Neil Young News: Lady GaGa Covers Neil Young's "Out on the Weekend"

Friday, January 08, 2010

Lady GaGa Covers Neil Young's "Out on the Weekend"

OK, so we don't really get the whole Lady GaGa trip.

So when this clip came through we admit we just rolled our eyes. But we understand she's HUGE and all the rage. If Lady GaGa is covering "Out on the Weekend", then it must indicate that Neil Young has clearly jumped the shark.

On the other hand, when Jimmy Fallon's uncanny chanelling of Neil Young went totally & massively viral, we should've seen this coming.

While the video is labeled "Fooled Me Again, Honest Eyes", it opens with what is definitely a modified "Out on the Weekend" cover. That is before Lady GaGa starts putting her foot up on the keyboard?!

Thanks Annie!

Labels: lady gaga, neil young

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34 Comments:

At 1/08/2010 08:30:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Great cover
At 1/08/2010 08:59:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Blech.

Sorry, but never have "got" Lady Gaga, and never will.

She creeps me out an enormous amount.

Worse than that, I can just picture all the "OmGz Lady Gaga is SOOO TALENTED for writing a new bit at the start of her song! I love her LULZ" comments about this video now.

I don't mean to sound bitter but it's just because it's HER. If it was someone else, I would probably just go "meh!" and ignore it.

But thanks for posting it, Thrasher, it definately creates conversation anyway! :-)
At 1/08/2010 09:38:00 AM, Anonymous said...: she CAN sing apparently, and she CAN play...as for the song,HOMEGROWN isn't Shakespere(sp?) either... cotton candy--take it or leave it...she may not be a genius, but she's not a moron either...there is some intellect at work here...

asg
At 1/08/2010 09:51:00 AM, karen said...: hey! i love lady g!
this isn't exactly a cover, she just uses part of the song as an intro to her own. (not her best song.) neil is everywhere! : )
lovekaren
At 1/08/2010 10:18:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Lady Gaga rocks!

I think she shows a lot of original talent, and even though, as karen said, this isn`t her best song by any means, it`s always good to see artists covering Neil as it demonstrates yet again how widely his influence is felt across all age groups and genres.

Rock on Lady Gaga!

Thanks Thrasher and thanks Annie!

love Jill
At 1/08/2010 01:35:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I would have loved to hear her play the whole version of "Out on the Weekend" because the intro was really cool!
At 1/08/2010 03:06:00 PM, SONY said...: she's 'Trying to make it pay'..just like the rest of us.
At 1/08/2010 03:57:00 PM, Thos said...: Nope, she's absolutely rubbish! If the best thing that people say about you is how many costume changes you can manage during a single performance, you're not one of the greats...

Many people have good taste in music, but it doesn't necessarily translate to being a great musician yourself - PARTICULARLY true in the case of Lady Gaga!

Thos.
At 1/08/2010 05:23:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Other than hearing her name kicked around I have no idea who this Gaga girl is but she sounds good to me. Good soulful rendition. I don't know what she did to piss you bashers off, she didn't returen your email?
At 1/08/2010 05:38:00 PM, Anonymous said...: how do ya wake up Lady Gaga? you poke her face...Madonna sometimes wears a guitar, but can she play it--beyond a "book 1" level? Stefani has some piano chops...perhaps as much as Neil (!) just sayin'

asg
At 1/08/2010 07:31:00 PM, doc said...: Well, the Lady of GaGa has just opened up the floodgates to all these hip hop and rappers to start "Skimmin" good old Neil's lyrics into house, rap and hip hop.
It had to happen..
When an artist as great and diverse as Neil is "discovered" by the "new order" just sit back and enjoy the experience. I'm really starting to warm to this "skimming".
Alls its does, is show how infuential Neil's music can be across every Generation...Nothing is new...just recycled.

Yo Neil's in the house!!!
Doc Rap
At 1/08/2010 09:07:00 PM, Anonymous said...: ha somebody thinks she can sing.
ever hear of AUTOTUNE. It can be used live to.
At 1/08/2010 09:17:00 PM, Anonymous said...: As soon as she plays the Bridge School Benefit, or Neil endorses her, she'll be great in all your eyes...
At 1/08/2010 10:15:00 PM, Crris said...: Maybe I've got it wrong, but I don't think Neil has "jumped the shark" by this.From what I understand from the Wikipedia link the phrase means that something has reached its ulitmate, never to be surpassed moment.
Lady Gaga performing a bit of one of Neil's songs I do not think equates to Neil having reached his ultimate moment!
These terms , I don't know.
OUT ON THE WEEKEND for me a fave song to play. Simple, but sounds so damn good.
At 1/08/2010 11:44:00 PM, doc said...: Whoa, this debate's gunna be as big as Neil vs Bob...and it took a woman in a wig to do it!!!

