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News24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Weekender playlist: From Hendrix to Nirvana, Whitney to Winehouse... some iconic song covers
In this edition of The Weekender's playlist, Joel Ontong has you covered. He takes a look at some of the best and most iconic covers of all time. When Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor first heard country legend Johnny Cash cover his song, Hurt, he said it was like 'someone kissing your girlfriend'. 'I knew where I was when I wrote it. I know what I was thinking about. I know how I felt,' Reznor told The Sun in 2008. 'It felt invasive.' But, after watching Cash's music video, Reznor was floored: 'It really, really made sense, and I thought, what a powerful piece of art.' 'I never got to meet Johnny, but I'm happy I contributed the way I did. It felt like a warm hug. I have goosebumps right now thinking about it.' Cash's version of Hurt is hailed as one of the best covers of all time. What made it great was that he sang as if he meant every word, like it was coming straight from his heart. This raises the question: What makes a great cover? It's not better or more theatrical vocals or upscaled production, but rather the ability to make a song one's own and find ways to reinterpret, not just redo. News24's Weekender playlist looks at some great or notable covers. Another iconic cover is Jimi Hendrix's take on Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. Hendrix's recording is the stuff of guitar legend. Midway through the song, he delivers arguably the greatest guitar solo put to wax. The song showcases what happens when cutting-edge guitar technology falls into the hands of a visionary. Plenty of Hendrix's peers had access to wah-wah pedals, reverb, and delay effects, but none of them could play like him. If Hendrix hadn't covered All Along the Watchtower, and Dylan hadn't written it, rock music wouldn't be the same. Dylan was also so impressed by Hendrix's version that he even changed the way he played the song live. READ | Weekender playlist: From Oklou, Internet Girl and Weed420... to prog rock by Pope Francis Sometimes, a bit of theatricality can help make an iconic cover – case in point, I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, written by Dolly Parton. Parton's original is lovely, but Houston's version is monumental. Though the 1992 version is backed by a dated adult contemporary instrumental, Houston gives a vocal performance for the books. In the song's coda, Houston lets it rip, but not at the expense of emotional rawness. A similar case is Aretha Franklin's cover of Respect, originally by Otis Redding. In an era where everyone was covering each other's songs without really adding much, Franklin's performance defined the Southern Soul sound of the 1960s. Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson's cover of The Zutons' Valerie is, to many, the definitive version of the song. The Zutons might not have known it at the time, but Valerie was made for Winehouse. A great cover can also simply highlight great songwriting, especially when it's overlooked. When Nirvana decided to add David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World to their MTV Unplugged setlist, they probably didn't put that much thought into it. Their raw and rugged rendition is simple but brilliantly highlights Bowie's compelling songwriting, much better than the original ever did. Mainstream jazz music has also been noted for artists frequently doing covers, and there are many great ones by the likes of Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Abdullah Ibrahim. For our playlist, we included John Coltrane's take on Sound of Music's My Favourite Things. It's a significant departure from the original, but it is one of the best cool jazz recordings ever. We also included two songs you might not have known were covers: I'm a Believer by Smash Mouth (used in Shrek) and Red Red Wine by UB40. Both songs were written by Neil Diamond and appear on his debut album.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Why did Josh Freese leave Foo Fighters? It might have to do with too much whistling and too many poodles
Josh Freese, the veteran drummer who replaced Taylor Hawkins in Foo Fighters, has offered fans some theories on why he was abruptly fired from the band last week. In a playful Instagram post on Monday, May 19, Freese shared a list of 10 possible reasons for his ousting, offering a mix of self-deprecating humor and tongue-in-cheek commentary. Freese, who had joined the Foo Fighters in May 2023 following Hawkins' unexpected death, announced his departure on Friday, May 16, revealing that the band had informed him they were going 'in a different direction' with their drummer. He aded, 'No reason was given.' Even though Freese — who has performed with Devo, Nine Inch Nails and Guns N' Roses — said he was 'shocked and disappointed' over the decision, he promised fans a breakdown of potential reasons for the firing. The list included a variety of absurd explanations, from his alleged obsession with whistling the Foo Fighters' hit 'My Hero' on tour for an entire week to his inability to name more than one Fugazi song. He also joked that his 'metronome-like precision' behind the drums was deemed "soulless" and that he demanded 20-minute cowbell sound baths before rehearsals. Other reasons included missing a studio session because of Mercury in retrograde, and because he 'refused to perform unless he was guaranteed a Ouija board and nunchucks after every show.' The most unexpected — and perhaps most revealing — reason Freese offered was that his 'poodle thing was getting to be a bit much.' Freese is known for his love of poodles, having several pets of the breed. Though his departure seemed abrupt, Freese expressed no ill will, thanking the band for the opportunity. Foo Fighters haven't played a show since Grohl revealed in September that he fathered a child outside his marriage. 'As most of you know, I've always worked freelance and bounced between bands, so I'm fine," Freese said.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Foo Fighters Have Fired Drummer Josh Freese
The Foo Fighters are down a member. On Friday, May 16, drummer Josh Freese took to social media to announce his departure from the band. Posting, in part, "The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they've decided "to go in a different direction with their drummer." Freese was clearly caught off guard by the decision, adding that in 40 years as a drummer he'd never been let go from a band before and that he wasn't angry, "just a bit shocked and disappointed." Freese played drums for legendary bands like Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Paramore, and Devo before officially joining Foo Fighters to replace previous drummer Taylor Hawkins, who had been with the band since 1997. Hawkins passed away on March 25, 2022 while the band was on tour in Bogotá, Columbia at the age of 50. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Freese appeared as one of several guest drummers for the band during concerts held in tribute to Hawking and in May of 2023, the Foo Fighters introduced Freese as their full-time drummer during a streaming event called "Preparing Music For Concerts." There has been no comment from Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who was the one to invite Freese into the band two years ago. At the time, Freese recalled the conversation to Rick Beato, telling him Grohl called and said, "We had the drummer talk. And we want you to be the guy." Freese said he 'felt like someone kind of socked [him] in the stomach," adding, 'I didn't go, 'Wow! Yippee! This is so cool!' I didn't get excited like that. It was almost like I got the wind knocked out of me. And I was like, 'Oh my God'. The timing of Freese's departure is noteworthy. Earlier this week, the Foo Fighters announced their first show of 2025 on Oct. 4 at the Singapore Grand Prix. No word on who will replace Freese for that show.
