Let It Loose: “Idol” To Do Stones-Themed Show
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NEWPORT, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 10: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) Keith Richards (R) and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones performs on stage on the third day of the Isle of Wight Festival 2007 in Newport on June 10, 2007 on the Isle of Wight, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Keith Richards;Mick Jagger
Listen, when you live in a world in which Britney Spears has produced a dance version of “Satisfaction,” there’s really nothing more you can do to butcher the Rolling Stones’ catalog. And so the folks at “American Idol” may as well take a stab at doing a show centered exclusively on Mick and Keith’s legendary oeuvre. From Entertainment Weekly:
EW has learned that American Idol’s Top 12 contestants will perform the music of the Rolling Stones next week. During an ad break at the top 8 guys performance show, Ryan Seacrest taped a radio promotion in which he mentioned that the first week for the 12 Idol finalists will feature songs by the iconic British rock group.
Well, it certainly beats Barry Manilow Week. I have no doubt there will be a handful of “Idol” contestants who will, foolishly, decide to tackle the band’s most famous songs like “Satisfaction” and “Sympathy for the Devil.” This is NOT a good strategy. Those songs are already perfect in the heads of millions of Americans. The only thing you can do to them is make them worse. A much better strategy is to pick less iconic (but still fantastic) songs from the Stones’ catalog and re-introduce them to the world. Here are a handful of suggestions:
-“Happy.” The brilliant song off of “Exile On Main St.” features Keith on lead vocals, which means you don’t have to compete with Mick’s voice. Despite its status as one of the greatest albums ever recorded (And it is. BUY IT.), most of the tracks from “Exile,” with perhaps the exception of “Tumbling Dice,” are not in regular rotation on classic rock radio these days. There are plenty of folks out there who have never heard “Happy,” “Rocks Off,” and “Torn and Frayed.” Which is a CRIME. If I were an “Idol” contestant, I would take full advantage.
-“Country Honk.” The country version of “Honky Tonk Women” off of “Let It Bleed” is just as good as the original. And it’s country! Americans love that country stuff. Bust out the “Country Honk” and most folks in Kentucky will be like, “Is that ‘Honky Tonk Women’ as a country song?! I LIKE IT!”
-“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?” It’s seven minutes long, but that’s nothing a little judicious editing can’t fix.
-“Thief In The Night.” Most of the Stones’ latter day catalog isn’t worth touching. But this Keith-sung track from “Bridges to Babylon” is most excellent, and again ensures you don’t have to compete with either Mick’s voice or the classic status of some other Stones songs.
Trust me, little Idol singers. If you take “Wild Horses” and go all Celine Dion on it, America will never forgive you. Look for the hidden classics. With the Stones, there is no shortage of those.
