Thom Yorke hasn’t responded to Gabriel’s Street Spirit

by on February 12, 2010 with 55 Comments in Radiohead News

A couple of days ago you were able to hear Peter Gabriel’s cover of Radiohead’s ‘Street Spirit [fade out]‘, but Gabriel is still waiting for Thom Yorke’s verdict.

Peter Gabriel told The Sun’s Something For The Weekend today that he still wants Thom Yorke to do a cover of ‘Wallflower’, returning the favour for covering Radiohead’s ‘Street Spirit’. Gabriel: “I still haven’t had a response from Thom Yorke. He originally wrote to say he wanted to do a version of ‘Wallflower’, but I haven’t heard what he thinks of my version. Not everyone likes it and I’ve no real idea whether he likes it or hates it. We have a little clue, though. We gave out codes for the artists to listen to their songs on a stream and we could see how many times they’ve heard them. I think he’s only streamed ‘Street Spirit’ once, which isn’t a good sign, but who knows?”


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  • Thocky

    I wouldn’t blame Thom… Gabriel’s version is horrible!

  • http://www.lamaracayeltacon.com mayra

    I didn’t like it but that’s only my humble opinion

  • bcpk

    Not newsworthy.

  • sleazy stockmark

    Doesn’t Peter Gabriel have anything better to do?

  • sandwiches

    I liked Gabriel’s take on it. Obviously it’s not something you’d listen to for pleasure but it’s a thoughtful and interesting cover.

  • Rita

    I don’t think talking to the media is a good way to promote collaboration with Thom. See Kanye West for more info.

  • p n t r s

    en argentina esto lo llamamos chusmerio

  • felix

    >>en argentina esto lo llamamos chusmerio

    Wha???

  • And I Love My Little Rooster

    thom prolly thought it was shite. hahaha

  • http://www.flickr.com/jacobanchini Banco

    “thom prolly thought it was shite. hahaha”

    If he’s still sane, I hope so! For me is: no arpeggio – no “Street Spirit”. Gabriel, how can you cut it out?! It’s a very intricate melody that makes sense itself…

  • john

    Perhaps Thom’s desperately trying to think of something nice to say about it. Jesus it was terrible.

  • Clayton

    “Perhaps Thom’s desperately trying to think of something nice to say about it. Jesus it was terrible.”

    I second that. Although, if PG had written different lyrics, it could have been an entirely original song. In that perspective, maybe it wouldn’t have been as bad. Maybe?

  • Stefano

    it’s not that’s horrible…. it’s simply boring…. it’s original in a way…. but still boring….. ZZZzZzzZZ.

  • http://jrod.com.ar/ Julián Rodriguez Orihuela

    “en argentina esto lo llamamos chusmerio” means “In Argentina we call this gossip”

  • NoSurprises11

    It’s the most boring, uninspired, lackluster piece of garbage cover version I have ever heard. “Hey! Let me borrow your brand new shiny bicycle!” One week later… “Here’s your bike back! But I took off the wheels and made it into a rusty clothes hanger! Will you buy me a bike now?

  • Orson

    Considering Street Spirit’s guitar sound seems already dated, Gabriel’s version seems to be more in line with what Radiohead would do today with the song.

    For many the album is just “Street Spirit: the cover”, but it actually has quite a bit of good songs in it

  • The Dobber

    thocky, bout to post the same thing… not sure about horrible, but something is missing, gabriel gets it, but can’t make it his own and articulate it

  • justin

    The cover doesn’t really sound like something Thom would be drawn to. It’s like Peter Gabriel thinks he is Johnny Cash doing NIN’s Hurt. It’s a bit embarassing.

  • justin

    It’s like Peter Gabriel thinks he is Johnny Cash doing NIN’s Hurt. It’s a bit embarassing.

  • Mark

    Street Spirit is one phenomenal song.

  • pantrus

    Julián and i was talking of course not about the cover but to what the people were talking about or bitching like little girls that they didn t like the cover ___unas chusmas de novela __ abrazos

  • p n t r s

    i forgot – i saw some nice new pictures and some words as well at scrap book [ did you check that out ? ] [ maybe its my imagination ? ]

  • amj

    i didnt like it at all…

  • Stevesy

    I’m a fan of Peter Gabriel, but can’t say I’m overkeen on any of his covers but live in hope they’ll grow on me. Though given Street Spirit sounds a little bit William Shatner it could be a slow process!

  • Eme

    I’m not sure why Gabriel is expecting a comment …. I mean surely he’s done the song and Thom has listened and that should be it?

    It’s up to the listener if he wants to comment to the artist covering their song, no?!

    Anyway it seems strange to expect it a comment.

    He’s getting annoying with this “returning the favour” nonsense as well. They’ll do one of your songs IF and WHEN they want to.

    Get over it.

  • EME

    I’m not sure why Gabriel is expecting a comment ….

    I mean Thom has listened to it, but surely it’s up to Thom if he wants to comment on it?!?

    He’s getting annoying with this “returning the favour” nonsense as well. They’ll do one of your songs IF and WHEN they want to.

    It’s YOUR project no one else really seems that interested in it to be honest. So get over it.

    Eme

  • performingmonkey

    “It’s YOUR project no one else really seems that interested in it to be honest. So get over it.”

    So that’s why 6 of the acts have already sent him their covers, is it?

  • sintron

    it’s a very unique take. it’s ironic how radiohead has transitioned drastically regarding sound from album to album yet this comment thread is flooded with disdain for such an alternate version. pg’s take is definitely eccentric…and enjoyable.

