#984. Lineage of Song: “I’m a Believer”

 

The Monkees

Smash Mouth

Here’s one that’s surprisingly good twice. The Monkees were a TV creation that produced a few classic songs, one of which the seemingly one hit wonder Smash Mouth turned into a second hit for themselves in the early huge success for Shrek.

#983. Lineage of Song: “American Pie”

Madonna

Don McLean

Gosh, I guess I’m not really a fan of Madonna, but I still found it interesting for her to do a cover of “American Pie,” of all things, in one of her periodic drastic reinventions to find acceptance once the last thing was no longer working. Kind of a shame that eventually she just gave up, which is weird because there was about a quarter century where the act was endlessly successful. And now you never hear about her. Unlike Elvis, she did disappear into Europe.

#982. Lineage of Song: “Last Kiss”

 

Wayne Cochran

J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers

Pearl Jam

Here’s another one that bugs me. I love the Pearl Jam version. I see no reason for critics to clutch pearls over these things. 

#981. Lineage of Song: “All Summer Long”

 

“All Summer Long,” Kid Rock

“Sweet Home Alabama,” Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Werewolves of London,” Warren Zevon

Here’s yet another that I hesitated to include in the Lineage because it’s essentially a mash-up and I used to think it was just lazy nostalgia for an artist trying to extend a legacy that was over at that point. But the radio loved the result. And it keeps great music in the mix. In recent times, that’s kind of how this works.