Punk Rock
Don't Wanna Hear No Sonic Youth
Submitted by vodka ed on February 14, 2009 - 2:20pm.The laziness continues here at RobotSound. Instead of looking towards the future we've had our heads stuck firmly in the past. Today's offering is yet another post focusing on a perennial favorite that a slew of artists have performed over the years.
The original, Elton Motello's 1977 gay punk anthem, Jet Boy Jet Girl, is about a 15-year-old boy's sexual relationship with another guy, who then rejects him for a girl. Plastic Bertrand re-recorded the song as Ca Plane Pour Moi with Motello's musicians, changed the lyrics (which were deemed too controversial at the time), and turned it into a worldwide hit.
So, as an anti-Valentine's Day tribute of sorts, here are 17 versions of a song that should resonate well with our gay teen robot demographic.
Elton Motello
The original.
Plastic Bertrand
The French version most people are familiar with. If you want to understand what the hell he's singing, check this breakdown of the lyrics.
Sonic Youth
I particularly love how they turned the lyrics into gibberish.
The Damned
Live in '79.
David Carretta
Off of his first LP, our favorite mustached-Frenchman is firmly in DJ Gigolo territory here. Les Robots Rule!
Maeder
French pop punks with silly girls dancing. Wooo hooo oooo oooo...
Midnight Juggernaughts
A recent intepretation from these Australian upstarts. A YouTube commenter aptly states, "Not bad but I can't believe someone can play this song sitting on their asses! Too stiff."
Tears
Manufactured slutpop.
Sexbomba
Very smooth vocal delivery. This guy definitely practiced.
Leila K.
Super-kinetic Swedish cyberpop. I like it.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Very abbreviated version that's basically just the chorus (somehow I don't see Anthony memorizing those French lyrics).
The Softies
The Damned's Captain Sensible sings on this early cover.
Angel Corpus Christi
Lesbian Folk re-working?
Nell Campbell
Unbelievably kitschy take from Little Nell Campbell aka Columbia from Rocky Horror
Heavy Eric
Low-budget promo video from a bizarre yet talented performer. The smokin' females don't hurt either.
Normahl
Fairly straightforward punk with some added reverb on the wooo hooo ooo ooo.
Telex
My favorite. Telex vocoders for the Lounge Robot set.
The Bosshoss
Hillbilly garage featuring darn-tootin', newfangled lyrics. You low-down punk - you stole my junk!

