So much better?

[Pietro Paolo Virdis]

There’s a show on Swedish television called ”So much better”, if you translate it.
They invite seven famous Swedish artists to a mansion, have them spend a week together where each is being “the host” during one day. On the day of an artist hosting, the other have prepared and perform an interpretation of a song they’ve picked which the host has written.

It’s all very intimate, just a little basic setting, no audience, with the host in focus telling a bit about his life and career. Singers interviewing singer, and the mix is deliberately set up so that interesting stuff can come out of it. Last time around there was a protest singer, a singer/songwriter, a hip-hopster, Eurodisco E-type, and a few other.

What would be an interesting mix (and which songs) if you could pick any to do something like that?

[Pietro Paolo Virdis]

So much better?

I'll give it a go. Note, the purpose isn't for the songs to become better, as the name of the show implies, but to get an interesting new version of it.

Host Bruce Springsteen
Van Morrison - The River
David Bowie - Born to Run
Lauryn Hill - I’m on fire
Annie Lennox – Hungry Heart
Al Green – Streets of Philadelphia
Peter Gabriel – Human touch

Host Van Morrison
Bruce Springsteen – Real real gone
David Bowie – The way young lovers do
Lauryn Hill - Moondance
Annie Lennox – Into the mystic
Al Green – Steal my heart away
Peter Gabriel – Why must I always explain

Host David Bowie
Bruce Springsteen – Ashes to ashes
Van Morrison – Rebel rebel
Lauryn Hill – Sound and vision
Annie Lennox – Life on Mars
Al Green – China girl
Peter Gabriel – Heroes

Host Lauryn Hill
Bruce Springsteen – Forgive them father
Van Morrison – To Zion
David Bowie – Everything is everything
Annie Lennox – I used to love him
Al Green – Every ghetto, every city
Peter Gabriel – Ready or not

Host Annie Lennox
Bruce Springsteen – Missionary man
Van Morrison – Miracle of love
David Bowie – Sweet dreams
Lauryn Hill – Shining light
Al Green – Walking on broken glass
Peter Gabriel – Here comes the rain again

Host Al Green
Bruce Springsteen – driving wheel
Van Morrison – Oh me, oh my
David Bowie – Love and happiness
Lauryn Hill – All because
Annie Lennox – L-O-V-E
Peter Gabriel – Let’s stay together

Host Peter Gabriel
Bruce Springsteen – Kiss that frog
Van Morrison – Solsbury hill
David Bowie – Sledgehammer
Lauryn Hill – In your eyes
Annie Lennox – Washing of the water
Al Green – Blood of Eden

[G-Man]

So much better?

Tell you what, you've nailed the Springsteen choices.

Whereas Annie Lennox would defile "Into The Mystic"; just imagining her singing it makes me feel like a little piece of all that's good in the world has been sadistically murdered. But that's what Lennox does.

[Sits]

So much better?

Pietro, there are a few in there I would pay to hear:

Bruce Springsteen – Real real gone
Peter Gabriel – Heroes (perfect)
Bruce Springsteen – Missionary man
Peter Gabriel – Let’s stay together
David Bowie – Sledgehammer
Lauryn Hill – In your eyes

[matt j]

So much better?

PPV: Can you buy the rights to create this show in the US? I'd watch what you listed there.

[Incandenza]

So much better?

The show sounds like it could be good, but it also sounds like it could be a pretentious pile of shit, with celebrities kissing each other's asses. Jon Favreau's "Dinner for Five" show was entertaining, the Sundance show where they had two celebrities talking to each other about their work was what I was talking about.

I suppose if it was bad it could make for some nice trainwreck television, though.

[Pietro Paolo Virdis]

So much better?

Incandenza wrote:

The show sounds like it could be good, but it also sounds like it could be a pretentious pile of shit, with celebrities kissing each other's asses. Jon Favreau's "Dinner for Five" show was entertaining, the Sundance show where they had two celebrities talking to each other about their work was what I was talking about.

I suppose if it was bad it could make for some nice trainwreck television, though.

Pretentious is the least bit it is, Inca. I guess that's the main reason is why the show works. And so far it's been the two most unexpected artists who have had the biggest success afterwards with their versions. Because, of course, they do release a CD after each season.

[Pietro Paolo Virdis]

So much better?

This is what it can look like. Ebbot singing Agnes' song

Two totally different styles meet.
Here's the original