Brian Covers Buddy

Buddy Holly covers seem to be in season. Check out Brian Wilson's new rendition of "Listen to Me," courtesy of Rolling Stone. Right now you can stream or download it, but in the future it will live on another Buddy Holly tribute album called, you guessed it, Listen to Me (out Sept. 6). Of course, the Buddy Holly tribute album Rave on Buddy Holly just came out as well.

Someone needs to tell me what's going on.

Distracted by Buddy Holly

Like a lot of people these days, from high schoolers to tv journalists to politicians and the odd 50-year-old in between, I use Twitter. In fact, one of my favorite hashtags is #distractedbyBuddyHolly because it applies more than you would think, and it's nothing if not accurate in describing what happens if I'm trying to say, do an interview, and "Rave On" is playing in the background of the coffee shop.

Anyway, today I bring you tidings that NPR is streaming the new Buddy Holly tribute album, Rave On Buddy Holly. It's 19 tracks featuring names like Paul McCartney, Florence and the Machine, Modest Mouse, Patti Smith and Lou Reed, to name a few.

I've yet to hear it through, but I figure it's worth mentioning, not so much because I was so madly in love with She & Him's cover of "Oh, Boy," but because I think it's more than worth noting that Buddy Holly is still relevant today, 50+ years after his death, and will remain so for generations to come.

Give it a listen, let us know what you think.

M. Ward covers Buddy Holly

M. Ward's cool take on "Rave On" by Buddy Holly is definitely worth mentioning. Seeing the story about the music video release pop up on Pitchfork, I was already rolling my eyes. Somethings are better left alone. Yet, I was more than pleasantly surprised to hear the chill, retro-tinged version featuring Zooey Deschanel. And that's not even getting into the funky animation. Take a look.

The Day the Music Died

Perhaps a tad dramatic, but that's how the song goes. It is a little hard to believe it's been 50 years since Buddy Holly's plane crashed. I won't even try to explain why the guy was a giant. I think the fact that anyone remembers the day he died so long after makes the point just fine.


I remember sitting in the shopping cart in the super market when I was barely four singing this song. It's "Maybe Baby." Take a listen.

Don't forget Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, either.

Peace, kids.