The Selecter’s Ska Take on Doris Day’s ‘Secret Love’

[webmaster]

Listen to The Selecter’s Ska Take on Doris Day’s ‘Secret Love’

Doris Day didn’t used to have much in common with English ska, but the Selecter has changed all that: The 2 Tone revival band’s new album “String Theory” includes a cover of Day’s “Secret Love,” which premieres today on Speakeasy.

Day first sang the song in the 1953 movie “Calamity Jane,” and the tune won an Oscar for best original song. The Selecter teases out a different meaning from the lyrics about confessing a crush — though they’re not the first to find subtext in the tune.

“It’s a great gay icon song,” singer Pauline Black told Speakeasy. “We’ve just kind of taken that and updated it and done it in an old-school ska way. It’s probably the song anyone would think the Selecter is least likely to do.”

Listen to it here:
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/08/ ... cret-love/

The Selecter was one of my favourite bands in the 80s. I really like it and the fact that they've done it but it's no good comparing it to Doris' version - it's completely different.

[doris-day-fan]

I just read it on a Google Alert also and am glad you clarified this....there is ONLY ONE version of SECRET LOVE and that is the one by the one and only, our Doris Day!
Mary Anne

[webmaster]

Have you listened to it, Mary Anne?

I bet you'll all hate it!

[doris-day-fan]

No, haven't heard it yet - hate to hear that beautiful song ruined....to me, there is only one version...if I do listen to it at a later time, I will let you know, Bryan. Have a great weekend.
Mary Anne

[webmaster]

Mary Anne wrote, "I hate to hear that beautiful song ruined"

See, prejudiced already! Think of it as a tribute! The band say it's "a cover of Day’s “Secret Love,” - “We’ve just kind of taken that and updated it and done it in an old-school ska way. It’s probably the song anyone would think the Selecter is least likely to do.”

What is Ska, you ask? "Ska (Jamaican) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rock-steady and reggae."

Have a great weekend yourself!

[melancholy]

My goodness,this is a screaming version of a most lovely and beloved song...if only they would have sung it in reaggy version,it would not sound so sharp....

[howard]

I really enjoyed it. It's catchy, and lots of fun to hear. I was fully prepared to hate it, but I got caught up in that great rhythmic beat!

[webmaster]

Excellent - I was expecting to read another thumbs down!

I think it will make people want to listen to the original and it's a great compliment to Doris that they decided to do it.

[howard]

I agree!

[jmichael]

I've listened to it twice but cannot get into it. I'm too much of a romantic and a traditionalist to click with this jived-up version. But I applaud them for taking a classic in a new direction and exposing it to a younger audience. I don't consider anything so sacred that it can't be revisited or revamped from time to time. Thing is, though, the original is more often than not, still the best. Even Sinatra couldn't touch what Doris did with this one.

Michael

[Jas1]

I think it is a sign of a classic when a song is re- recorded time and again - of course the original is the best- this version is more like Cathy Kirby's version - which I really did not like at all.

[webmaster]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, as the saying goes.

I also like Spike Lee's funny version, which I posted on YouTube a few years ago:

[howard]

Just watched, Bryan. What a fun video ... nice work!

[webmaster]

Thanks Howard!

[Ania]

SKA version is cool;) This orchestral dance version of 'Secret Love' lovely:) Tony Martinez is funny in the song In the background you can hear our beloved Doris? You can see that this wonderful song is immortal and even went through different versions and quite bizarre performances. The original is still the best, because Doris sings here the best. Angel is only one ♥ It is rare that a new version of the well-known hit, was better than the original. In my opinion of course
Clip fantastic!!!!


Ania

[Lauren Benjamin]

DESPICABLE, DISGUSTING, UGLY, EMBARRASSING and so typical of today's music of talentless, miserable, misguided so-called musicians.

You all had your say and that's mine and that's just the tip of the iceberg. I got through 2:24 seconds of it and had to turn it off. The woman sounds like she's in the emergency room giving birth!

I'm with Mary Anne on this one, but I don't think it has anything to do with Doris. They don't even know who Doris Day is and don't care - not their ilk. Crap. At least I gave it a test run.

In case you don't know, I'm almost 70 years old. I've listened to decades of music and with each decade the music seems to get worse and worse, although I think the 80s and 90s were perhaps worse than the trash of today. We had Crosby, Sinatra, Elvis and M. Jackson - all great talents of their day and what do they give us now - Biber!!!!!

I just put 84 songs from the 50s and 60s on my iPod. That was *my* era. In all fairness, however, I can remember the nuns in grade having a FIT over the song, "Purple People Eater." So - all things in a circle.

Lauren

[Ania]

The worst thing about all this is Lauren that teenagers listening to this version SKA, they think it's some new hit. In general, young people do not know that the song is sung by Doris. They think "Secret Love" is a song of The Selecter's. It's hard to sing like Doris, because Doris is unique and one of a kind♥
As I wrote earlier it is rare that a new version of the famous song is better than the original.

George Michael version is very cool! George Michael is a great singer! Beautifully and preserved the unique atmosphere of the 50s♥ They are, however, exceptions:)
Ania

[webmaster]

I found a version YOU did, Ania!

http://youtu.be/YEaPntGdzsQ

Can't play it here for some reason.

[Ania]

I found a version YOU did, Ania!

http://youtu.be/YEaPntGdzsQ

Can't play it here for some reason.

Ania

[howard]

Never heard George Michael's version before ... not bad!

[Jas1]

I love George's version-it's from his album "Songs from the last century" Howard where he does some great versions of jazz /standards - including My baby just cares for me and You've Changed.

The inclusion in this album of Secret Love is proof [to me]that GM is a big DD fan- remember the D Day line in the Wham classic- Wake me up before you go go...-

[unadka]

If we wouldn't evaluate this song as offended DD fans, maybe we would have it quite like. It's just another version.
Doris recorded also many songs, which were sung before by other singers and so what. We prefer her singing and that's OK.

Nada

[howard]

Jas, back to George Michael: He also did a duet with Elton John (I think it was George Michael) called "Wrap her Up" where they shout out names of women they've loved, and Doris is included in the mix.

[Jas1]

Thanks Howard, I will have to listen to that.

[Ania]

Must Be The Music Polish edition of.

I really like this performance, the boy went to the next stage of the program. He's wonderful! I started crying, it's wonderful that young people sing songs of our beloved Doris.


Ania