Hope me identify a cover of a Cold Play song.

January 2, 2006 8:13 PM

Hope me identify a cover of a Cold Play song. [IdentiSongFilter]

Okay, I've only heard this song once on the radio, played on the station KCRW in SoCal. I haven't heard the song since. So, there is a possibility I've finally lost it and actually experience surreal music hallucinations while driving to work.

The song is apparently a cover of the Cold Play single titled Talk. But if recollection serves me right, this cover is entirely an instrumental version.

The aspect of the cover which stands out most prominently in my mind is the hook, or gimmick of the song. (If hook or gimmick are the correct terms for that part of the song.) In the original ColdPlay version of the song this hook is performed on the guitar. And on further review, this is the riff ColdPlay borrowed from Kraftwerk's Computer Love song. Hopefully, this makes what I'm asking a little more comprehensible.

On the cover song I heard, the riff is played by (from what I can remember) some type of classical Chinese string instrument. The other instruments in the song were apparently also classical instruments.

So, the song is a cover of ColdPlay's talk played by Classical Chinese instruments. Pleas help me identify this song. Thank you.

posted by Colloquial Collision to media & arts (15 answers total)

If it's instrumental consider whether you're misremembering and it's actually a cover of Computer Love.
posted by abcde at 8:40 PM on January 2, 2006

In fact, maybe it's Computer Love off Possessed by the Balanescu Quartet (though no Chinese instruments there, obviously).
posted by abcde at 8:51 PM on January 2, 2006

Call or email the DJ that would have likely played it at the time you think you heard it. They may well know it as one of their favorites or something.
posted by kcm at 8:54 PM on January 2, 2006

Thanks, abcde. I listened to the Possessed clip, but wasn't able to hear enough of the song to give a positive identification. It's certainly not what I remember hearing on the radio, but the clip certainly sounds similar to what I heard.

I'll try emailing the DJ. My track record with receiving emails back from others concerning songs I've heard on radio stations is surprisingly low.
posted by Colloquial Collision at 9:14 PM on January 2, 2006

CDUniverse has a slightly different clip of it that includes the beginning of the main part of the song rather than just the loopy intro.
posted by abcde at 9:22 PM on January 2, 2006

Actually, I had it backwards. I was thinking of the Amazon version, which is a clip taken from very close to that one. At any rate, that one's different.
posted by abcde at 9:29 PM on January 2, 2006

The hook for Talk was originally used by the early electronica band Kraftwerk on the track Computer Love. Might start there though I doubt either version they released (1981 version and a remixed version in 1991) is the one you are looking for.
posted by Relly70 at 10:20 PM on January 2, 2006

He did note that.
posted by abcde at 10:37 PM on January 2, 2006

Relly70: read the question again. Then read the answers that have been given so far.

Having said that, my answer is going to be just as unhelpful. I remember a while ago reading (possibly on here) about a Japanese koto band (there were maybe 4 or 5 of them) that arranged modern pop and rock hits for the koto. I saw their CDs online somewhere, but I can't remember where, and I can't remember their name either. It was one word, I'm pretty sure. Additionallu, I can't remember any of the songs they covered. But this would certainly explain the hook being played on a 'chinese' instrument, and it would also likely explain why you've only heard it once - they're hardly a well-known band. But I'm ashamed to say that after a couple of hours of searching, I can't find any mention of them online whatsoever.
posted by nylon at 10:58 PM on January 2, 2006

Well, the Balanescu suggestion sounds spot on to me: This CD contains renditions of The Robots, The Model, Autobahn, Computer Love and Pocket Calculator done with classical instruments.

But if that isn't it, then I suspect it isn't a cover that you're looking for, but a remix. Poking around, I discovered a handful of "Talk" remixes. Coldplay has officially released the Francois K Remix as an exclusive on their site, and has commissioned another from Junkie XL (apparently still unreleased).
t
I also found references to unofficial remixes by Max Graham, the Spencer Collective, and C64. I also saw a reference to a mashup called "Coldplay vs. Kraftwerk – Computer Talk" by Party Ben (one half of the Dean Gray mashup team).

Francois K and Max Graham sound like sandard club/dance remixes. The Party Ben one has a more instrumental take but with the standard vocal track. Spencer Collective is a bit more dub/house.

I hope this satisfies all your Coldwerk or Kraftplay needs.
posted by dhartung at 11:17 PM on January 2, 2006

KCRW posts playlists of everything they play on their website. Or at least they used to for Nic Harcourt's show--I've looked up many a tune he's played. If you remember what day you heard the song or at least which DJ it was that played it, you might be able to find it on there and not have to worry about waiting for a producer to email you back.
posted by bcwinters at 5:17 AM on January 3, 2006

The Balanescu Quartet version of Computer Love doesn't remotely sound like it's played with Chinese instruments, so I doubt that's it. I put that song on my last MeFi CD Swap mix.
posted by painquale at 6:46 AM on January 3, 2006

It is "Computer Talk" by Party Ben.

MP3 available on the site.
posted by First Post at 7:17 AM on January 3, 2006

direct link to MP3
posted by First Post at 7:21 AM on January 3, 2006

Thanks to everyone for the help, especially abcde and dhartung.

The cover or remix is either the Balanescu Quartet cover of Kraftwerk's Computer Love or the Junkie XL remix of ColdPlay's Talk. (I hope.)

After looking through the KCRW archives, the Junkie XL remix was the only thing which came up that corresponds to the time I was driving to work.

Unfortunately for me the jury is still out. This is because I have been unable to hear the riff I remember in any of the Balanescu Quartet samples, and I cannot listen to the Junkie XL remix because it has yet to be released.

Thank you KCRW for playing music I cannot purchase.

Anyway, I'm always amazed at how fast the MetaFilter Collective MegaMind can answer music questions.
posted by Colloquial Collision at 4:31 AM on January 4, 2006