Frankly, I am surprised that no one covered this song sooner. This was the shocking song of my youth, well, teenage youth. I cannot even begin to calculate how many times I saw Purple Rain back then. It was constantly playing at the midnight movies. Not a whole lot to do in Tulsa, when you are a teenager. This song is the key pivotal moment in the movie in which Prince, the hero, makes Apollonia, aka: Vanity #2, cry. He does this by mentioning the taboo subject of self love, and then humping the stage floor. It was very upsetting to her. [I never understood that.]
Darling Nikki – Prince 1984


When I first heard this cover, I believe my words were “Fuck, YEAH! Why didn’t anyone cover this before? That’s hot.” This song was not actually released on the album it was meant to be released upon, if that makes sense, per Prince’s request. So they gave it to the radios to play, which is where I heard it, and had it for free download on the website for a while. I looove this cover. This may be my favorite Then and Now yet.
Darling Nikki – Foo Fighters 2003 [i think .. ’round about then]

I can’t say that this was ever one of my favorite breakup songs. I never even saw the movie. [But then, I never liked Journey’s “Open Arms” either, that was supposed to be the quintessential make-out song of my youth. ] I think I would have turned to Depeche Mode if my heart was breaking, back in 1984, most likely. Nonetheless, I can remember snatches of the video for it.

Then

Against All Odds – Phil Collins 1984

Mr. Moon is actually to thank for brining this week’s Now song. I like the spookiness in the beginning of this version. Then, somewhere in the middle, it goes almost “Mary Tyler Moore theme song” on you….in a good way. And then kind of poppy and spooky again. [Hey… what do you want from me, I’m not a music reviewer] Anyway, I like it.

Now

Against All Odds – Postal Service 2004

I have to say that both versions of this song, Then, and Now, give me great joy. I couldn’t tell you which one I prefer, they are both genius. I guess props goes out, first, to Tom for wiring the song in the first place. A song of love, betrayal, and ultimately – fatale vengeance. Why, why why… oh Delilah. You little minx!
Delilah – Tom Jones 1968


This is the version of the song that I stumbled across that made me pick it for today’s Now and Then. It usually works that way, backwards. This actually came out in 2001, but compared to 1968, that is Now. Come with me, once again, while we to go and pay another visit to slutty, doomed, Delilah with the Crash Test Dummies Dude.
Delilah – Brad Roberts 2001

See below for Part One: Then
And here is Now:
Hounds of Love by Futurehead

On Sunday mornings, a local radio stations has a show called Resurrection Flashback. Featuring alternative music from the 70’s, 80’s and sneaking into the 90’s. In other words, music from my generation, but more alternative than your basic 80’s music show. They have a feature called Then and Now, where they play a song from an artist who has not been around in a while, but has something new. Or has been around all this time, but has something new anyway. But this morning they did a song, instead of an artist. They just happened to feature a song from someone I’ve been listening to lately, and wanting to hear more of, Kate Bush. The song was Hounds of Love. And I decided to recreate it here for you. So, part one.
Then: Hounds of Love by Kate Bush