Greetings and salutations Hivers. Today let’s go into another Three Tune Tuesday post.
As always, thanks to 
This week’s set isn’t about “the original” versions of songs. It’s about what happens after a song leaves the studio and enters the world—when it gets covered, stretched, mashed up, or turned into something communal.
Three very different performances. Same underlying idea: music as something shared.
Manic Monday — Bandles cover by Sing It Live feat. Akasha Starr
We are past Monday here, but really, isn’t Tuesday just Monday, part II? “Manic Monday” is one of those songs that risks tipping into novelty if handled wrong, but this version sidesteps that by grounding it in a strong vocal performance.
Akasha Starr’s delivery is wonderful. She’s no Susanna Hoffs — less bouncy, but still fun. The tempo also feels a bit slower than the original, but it works.
Stop Dragging My Heart Around — Middle Aged Dad Jam Band
This one immediately sets the tone. You can hear the respect for the original, but also a clear decision not to imitate it too closely. The groove is looser, the edges rougher, but c’mon, for a bunch of middle-aged guys and gals, that works just fine.
It’s hard for me to listen to this song without immediately hearing the Weird Al Stop Draggin’ My Car Around parody in my head. I had that tape on nearly 24/7 when I was a kid.
The Blues Brothers — Everybody Needs Somebody to Love / Sweet Home Chicago
Ok ok, hear me out. The Blues Brothers actually did put out a pretty good album. Yeah, John Belushi didn’t have a lot of range, but he made up for it with sheer commitment and passion.
All the musical segments in the film are strong, but none more so than this one.
What makes this performance work isn’t just the musicianship, it’s the sense that the entire room is involved. Call-and-response, overlapping energy, a kind of joyful mess that only works when everyone commits fully.
It’s also a great reminder that blues, at its core, is communal music. It’s not meant to be admired quietly. It’s meant to be felt together.
Different genres, different eras, same idea: music works best when it’s shared and a little messy.
So — which one did it for you this week?
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David is an American teacher and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Bluesky. |