Whenever someone says, "I don't like The Smiths" it is invariably followed up by some sort of musing on the man himself. "I just can't stand his voice" or "he's so depressing" are two that you hear quite regularly. No one ever says "Urgh, I hate The Smiths. It's Andy Rourke's bass playing that bugs me" or "I just can't get past how much I hate Mike Joyce." I'd even venture as far as saying that Johnny Marr would be a national treasure on a level with Brian May or a Suggs, if it wasn't for his association with the world's most famous morose vegetarian.
That got me thinking about How Soon Is Now?, and how many cover versions there are out there, and how a lot of them are incredibly incredibly faithful, but with one major difference. The Voice. Every single one of the five versions of the song in this countdown, a kickstart for the regular Sunday Classic Cover feature, start with that familiar chiming guitar sound. None of them try and mess with the rhythmic structure of the song. Yet all are different vocally. Even if you're not a Morrissey fan (which is a high possibility, let's face it) you may find one you enjoy.
5. Paradise Lost
Released as a B-side to the single which spearheaded their polarizing change of direction, Say Just Words, Paradise Lost's How Soon Is Now? is the closest in tone on the list to the original probably due to frontman Nick Holmes never being the most cheerful. I have very distinct memories of him calling the audience at Donington '96 'Motherfuckers' because they weren't really getting into his band, but they were never going to really work in blazing sunshine at 1pm on a summer Saturday.
4. t.A.T.u
From the closest in tone, to the farthest away. How Soon Is Now? was always going to be an odd choice of song for inclusion on the Russian 'lesbians' debut English language album 200km/h In The Wrong Lane. Yet, somehow, it works. Although the pretense that the two girls were lovers has been long since dropped, the lyrics seemed somehow apt at the time. "I am human and I need to be loved" is about as radical a call for equality that could ever be allowed in the Russian media.
3. Hundred Reasons
Taken from the outstanding How Soon Is Now?: The Songs Of The Smiths tribute album, which also featured Million Dead's Girlfriend In A Coma, ThisGIRL's Shoplifters Of The World Unite, and many more. This, musically, could be The Smiths, there's that little in it. It sounds like a remaster more than a cover. Colin Doran sounds a bit bored, like he's trying to do a Morrissey impression, but just can't quite bring himself to do it, and he wants to be himself. It's a super cover, but you do wish Colin had let himself go a bit more.
2. Snake River Conspiracy
Jason Slater and Tobey Torres' criminally underrated early 2000's industrial metal band not only included their cover on the Sonic Jihad LP, but also released it as a single (which contained as a B-side the outstanding track Coke and Vaseline, and is well worth picking up if you ever see a copy). Torres' breathy menace brings an edge to the track none of the other versions do. Plus, you have to love those, dare I say it, uplifting electronics added to the chorus.
1. Quicksand
Although, again, musically, nothing much has changed, the vocal melody here is completely different. It says a lot about the enduring popularity of this that it's the one thing from Quicksand's arsenal that is still played live on occasion by Walter Schreifels' Rival Schools. Schreifels is massively influenced by the Smiths, and one of his other projects, Walking Concert, appears on the tribute album mentioned previously under the name Walter Walter. Both the version of Ask that appears there, and this do exactly what a cover should, to my mind, do. Capture the spirit of the original, in the style of the band making the cover. Over the coming weeks, that is what I hope to showcase with the Sunday Classic Cover.
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