Tag: Pandemic Song of the Day

Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”

Singer-songwriter Mo Pitney performs an acoustic cover of Don Gibson’s classic song “If Hollywood Don’t Need You.”

Mo Pitney Hollywood

You may never have heard of Mo Pitney or the Don Gibson record “If Hollywood Don’t Need You.” But if that is the case, and you love a great country ballad, you need to watch Pitney’s acoustic performance of the song alone with his guitar in the woods.

I recently discovered Pitney and his wonderful voice. So I only recently ran across this pandemic video he posted on Facebook in October 2020. The young Illinois native is early into what looks to be a promising career. The singer-songwriter has released two studio albums:  Behind This Guitar (2016) and Ain’t Lookin’ Back (2020). Both are worth checking out for both Pitney’s voice and his songwriting.

This performance of “If Hollywood Don’t Need You,” with nothing but a guitar and the trees behind Pitney, reveals the depth of Pitney’s talents. He takes a great song, which has been one of his favorite songs since he was a kid, and he breaks your heart.

Don Gibson released his version of the song — also known with a parenthetical as “If Hollywood Don’t Need You (Honey I Still Do)” — in 1982. Originally appearing on Gibson’s album Listen to the Radio, “If Hollywood Don’t Need You” went to number one on the country charts for Gibson, who passed away in 2003.

Pitney made a video for the song back in 2016. But in this 2020 performance and video, the setting in the woods highlights the aching in the song’s tale. The singer professes his love in a letter to the woman who left him to pursue her dreams. He knows he has to let her go, hoping  she makes “the big time” and that her dreams come true. But, he reminds her, if Hollywood doesn’t need her, he will be there waiting for her.

The song was written by Bob McDill. The songwriter wrote country classics, including Gibson’s “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” which we previously wrote about.

Here,”If Hollywood Don’t Need You” has several layers. On the surface, the singer is wishing the best to his former lover while letting her know he misses her. But underneath it all one may hear the words as an appeal asking her to return.

And no matter how you interpret the lyrics, there also is a cool reference to actor Burt Reynolds: “Oh, and if you see Burt Reynolds / Would you shake his hand for me? / And tell old Burt, I’ve seen all his movies.” Check it out.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

Karen O and Willie Nelson Record “Under Pressure” (Pandemic Song of the Day)

Karen O and Willie Nelson put an acoustic spin on “Under Pressure,” the classic song by Queen and David Bowie.

Under Pressure Willie

Karen O and Willie Nelson recently recorded a cover of “Under Pressure,” originally written and performed by Queen and David Bowie. Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs wrote Nelson seeking his help for a letter seeking funding for independent music venues during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In her letter, she also raised the possibility of working together. And out of that contact came this collaboration.

Through Nelson’s daughter, Nelson responded to Karen O asking for a suggested song.  And Karen O came up with the idea for a new interpretation of the Bowie-Queen classic.

This new version begins with the famous bass line, but it remains quieter and acoustic, focusing on the lyrics for our troubled times.  Check out Karen O and Willie Nelson on “Under Pressure.”

And that is our Pandemic Song of the Day. Leave your two cents in the comments.

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  • The Pines at Night (Matthew Ryan) Releases Full Album,”A Year of Novembers”
  • A “Song for a Hard Year” from The Pines at Night
  • Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”
    • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

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    John Mellencamp Covers “Welcome to Struggleville” (Pandemic Songs)

    John Mellencamp gives his fans a cover of a song “fitting for these times.”

    John Mellencamp recently posted on his Facebook page his cover of a Vigilantes of Love song “Welcome to Struggleville.” The singer-songwriter offered a brief explanation: “John played this song because he thought it was fitting for these times.”

    Through the 1990s into the early 2000s, Vigilantes of Love was fronted by Bill Mallonee. Although Mallonee never received the fame he deserved, it is cool that Mellencamp recognizes the talent.

    And Mellencamp is also correct about how the song fits our times. Although the Vigilantes of Love version of “Welcome to Struggleville” is a rock song, Mellencamp slows things down, making it into a folk song that is almost a dirge. The song paints haunting images, including Biblical characters. And it ends with a dark warning.

    They are building a new gallows
    For when you show up on the street.
    Polishing the electric chair,
    They’re gonna give you a front row seat.
    Heard a sneer outside the garden;
    Salutation so well-heeled:     . . . .
    ‘Welcome all you suckers to Struggleville. ‘

    Check out John Mellencamp’s version of “Welcome to Struggleville.”

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • John Fogerty and Family Gift Us “Green River” from the Campfire
  • The Pines at Night (Matthew Ryan) Releases Full Album,”A Year of Novembers”
  • A “Song for a Hard Year” from The Pines at Night
  • Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”
  • Jackson Browne Covers Tom Petty’s “The Waiting”
  • I’ll See You In My Dreams: Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021
    • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    John Fogerty and Family Gift Us “Green River” from the Campfire

    As people are locked down at home during the coronavirus pandemic, John Fogerty has joined other artists sending us gifts through video. Most recently, he gave us a video of the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic “Green River.”

    The video features Fogerty with his children Shane, Tyler and Kelsey around the campfire, apparently from Fogerty’s Ventura, California home. With Fogerty’s great voice, one cannot get much better than this one. In addition to the campfire, there are marshmallows and a stuffed Winnie the Pooh.

    Fogerty begins the video with an explanation of how he got the title “Green River.” A drink inspired the song. Check out the pandemic video of the day.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • John Mellencamp Covers “Welcome to Struggleville” (Pandemic Songs)
  • John Fogerty Rocks One More Time for Letterman
  • It’s Like Deja Vu All Over Again
  • The Pines at Night (Matthew Ryan) Releases Full Album,”A Year of Novembers”
  • A “Song for a Hard Year” from The Pines at Night
  • Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”
    • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)