  • steven

    i’ll save thom the trouble, it was crap.

  • khe

    I read some of the responses on here before listening to the cover and I thought some of them were a little harsh, but woah … can’t say I enjoyed that one too much. There was no substance. Very strange interpretation…not in a good way.

  • Priscilla

    I wanted to listen to Gabriel’s cover on completely neutral ground so I didn’t read the comments. After listening, eek, let down…. It was an awful 5 minutes. I see he wanted to go at it from a different “angle” but it was too melodramatic for me.

  • mr.molloy

    Maybe Thom is just being polite by not saying anything like “it’s the shittiest piece of shit he’s ever heard.”

  • Tit

    Thom will vomit after listening to this tripe.

  • http://DickRiders Billy

    It wasn’t that bad… you guys are just dick riders.

  • Our Mock Pet

    I second the Shatner comparison. I’m a huge fan of the Rocketman cover, but this is Peter Gabriel… This guy was doing Games Without Frontiers when Thom and I were 12. Whappen?

  • EME

    “So that’s why 6 of the acts have already sent him their covers, is it?”

    Ok I’ll rephrase “It’s YOUR project no one worthwhile really seems that interested in it to be honest. So get over it.”

    Anyway. All I meant was he should EXPECT a response, he should wait for one and if he doesn’t get one, tough shit.

  • Shiny

    Great minds think alike. Thom wasn’t the only one to only play it once. Sometimes one is too many and this is one of those times.

  • Ripe

    There is a great live acoustic version of Street Spirit by radiohead.

  • Mondegreen

    Don’t worry, Pete. If you’re rejected, don’t automatically assume it’s your fault. Thom may have several reasons for not doing what you are asking him to do: none of it may have anything to do with you. Perhaps he is busy recording an album or not feeling well or genuinely not interested in spending time with your work. Rejections are part of everyday life. Don’t let them bother you. Keep reaching out to others. Keep reaching out to others.

    And regardless of what other people say, I think “Wallflower” is fucking great!

  • AusMakka

    Shit. If I was Thom I wouldn’t respond either….unless I spewed up all over it! Fucken horrible rendition.

  • Banco

    Dear Atease, let me say just one thing: what really makes You think that Yorke HAS to express his own opinion about it? Just to make himself a new enemy?!

  • Peter Yorke

    I can’t believe all these negative comments – I think this is a great version! It’s a totally new arrangement; if he just kept the arpeggio the same, it would have made it into any old cover.

    Really inventive and definitely worth more than one listen. It reminds me of Kid A onwards Radiohead in many respects. Can’t believe all this stupid bitching on here – respect the man, it’s a great effort!

  • Your End

    Gabriel was rather disappointing on this album, especially Street Spirit. Sounds like he is trying to be Leonard Cohen, and failing miserably.

  • Your End

    Sorry Peter, you must be listening to another song or something. I am a fan of Gabriel’s and have been since I was a kid and saw his videos on MTV (back when they actually played music videos). I delved deeper into his catalog and found his music enjoyable. This cover is totally horrendous. Different is not always better.

  • pntrs

    @peteryorke: it is great __i actually stared liking it more and more with the days_its a weird version _weird its nice_ radiohead were and are weird _etc etc etc everything s good__the bad comments are just a mentally chain reaction and associations that only show how human beings might be seeing from a different planet if someone even care about checking us up _the book of love its long and boring __

  • pntrs

    wha?

  • niall

    I like the cover apart from PG’s vocals. I think it’s a great arrangement but the vocal scratching is painful at times, maybe intentionally, but I just don’t like the sound of his voice.

  • Banco

    And in the meanwhile Radiohead have posted a picture of Thom in the studio arranging the lyrics of……

  • Stefano

    i think i read “Anyway ________ I Know” hmmm…. i’m going blind…

  • A Rat’s Nest

    i thought the cover was pretty good. better than just doing a cover where he literally just does it the same as the original. people who are saying “shouldn’t have got rid of the arpeggio”, well it would be really hard to make it an original cover whilst keeping it in. i thought it sounded a lot darker, a lot maturer, and for those reasons i would guess Thom Yorke and other members probably like it, as they have matured a lot since the bends also. bear in mind they wrote that album like 15 ish years ago!

  • Excuse me, what we’re you saying?

    Not necessarily a herd-mind. It is just some of our opinions that it is not a good cover, to me that is not because it wasn’t like the original. A cover is an interpretation. It just so happens that Gabriel did not deliver on this one. I like the picture of Thom that was posted. He needs to trim his beard though :P I guess he can do that because he is Thom Yorke and badass.

  • A Rat’s Nest

    yeh i think its absolutely fine to not like the cover. its just a lot of people on here seem to be saying its not good because its not the original. which i think is a bit daft. and yeh his beard has got a few grey patches and so has Ed’s! I’m thinking their next albums gonna be very folky, just beacuse they are all growing bigger beards! haha

  • Excuse me, what we’re you saying?

    I’ve never liked that rationale either, that something isn’t good just because it isn’t exactly like the original. I remember when Ed wanted to pull a Pearl Jam and do a folk album right before Kid A. I am glad that was over ridden by Thom. I am sure Ed is too. It’d be great to see Thom sporting a ZZ Top beard and singing folk songs though. Oh, and good screen name. A Rat’s Nest is my favorite from the Eraser era.

  • Pingback: NY Times reports incorrectly: Arcade Fire not covering Peter Gabriel’s “Games Without Frontiers” | onethirtybpm

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