Funny thing is.... I sorta like it!

goochi goochi goo GAGA
At 1/09/2010 03:22:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Overused phrases from the last decade:

"Jumped the shark"

That's all I could think of.

Stop using it already, you sound like you sport a goatee.

-Neal (who still can't log into his google account for some reason)
At 1/09/2010 06:07:00 AM, Thos said...: Bloody hell doc, what a daft suggestion!

I have oftened marvelled at Pegi's beautiful and subtle voice when she sings backing vocals for Neil - she's just perfect. As is Emylou Harris who sings backing sometimes too. Lady GaGa on the other hand is incapable of singing in tune.

In order to truly see what the difference is between these singers, try shutting your eyes and imagining Lady Gaga singing the backing vocals for 'Harvest Moon', 'This Old Guitar' etc...

It works for me!

Thos.
At 1/09/2010 08:29:00 AM, doc said...: Last say from me on this...

So Thos, what your suggesting is that Lady GaGa should drop the last "a" ..and just be Lady GaG?
At 1/09/2010 09:23:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Thos said

"I have oftened marvelled at Pegi's beautiful and subtle voice when she sings backing vocals for Neil - she's just perfect."

You can't be serious. No more Koolaid for you!
At 1/09/2010 10:43:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Hmmm....interesting idea from Thos -

"try shutting your eyes and imagining Lady Gaga singing the backing vocals for 'Harvest Moon', 'This Old Guitar' etc..."

Maybe there`s more to this than meets the eye - prepare for the Neil Young and Lady GaGa tour!!!

Well, he`s keeping very quiet about his plans for 2010!!

love, Jill
At 1/09/2010 12:15:00 PM, Thos said...: Gosh, I'm glad Jill suggested that and not Archives Guy!

Thos.
At 1/09/2010 01:54:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I HAVE heard of AUTOTUNE, tho I didn't know it can be used in a live situation...try this--go to youTube,type in lady gaga NYU 2005...the performance is not absolutely perfect and that's OK--NEIL isn't absolutely perfect...I don't think she was using Autotune that night...it's true that she would be WAY less memorable if she just sat at the piano and sang, lotsa people can do that...there is Ego at work as well, every Artist has SOME...

asg
At 1/09/2010 02:38:00 PM, doc said...: You only ever let the lead so far out with me Thrash... before pullin me back in hey!.. who let the Blogs out? lol

And I thought you let me throgh on "jumpin the shark" and Peg? lol

luv dip
At 1/09/2010 06:44:00 PM, J. said...: This is completely and utterly wrong. Whoever allowed this to happen should be dragged to the curb and shot.
At 1/09/2010 09:49:00 PM, doc said...: Hey, fellow Wheaties
Just a question on copyright/plaguirism?..what IS the legal remifications on "skimming"?.

I do remember several years ago when George Harrison was sued for having the melody in "My Sweet lord" being compared to another song and was sued for copyright and lost the case.

Are all these rappers and hip hoppers, Gaga's and Alicia Keys's had permission from the original artist to Skim? Just curious?

Any ideas on the legalities?

Curious Doc
At 1/09/2010 11:19:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I think if she were to record what we saw, she would have to give Neil credit, etc. the way anybody who covers anybody is supposed to...as for "live" performance, I'm not sure...
At 1/10/2010 01:13:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I remember a 'brother' tellin' me he ha some skim on his eye one time. Maybe he knew..

- Not Rotten Johnny
At 1/10/2010 01:23:00 AM, doc said...: Hmmm, thanks Johnny...On ya brother's eye hey?, interesting...
You sure it was skim and not something else? I know how you like to blow your cover! lol

Doc
At 1/11/2010 10:13:00 AM, Amelia said...: I'm intreagued as to how much her voice has changed since she began singing live - she used to sing like she was enduring some kind of fit (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WPC3_CsOQE)
and now she has a pleasant enough sound... Methinks clever use of Autotuners??
At 1/11/2010 10:32:00 AM, Anonymous said...: and it's just posssible that she realized that her singing needed improvement, and took care of it...when Madonna took the clothespin off her nose, HER siging got better...just sayin'...

asg
At 1/11/2010 12:51:00 PM, Amelia said...: Could be...

But - if this more acoustic/piano style is what she's going with - I much prefer it :)

Although, I must say, I much prefered Madonna's older work (pre 90's)
At 1/21/2010 02:08:00 AM, Luke said...: wow, old. great performance. this is from about a year and a half ago though.
At 1/28/2010 11:02:00 PM, Anonymous said...: All you haters need to gtfo, she's amazing.
At 2/07/2010 09:49:00 AM, Ryan Spaulding said...: I am a music blogger - one who has completely stayed clear of the Lady Gaga hype. This hasn't really changed my mind in the slightest about her music or career, but at least she has a sense of a creative compass.... working a little Neil in there.