Ran across a video of Season 8 American Idol winner, Kris Allen, covering Radiohead’s classic “Paranoid Android” at a show earlier in June. The cover isn’t as bad as you’d expect. I’m sure most people will automatically hate on it, but it’s actually listenable. Apparently, he is doing it for “the street cred”.
Watch:
nerdgirl — 1 Jul 10
If you get a chance – go see him live. Videos don’t even come close to the live concert experience. Just saying…
Molly M M — 1 Jul 10
This guy is actually really good. There’s a reason the Idol producers DIDN’T want him to win, and that’s because he’s a true musician.
hello — 1 Jul 10
Yea you’re wrong, i automatically LOVED it…
Sandra — 1 Jul 10
Damn! I’m actually shocked he pulled that off and did it beautifully. No wonder he won. I think this guy is seriously underrated,wow!
lex — 1 Jul 10
Shit man! I automatically love it too. Who knew? I think I need to go check this kid out. I saw some vids up from a concert in SF this past weekend so maybe I’ll go see what they’re about. Gotta say though, I’m mighty impressed with his cover of Paranoid Android. He’s creative.
lex — 1 Jul 10
I’m back and I have to thank you Will for drawing my attention to this guy. Did you know this is the guy who sings Live Like You’re Dying? I love that song. In my looking I see he also covers Oasis song Don’t Look Back In Anger. I’m sold! At his SF concert he sang an original song Is It Over and I must say this is a seriously talented young man~tomorrow I’m going out to hunt down his CD. Thanks again Will.
s g — 1 Jul 10
I loved it. what a great singer and great looking too!
lynne — 1 Jul 10
And he actually was being “tongue-in-cheek” when he made that comment about this song giving his band street cred. He has a snarky sense of humor & loves to laugh at himself.
Nikki — 1 Jul 10
Wow…. This is actually really awesome. I’ll have to go check him out sometime.
Eric — 1 Jul 10
As a Radiohead fan, I was getting ready to bash him after watching but honestly, I’m suprised. It really takes a good singer to cover a song like this and a real musician to take risks of covering such.
That was amazing and the band seems great too.
Marla — 1 Jul 10
When I heard Kris had done that I cringed at first, but then I remembered that Kris has the ability to take any song and make it good. I remember when I first heard he was tackling Heartless and She Works Hard For the Money. Major cringe. But then..upon hearing both…masterpieces.
Kris is turning out to be a true artists and musician, something Idol probably never expected.
And I’ll echo Nerdgirl. Inasmuch as some videos are really good, they cannot capture what Kris brings to a live performance.
lanielynne — 1 Jul 10
I’m also realizing that this kid has been seriously underrated. Just because he focuses on music arrangement and not on image and the glamorous aspect of performing, American Idol didn’t appreciate him. I don’t think that show likes true musicians….
Pam — 1 Jul 10
Kris Allen is an amazingly talented singer/songwriter/musician….his live performances are outstanding. If you have a chance…go see one…you will not be disappointed. He is an artist…in every respect. I am a supporter of Kris, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta in every way….their Kradison concert in NYC was spectacular…hoping for more appearances together…and plan on attending Kris’ show this summer and Adam and Allison’s as well…she’s touring with Adam.
harry — 1 Jul 10
Nice cover! Liked Kris on Idol and continue to follow his career with interest.
RarelyC — 1 Jul 10
I actually heard this cover live at another venue and loved it. I am not the most knowledgeable person about Radiohead’s work, but as a result of Allen’s performance, I downloaded a bunch of Radiohead songs. That’s the great thing about doing covers like this, it gets people to try out different music — opens things up a bit. Kris Allen does some interesting covers, including Alison Krauss’s Maybe. And I echo those above, Kris Allen is really good live — better than the videos portray. He has an interesting sound.
Gin — 2 Jul 10
Kris Allen is amazing, love Paranoid Android, never heard of it before Kris did it and never heard of Radiohead (I don’t get out much,lol!) I am not happy with the “not as bad as you would expect” comment and the “most people will automatically hate on it” – talk about judgemental, how about giving someone a fair go before ‘automatically’ deciding they are crap. Sounds like you like it anyway but are too cool to admit it straight out.
