AURAL INTERCOURSE

Thursday, January 22, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Aural Intercourse: A mad, worldly hit

By Mike Prevatt

There may be no more gratifying sound than a radio DJ apologizing for having to play something that doesn't sound like the other eight songs on the playlist. But jocks across the country are sheepishly explaining themselves away as an unlikely cover has become a global smash--and, no, it's not from an "American Idol" competitor.

The recent success of composer Michael Andrews and singer Gary Jules' gothic cover of Tears For Fears' "Mad World"--which stole the coveted Christmas-week No. 1 spot on the U.K. singles' chart from schlock-cock-rock act the Darkness (which deserves a column all to itself)--has gotten the attention of both American radio programmers and their listeners. It's rapidly becoming a favorite among prime-time request countdown shows; no less than five different radio stations in Los Angeles are playing the creeping-piano tune (it was the most requested song last week at tastemaker rock station KROQ).

The foundation of the song's fervent response rests in the 2001 movie Donnie Darko, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a troubled teenager burdened by apocalyptic visions. The film bombed at the box office, but thanks to DVD, it has become a worldwide cult hit. And to hear someone recommend the movie is usually to receive an aside about the song--a haunting piano ballad, articulately delivered by Jules, that reflects not only the melancholy and macabre mood of the film, but the unnerving emotions many people have been feeling in an increasingly uncertain age.

"Mad World," like Johnny Cash's memorable stab at Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt," taps into something bigger than just the re-creation of a previous hit. The general music-listening public does not favor deconstructed acoustic songs, as a sample of current rock and hip-hop hits will prove. However, when familiar melodies are re-imagined not by mere studio updating, but alternative contextualizing that resonates beyond nostalgia, by an artist with the confidence to revise to his strengths, the public is more likely to respond. Andrews and Jules' "Mad World" is one of those unforgettable covers that threatens to takes the place of the original in our mental jukeboxes--though, with Tears For Fears reuniting this year, it might just chalk up to perfect timing.

Quickies

Typically, promoter Goldenvoice reveals the acts slated to perform the annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival all on one day. Though Goldenvoice seemed eager to drum up some early publicity by recently teasing the event's dates, it remains to be seen whether it wanted its juiciest headliners to be leaked, too. Websites began reporting last Monday that Coachella 2004 would take place May 1-2, at its usual Empire Polo Field venue (20 miles north of Palm Springs), and being tipped as headliners were Radiohead and a reunion of influential alt-rock act the Pixies. By the next day, media outlets had confirmed both bands' participation for May 1, as well as another reunion of a groundbreaking act, Kraftwerk. Not a bad bit of publicity, eh?

To be fair, URB magazine had broken the "news" two months ago in an interview with Radiohead. So far, Goldenvoice has kept a lid on the May 2 headliners, though Pollstar.com reveals that other bands signed on to play the weekend include the Thrills, Death Cab for Cutie, Electric 6 and the (International) Noise Conspiracy. More details to come.

Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Kid Rock, Nelly and Aerosmith are the official musical talent for this year's Super Bowl, to take place Feb. 1 in Houston. The latter act will kick off the game, and the rest will perform during the AOL-sponsored halftime show, produced by MTV. The announcement comes after the NFL's highly publicized rejection of a halftime show featuring Bono, who along with MTV and, reportedly, Jennifer Lopez, sought to perform his AIDS-themed song called "An American Prayer."

Speaking of Bono, the U2 singer is being made an example by FCC head Michael Powell for his profane acceptance speech at last year's Golden Globe Awards. Last October, the FCC forgave Bono's "really, really fucking brilliant" podium speech because his use of the word "fuck" was as an exclamatory adjective, and didn't imply intercourse. Powell--who caused headlines with his much-maligned campaign to ease media ownership rules for megacorporations--wants the decision overturned, as well as increase the usual $27,500 obscenity fine tenfold.

And insurgent British act Hope of the States lost guitarist James Lawrence to suicide last Thursday. The 26-year-old musician was found hanged at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in west England, where the band was completing its debut album. The band issued a statement the next day, asking fans that "this awful event not be co-opted as a glamorous `rock 'n' roll' death. We will forever believe this was not supposed to happen and our dear friend would hate to be thought of in this way."

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