.

Commenting on this post is closed. Thanks to all those who left comments. If you'd still like to say something about this entry, feel free to email me.