Sometimes there’s that song that just puts you in the greatest mood! Though “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners was recorded in 1982, I just discovered it recently (thanks to E-603, who included it in his mash-up of awesomeness. It’s about 3/4 through “Hit Up Tonight”; track 8).
I automatically fell in love with the strings because I effing LOVE strings in any rock song! As you can imagine, I nearly exploded when I first heard “Hurricane 2000.” Anyway, Dexy’s Midnight Runner’s version of “Come On Eileen” isn’t nearly as intense, but it does feature strings and a banjo as well on top of the usual sounds you hear in a band. These instruments coupled with the great piano and saxophone melodies just gives you the greatest, happiest feeling! It’s so upbeat and poppy that you can’t help but fall in love with it. The melody playing on the strings throughout the song is so infectious, you’ll swear you’ll need to go to a clinic. After I heard this song for the first time, I couldn’t for the life of me get it out of my head!
For a different taste, you need to listen to the version performed by 90’s ska band, Save Ferris. Since these two bands are considered two different genres, “Come On Eileen” takes on a whole new form. Unfortunately, there are no strings in the Save Ferris version but they are replaced with horns, which ain’t too shabby either! The quick, short strumming of the guitars and horns you hear so often in ska music are what keep this song so upbeat and dance-able, even though it’s a different direction from Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Monique Powell’s voice is strong and does a good job of keeping up with the original.
I only have one gripe with this cover: the bridge.
In the original, there is a vast slow-down in tempo and you focus on the harmonizing vocals that eventually speed up and kick the song back up to where it was. It’s a really great part of the song and leads back into the chorus, which you can consider a short break from dancing before you gotta start back up again! In Save Ferris’ version, the slowed tempo is a bit lost as the ska-style guitar and horns continue through this bridge. The way they’re played (quick, short strums/breaths) I think inadvertently makes the bridge sound a lot quicker than it’s meant to be. If Save Ferris intended to do that, it’s all fine; I just prefer the intense slow-down and build-up in the original.
Both of these versions are great but I love the strings, banjo and piano in the original! They sound so out of place! You’d think you were in the middle of an Irish jig or maybe even some sort of Country-Western, Dixie showcase (I just threw out a bunch of words that I thought of when I heard this song). This song is seriously awesome and always puts me in a good mood. Have a listen and let us know if it does the same for you!