The Kinks Vs Van Halen: Battle Finally Commences

punkatomic · July 27th, 2010, 11:18 AM

The Kinks Vs Van Halen: Battle Finally Commences.
gbarton / News / 26/07/2010 12:15pm

It’s taken him more than 30 years, but the The Kinks’ Dave Davies has finally offered his opinion on Van Halen’s cover of You Really Got Me. His verdict? “I’m sure Eddie Van Halen played better when he was drunk.”
Classic Rock’s Rob Hughes met up with Davies last week and they got talking about Van Halen’s 1978 cover of The Kinks classic.
Davies didn’t seem overly impressed by the VH version. Here’s what he had to say:
“Van Halen’s version was very Middle America. It was like, ‘Hey man, look at me with my tight trousers! Here’s our version of You Really Got Me!’
“There’s the thing: good art isn’t always about having the comfiest technique. I shouldn’t encourage him, but I’m sure Eddie Van Halen played better when he was drunk. But it must be a good record if people like it.
“We got pissed off though, when we played America. The Kinks had an album out called Low Budget [1979] and we ended up touring and playing stadiums. Some kid came up to me after one of the gigs and said: ‘I like your cover of Van Halen’s You Really Got Me.’ You have to smile sometimes.”

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/n...lly-commences/

unchainedguitars · July 27th, 2010, 06:36 PM

Ray didn't like it either...

Ray Davies is a genius songwriter, no doubt, but he's coming from a different era than VH.
It would be like Korn covering VH, you know Ed would be like, "Uhh yeah, it was ahh...different."

Dave Davies, to me, was always just hangin' on his brother's coat-tails.
Ray wrote the shit, Dave fumbled along on guitar.

punkatomic · July 27th, 2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unchainedguitars

...Ray wrote the shit, Dave fumbled along on guitar.

LMAO! Too funny!

Simon Ribeiro · July 28th, 2010, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unchainedguitars

Ray didn't like it either...

Ray Davies is a genius songwriter, no doubt, but he's coming from a different era than VH. It would be like Korn covering VH, you know Ed would be like, "Uhh yeah, it was ahh...different."

Dave Davies, to me, was always just hangin' on his brother's coat-tails.
Ray wrote the shit, Dave fumbled along on guitar.

I agree with you!

Humberto5150 · July 28th, 2010, 06:31 PM

I prefer the version of Van Halen. EVH simply destroys the music!

unchainedguitars · July 28th, 2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humberto5150

I prefer the version of Van Halen. EVH simply destroys the music!

From this quote, i can't tell if your for or against??!!

ravennaloveseddie · July 29th, 2010, 02:27 AM

Humberto seems to be saying he likes Van Halen's version better. It seems (because he uses it consistently) that his translator is using "destroys" to mean "kills".....as in "killer groove"? Correct me if I'm wrong Humberto?

Simon Ribeiro · July 29th, 2010, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravennaloveseddie

Humberto seems to be saying he likes Van Halen's version better. It seems (because he uses it consistently) that his translator is using "destroys" to mean "kills".....as in "killer groove"? Correct me if I'm wrong Humberto?

Spot on, Ravenna!

rawkinrobbievh1 · August 4th, 2010, 07:45 PM

not sure what to think on this one ??
of course i prefer the VH version !! duh ...
but can't understand the comments made by Davies ?? i mean after all , those guys must have made a killing in royalties , after Eddie and the boys revamped it for a new generation ?

i mean hell , that 1st album sold like hotcakes and You Really Got Me was the lead single .....

i'm thinking there might be some jealousy involved ???

unchainedguitars · August 4th, 2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawkinrobbievh1

not sure what to think on this one ??
of course i prefer the VH version !! duh ...
but can't understand the comments made by Davies ?? i mean after all , those guys must have made a killing in royalties , after Eddie and the boys revamped it for a new generation ?

i mean hell , that 1st album sold like hotcakes and You Really Got Me was the lead single .....

i'm thinking there might be some jealousy involved ???

Ray & Dave are like that.
Ray, especially, cuts everyone down in his sort of biting, English manner.
Ray Davies is a brilliant songwriter, but i've always gotten the feeling he was also a real dickhead.
Dave Davies is a tag-along, his claim to fame is cutting a speaker to get distortion.
Ray did all the work.

Oasis tried to mimic the brothers Davies, by being even more arrogant & condescending to better bands like Blur, but Oasis didn't have any real talent to back up their big mouths.

The Kinks (Which IS Ray Davies), at least, had the songs (and longevity).