Kam — 2 Jul 10
Gin- don’t think he’s being judgmental. Most people have preconceived notions about the kids who come from that show, nothing wrong with acknowledging that fact. The positive point would be that it actually IS better than one would expect.
Jake — 2 Jul 10
I can’t stand American Idol at all, but this guy is actually good. I’m surprised he even won, since that show likes to promote cheesiness and over-the-top drama, while Kris legitimately has taste and talent.
MacTwig — 2 Jul 10
I was linked to your site via a blog post elsewhere about Kris Allen. I’m very happy I’ve found you. Going through your other posts, you have some great music featured here and are introducing me to some artists/bands I’m not familiar with. Thanks!
American Idol is a guilty pleasure for me. It’s pop culture and every once in a while, you find some decent music, really good artists and serious musicians. Usually they don’t get far since it’s really just a reality TV talent show. once the season is over, it’s on to production of the next season and their next big find.
Kris Allen was a very unlikely winner and very obviously not a producer favorite. But for people like me who look for real music and not pop drivel, I was thrilled with what I heard during the show and most definitely now that his AI ‘reign’ is all over. His covering ‘Paranoid Android’ and doing it so well is no surprise. I’m looking forward to more original music from him and more ‘surprising’ covers.
David — 2 Jul 10
AI discovered some talent if you look beyond the obvious. Kris wasn’t supposed to win or so it seemed and every AI blog dissed him for proving them all wrong. He is a quiet storm as someone said and I hope he has a long career in music because he appreciates and loves it as he is proving on this tour. If he comes to a town near you, go see him. The YT vids don’t do his talent justice. Love Radiohead, btw.
madeleine — 2 Jul 10
love this cover! Kris is a talented and creative artist!
Morgan — 2 Jul 10
I had never heard of Paranoid Android OR Don’t Look Back In Anger, so I love it when Kris covers songs and introduces me to other artists. Love this guy’s buttery vocals (lower register…yum), and his performance style is like night/day from what we saw on AI. He’s really kicked everything up and is a lot of fun at a live show.
Jackie — 2 Jul 10
I loved this the first time I heard it!! I love the harmonies and the acoustic guitar. I can’t wait for the second album Kris Allen and his band are going to blow us away!!! Can’t wait to see them live.
jak — 2 Jul 10
It’s amazing that Paranoid Android can sound angry, frustrated, sad and sexy at the same time. this vid made me appreciate Radiohead a lot more. Who knew? Acoustic PA! Kris makes it sound so personal and current, would love to hear this cover now on the radio.
Will — 2 Jul 10
@Gin:
Most people who are going to come into this blind, with just the knowledge that he is an american idol winner are going to have a negative preconception of him. I realized that, hence why I posted that.
& If I didn’t give it a fair shot, I wouldn’t have watched it, the posted it on my own blog for others to see.
I admitted that I liked it (“its listenable”), and that it isn’t bad at all.
Gerry — 2 Jul 10
I’ve loved Kris since AI and have been angry about how under appreciated he’s been. I hope people are beginning to see how talented he is.
Micah — 2 Jul 10
I hate American Idol, but that is actually really good. Kris doesn’t seem like the normal contestant they have on that show. Kid seems like a musician and has a nice voice.
Emily — 2 Jul 10
I got goose-bumps all over. This is the first time I heard this song. Kris, the idol, was amazing.
Ek — 7 Jul 10
I’m a Radiohead fan and you’re right, Will, I automatically hate it. I wouldn’t have opened any video from the American Idol if he didn’t cover this song. I see he has good taste covering the classic Paranoid Android and he also has a pretty good voice. Though, honestly, I’m still not okay with it.
@jak You’ve never listened to Thom’s Original, have ya?
kim — 11 Jul 10
I’m a Radiohead fan and a Kris Allen fan. Couldn’t get Kris’ cover of Paranoid Android out of my head today. It’s that good.