six defining musician errors you won’t be able to unhear
Posted On: 10/4/13
Written By: Nate Brunet
*Click images below to view larger versions.
We’re in week four of the NFL season, and as sad as it is to say, there’s really not much for the state of Maryland to be cheering about so far this season. Yes, the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens are tied for first place in the division, but they’re a .500 team that’s only on top because the rest of the division is as average as them, save for the catastrophe that is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, the Redskins finally got their first win of the year last week after starting the season 0-3. Yeah, yeah, they’re one game behind in the division, but that’s about the only thing to celebrate about the team right now. Mistakes have been a big factor in both team’s struggles, highlighted by Joe Flacco’s five interceptions thrown last week. Thinking about these mistakes has brought me to remember my favorite songs that are quite good, even with noticeable errors. So here are my six favorite tracks featuring mistakes made during the recording process that defined the song.
“Wish You Were Here”
By: Pink Floyd
Off the album: Wish You Were Here (1975)
This one technically didn’t entirely define the song, but there is still one well known part of the song that was not meant to be in the recording. After the quiet and short intro that’s made to emulate someone listening to the radio, we hear guitarist David Gilmour’s twelve-string guitar come in. Shortly after that intro begins, we hear someone coughing at the 0:43 mark of the song. While it appears that the coughing helps personify a broken man thinking about a lost friend, it was actually just Gilmour coughing uncontrollably because he was suffering from a cold. Gilmour has said his accidental cough in this song helped him quit smoking.
By: Pink Floyd
Off the album: Wish You Were Here (1975)
This one technically didn’t entirely define the song, but there is still one well known part of the song that was not meant to be in the recording. After the quiet and short intro that’s made to emulate someone listening to the radio, we hear guitarist David Gilmour’s twelve-string guitar come in. Shortly after that intro begins, we hear someone coughing at the 0:43 mark of the song. While it appears that the coughing helps personify a broken man thinking about a lost friend, it was actually just Gilmour coughing uncontrollably because he was suffering from a cold. Gilmour has said his accidental cough in this song helped him quit smoking.
“Polly”
By: Nirvana
Off the album: Nevermind (1991)
Wasn’t there always something that just seemed a little bit off about this song? “Polly” is a dark acoustic track that doesn’t seem too unusual, but at the 1:56 moment of the song, frontman Kurt Cobain has a strange moment. He sings “Polly says,” but then stops, only to come back at the 2:01 mark, again singing “Polly says,” and continuing with the verse. When practicing the song in its early stages, Cobain accidentally came in too early, but held his composure and waited until coming back in at the correct time. The band liked how it sounded and decided to keep the “mistake” in for good.
By: Nirvana
Off the album: Nevermind (1991)
Wasn’t there always something that just seemed a little bit off about this song? “Polly” is a dark acoustic track that doesn’t seem too unusual, but at the 1:56 moment of the song, frontman Kurt Cobain has a strange moment. He sings “Polly says,” but then stops, only to come back at the 2:01 mark, again singing “Polly says,” and continuing with the verse. When practicing the song in its early stages, Cobain accidentally came in too early, but held his composure and waited until coming back in at the correct time. The band liked how it sounded and decided to keep the “mistake” in for good.
“Louie Louie”
By: The Kingsmen
Off the album: The Kingsmen in Person (1963)
Staying with the theme of early entrances, this is arguably the most famous early entrance of all time. After the tasty guitar solo in the middle of the song, the band plays a short transition to get into the next verse. Well, it’s apparent that singer Jack Ely forgot about the transition, as he begins to sing at the 1:59 mark, but quickly stops. Although this song is a cover of original by Richard Berry, The Kingsmen’s version is the most popular rendition of the song, and bands covering “Louie Louie” are known to replicate Ely’s mistake
By: The Kingsmen
Off the album: The Kingsmen in Person (1963)
Staying with the theme of early entrances, this is arguably the most famous early entrance of all time. After the tasty guitar solo in the middle of the song, the band plays a short transition to get into the next verse. Well, it’s apparent that singer Jack Ely forgot about the transition, as he begins to sing at the 1:59 mark, but quickly stops. Although this song is a cover of original by Richard Berry, The Kingsmen’s version is the most popular rendition of the song, and bands covering “Louie Louie” are known to replicate Ely’s mistake
“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?
By: R.E.M.
Off the album: Monster (1994)
This is another song, like Polly, where something just seems off, even if you can’t put a finger on it. If you pay close attention, you realize the song gradually slows down as it goes on. Bassist Mike Mills kept strumming slower and slower, and the band just followed his pace. After the band recorded the song, they realized why Mills kept slowing his tempo. He looked sickly after the take and the band took him to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had appendicitis. That’s right, Mike Mills played through appendicitis.
“Rock the Casbah”
By: The Clash
Off the album: Combat Rock (1982)
I’d just like to give a warning; once you hear this, you will never be able to get it out of your head again. After the start of the third verse of the song, there is a faint electronic sound that begins at 1:52 and repeats a few times. No, big time rockers weren’t attached to their cell phones at this era, but it was the sound of a different electronic device ringing at an inopportune time. The story goes that the sound comes from the watch of drummer Topper Headon, who also played piano and bass on the track (no, not at the same time). The tune you hear is the watch’s alarm, which is from the classic southern song “Dixie.” Although the sound is off beat, it is surprisingly in tune to the song, which is probably why it was kept in.
By: R.E.M.
Off the album: Monster (1994)
This is another song, like Polly, where something just seems off, even if you can’t put a finger on it. If you pay close attention, you realize the song gradually slows down as it goes on. Bassist Mike Mills kept strumming slower and slower, and the band just followed his pace. After the band recorded the song, they realized why Mills kept slowing his tempo. He looked sickly after the take and the band took him to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had appendicitis. That’s right, Mike Mills played through appendicitis.
“Rock the Casbah”
By: The Clash
Off the album: Combat Rock (1982)
I’d just like to give a warning; once you hear this, you will never be able to get it out of your head again. After the start of the third verse of the song, there is a faint electronic sound that begins at 1:52 and repeats a few times. No, big time rockers weren’t attached to their cell phones at this era, but it was the sound of a different electronic device ringing at an inopportune time. The story goes that the sound comes from the watch of drummer Topper Headon, who also played piano and bass on the track (no, not at the same time). The tune you hear is the watch’s alarm, which is from the classic southern song “Dixie.” Although the sound is off beat, it is surprisingly in tune to the song, which is probably why it was kept in.
“Creep”
By: Radiohead
Off the album: Pablo Honey (1993)
You know the part before the chorus each time where guitarist Jonny Greenwood plays a few loud, scratching and dull chords? Yeah, that wasn’t originally supposed to happen. Loud and erratic grunge music was all the rage at the time, and Greenwood didn’t like how quiet “Creep” was. While recording the track, Greenwood tried spoiling it by blaring his guitar at the quietest moment of the song. “I hit the guitar hard; really hard,” said Greenwood at a later interview. The result was one of the most powerful moments in 90s rock.
«Go back to the previous page.By: Radiohead
Off the album: Pablo Honey (1993)
You know the part before the chorus each time where guitarist Jonny Greenwood plays a few loud, scratching and dull chords? Yeah, that wasn’t originally supposed to happen. Loud and erratic grunge music was all the rage at the time, and Greenwood didn’t like how quiet “Creep” was. While recording the track, Greenwood tried spoiling it by blaring his guitar at the quietest moment of the song. “I hit the guitar hard; really hard,” said Greenwood at a later interview. The result was one of the most powerful moments in 90s rock.