WRAPPED IN GREY ( XTC ANDY PARTRIDGE COVER ) 04.14.09

[ommen1929]

real nice

[misterjoecool]

As quite an XTC fan, I'd still have to say that your version of Wrapped In Grey is more memorable than theirs. Your sense of story-telling using dramatic timing seems to wring more meaning out of the words than they did, for me.

Great work!

[michaelthorner]

@misterjoecool High praise indeed. I really appreciate you taking the time to listen to my clips. Wrapped In Grey is an amazing tune. When I think of it, I also think of songs like Chalkhills And Children and The Last Balloon. XTC are one of the defining pop bands of my adult life.

[misterjoecool]

@michaelthorner I'm more of an out-and-out pop fan, so, it's the sneering adolescence of Respectable Street and the bruised/mangled Romanticism of The Disappointed, for me.

[Boylieboyle]

aWESOME



[bertollini]

The only disappointment here is that you might have the same fear of a recurring disaster like your previous attempt in front of others. You really did the song justice. "Wrapped In Grey" just happens to be one of my all time favourites of theirs.

Funny, you said "XTC has written some of the best classic pop of the last 30 years". It is likely more appropriate of a statement if you took "some of" out of that sentence, completely.

[SleepyTymeT]

Michael... I have hardly ever listened to this song, but you have NAILED it. No apologies, man.

[michaelthorner]

@SleepyTymeT Thanks for checking it out man!

[IsaacBassMaster]

could you make a video showing what you're playing on the keyboard? pleeasssee

[kettlezone]

Very nice, mate! :-)

[virgogreg]

Talent vocals / keyboards Classy!

[deadwoodmountain]

Great job! I like your rendition because of your slightly different spin on the phrasing. You should try Dr. Wu by Steely Dan....I think that song will suit your style well.

[ghggroup]

The first time I have EVER commented on a you tube video - I thought your cover was absolutely brilliant!!!

[michaelthorner]

I'm honoured that you decided to comment on this clip! Thank you. I just rewatched this for the first time in months. I look positively sociopathic on that final line, lol. I had to do a few takes to reach for that ridiculously high note that comes out of nowhere. Andy Partridge was nothing if not ambitious in his songwriting. I love this song.

[Boylieboyle]

@michaelthorner Reaching that final note is worth any facial expression it takes. Thumbs uuuuuuup.

[michaelthorner]

@Boylieboyle Haha. The only problem is, my face stayed that way afterwards. ;-P

[martin3801]

i read 10.000 copies in the of the single were pulled when virgin realised it wasn't going to be a hit (there's no vid but i remember the tune on the radio)and this contributed the bands decision to go on strike in 1992 after being locked in a bad contract

[michaelthorner]

I remember waiting in my local cd stores back in 1992 for that Wrapped In Grey cd single to appear, even though I had owned the album for months. (I was that kind of fan. Packaging meant something to me back then.) I remember seeing artwork for the cd single promoted somewhere. Then... nothing. It never showed up. Infuriating to think that Virgin didn't think it would get any airplay. A great accompanying video could have given it the attention it deserved. Oh well, history now.

[TheMightyHartley]

Well done! Great job covering a very complex composition.

Cool glasses too :-)

[Soundgasm]

I know it would be a total pain in the ass but I will ask anyway....any chance you can shoot it showing your hands or map out the chords for a dullard like me? I have had a hell of a time trying to figure it out.

[michaelthorner]

I'll see if I can dig up the chord chart, which was written by a fan by hand. I think I got it in a fanzine. I learned the song about 16 years ago. I'm not sure what the chords I'm playing are anymore. If I look down at my hands, I usually screw it up, haha.) They are pretty dense and dissonant. (I usually learn by ear.)

[cattymanly]

Do you make your living as a musician? Or are you just a fabulously talented amateur with another day job? You outdo most of the people on American Idolatry!

[michaelthorner]

Thanks for your kind words sir. I have a day job, yes haha. Your comments just made me realize I should post something new soon.

[cattymanly]

Michael, thanks for replying to my comment. I am an armchair composer, self-employed videographer. I like Scott Houston also known as Scott the Piano Guy. He teaches piano and music theory. He also has a bunch of You Tube videos.

Anyhow, I need to make a few videos on playing certain "riffs" on the keyboards and practical details of music theory. You, Michael, are good at both the keyboards and vocals, you convey the FEELING. That is your forte'.

[keeblerlxix]

this is fabulous!!!!

[SOCM]

Very nice. Great choice of covers. I really enjoyed this. Your a good find. Thanks.

[michaelthorner]

Thank you! I checked out your covers too. I especially like the Floyd cover! Keep posting more!

[RonG40]

There are quite a few gems on that album that are underrated, this being one of them... How about 'Chalkhills and Children'?

[michaelthorner]

There is definitely a discernible lyrical thread between Chalkhills and Children, Wrapped In Grey, and The Last Balloon. Chalkhills and Children is definitely one of my favourites. Rook is great too.

[RonG40]

I was actually obsessed with 'Miniature Sun and 'Chalkhills and Children; for quite a while.

[cagwa]

This is one of my favorite songs. Good job.

[firesong77]

Excellent rendition of this classic, and much underated, song. Thank you.

[Dalriada35]

Oh well done you!