Metro
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Ex-Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese posts lists of 10 reasons ‘why he got fired'
Josh Freese, the latest drummer for Foo Fighters, has shared his reasons for departing the iconic band after two years. The drummer, known for his work with everyone from Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle to Devo and The Offspring, announced his exit last week with a post that raised eyebrows and questions in equal measure. 'They told me they were going in a different direction,' Freese wrote, adding that no specific reason had been offered for the decision. He continued: 'No explanation, no warning. Just… that.' The band's representatives have remained silent on the matter, offering no official statement or elaboration. Now, Freese has addressed the possible reasons on Instagram, listing ten hilarious causes. On Monday, he followed through on a tongue-in-cheek promise to fans, posting a 'Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters' list — a lineup of fictional infractions. We've teamed up with SXSW London to give away two pairs of Music Festival Wristbands valid for 2-7 June 2025. Headliners include Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, Brit Award-winning artist Mabel, Crystal Castles's Alice Glass, and East London-based R&B artist NAO, plus emerging talent set to perform at showcase acts around Shoreditch. Click here to find out more about SXSW London's incredible events and how to enter to be in with a chance to win, or simply enter your details using the form below. *T&Cs apply. You have until midnight on Sunday 25th May 2025 to enter. Good luck! * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 06:01 BST on 13 May 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 25 May 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions (by ticking the relevant checkbox) is necessary to enter the promotion. 1 entry per person. 1 prize available per person. There will be two (2) winners. Each winner will win two (2) Full Week (6 days) Music Festival Wristbands (each such wristband worth £99) granting secondary access to Official SXSW London Music Festival showcases valid from 2 until 7 June 2025. Proof of age and photographic ID is required for entry (18+). The prize, including entry and attendance at SXSW, is subject to and governed by the SXSW's full ticket terms and conditions here. Full T&Cs apply, see here. Among the imagined offenses? 'Once whistled 'My Hero' for a week solid on tour,' 'Never even once tried growing a beard,' and the confession that he could only name 'one Fugazi song.' (A cardinal sin, apparently, given Dave Grohl's well-documented reverence for the iconic D.C. punk band.) In one particularly inspired entry, Freese claimed he broke a sacred promise to his old Offspring bandmate Noodles: that the guitarist could be the Foo Fighters' unofficial 'fourth guitarist.' Noodles himself jumped into the comments to play along, quipping, 'But you promised!' Freese is often described as the busiest drummer in rock. His resume is a genre-spanning showcase of adaptability and chops, covering artists as stylistically diverse as Sting, Guns N' Roses, Paramore, Weezer, and even Olivia Rodrigo. At Coachella 2023, he famously played with hyperpop duo 100 Gecs and film composer Danny Elfman on the same day, cementing him as one of the most versatile drummers in rock. Freese joined Foo Fighters in May 2023 during an emotional and uncertain chapter. The band was still reeling from the 2022 death of beloved drummer Taylor Hawkins when Freese was brought in. He debuted as an official member during a livestreamed rehearsal event that spring, and quickly slotted into the fold as the Foos launched a major tour that summer. More Trending While fans initially mourned the shift, many came to appreciate Freese's approach and that he never attempted to copy Hawkins' style. But now, he's out — with no clear reason given and only one Foo Fighters concert on the books for 2025, an October date in Singapore. Whether the band is simply taking a step back or plotting another reinvention remains to be seen. For his part, Freese seems determined to keep the tone light, even if the decision caught him off guard. 'Shocked and disappointed,' he wrote in his initial post, 'but also incredibly grateful for the experience.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Josh Freese lists 10 reasons he got fired from Foo Fighters
Ex-Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese has shared a list of 10 reasons why he might have been fired from the band. Freese announced he had been booted last Thursday, sharing that the band had done so with the "non-explanation" that they'd decided to go in a different direction. "No reason was given." Freese, who has played with a who's who of artists from Sting and Guns N' Roses to Nine Inch Nails and Weezer, said he was "shocked and disappointed" by the decision, but added, "Stay tuned for my Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters' list." The promised list included: "Once whistled My Hero for a week solid on tour"; "Never even once tried growing a beard"; and "could only name one song" by Grohl's hometown heroes, Fugazi. He also revealed he'd promised Noodles, his former bandmate in the Offspring, that he could be the Foos' fourth guitarist. ("But you promised!" Noodles joked in the comments.) After months of speculation, Freese joined the band officially in May 2023 in the wake of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins' sudden death while the group was on tour in South America. The Foos have kept a relatively low profile in recent months, and have just one upcoming show on the books, an October date in Singapore.
