36 The Sundays “Wild Horses”

My introduction to The Sundays is likely the same as most, I heard “Here’s Where The Story Ends” and loved it. Though it did sound familiar…

Now, there’s nothing wrong with songs sounding like other songs, taking inspiration from parts and blending them together in new ways. There may be an argument for ownership of music compositions, but I lean towards having things be more open to be used, changed, and progressed. So, I don’t want you to think that I’m knocking The Sunday’s biggest hit. I’m not. It’s a fantastic song. Go listen to it. 

Now listen to The Smiths “Cemetery Gates.” 

I imagine it happened something like this:

Guitar player sitting on their amp just noodling, playing some chords and eventually starts playing “Cemetery Gates.” Another band member is like, “Wait, that sounds cool, keep doing that.” The drummer nods and starts playing along and before you know it, they have a new song. Guitar player looks side to side and hopes no one notices or cares.

That’s one way it could have gone. It could have just been a complete accident. At least two of my earliest songs that I thought were completely original were based on OMD and The Judybats songs. I didn’t realize it until many years later. 

But since we’re talking about songs sounding like other folks songs, why not take it a step further to a full blown cover: The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses.” 

There’s not much difference between the feel of the two songs, perhaps Mick Jagger’s vocals have a little more purposeful clumsiness to them, a bit more of that 70s grit. But of the two, I prefer The Sundays version.