There I was…<\/p>\n
Last Sunday evening in the medieval town of Bergamo, Italy, fifteen finalists reported for competition on a single stage before an audience of avid Italian Springsteen fans, critics, fellow musicians. industry notables, and one American blogger.<\/p>\n
Each of the Cover Me finalists had already survived a qualifying rounding of judging based on a video submission, and for every artist who made the cut, three more didn’t.<\/p>\n
I was genuinely excited for the event, and not just because of the exotic travel, community connection, and live music. As I’m sure you know by now, dear reader, I am a sucker for a good cover. And by good, I mean fresh and inventive. My favorite covers (many of which I’ve featured here on the Shuffle) are the ones that completely reinvent the original song and make me appreciate it in ways I’d never considered.<\/p>\n
Almost all of the fifteen finalists checked that box with their video submissions, and I was eager to see how their arrangements would translate to the stage. I had a short selection of a few personal favorites that I was particularly looking forward to see performed live.<\/p>\n
But Iacopo Fedi’s cover of “Man’s Job<\/a>” wasn’t one of them.<\/p>\n