Clash of the Cover Songs: Simon & Garfunkel vs. the Lemonheads

Posted on Feb 6th 2008 5:00PM by Mike Spinella
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The Rules for Battle: Each week, we pit versions of the same song by two different artists in a head-to-head death match for musical supremacy. (Sometimes it will be the original recording vs. a cover version; other times it will be two different covers.) Then it's up to you to decide: Listen to and vote on which version you think should emerge victorious and which should be sent packing. May the best band win!

The Song: 'Mrs. Robinson'

The Contestants: Simon & Garfunkel vs. the Lemonheads

In This Corner -- Simon & Garfunkel: Originally conceptualized by the folk duo in 1967 for the Dustin Hoffman film, 'The Graduate,' the Paul Simon tune made its way to becoming Billboards' No. 1 single for 1968, earning a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1969. Although the song is most famous for its use in the Dustin Hoffman-starring film, it contained only snippets of the melancholy ballad. After the success of the picture, the singing pair put together a full version, which appeared on 'Bookends' a year later.

Simon & Garfunkel, 'Mrs. Robinson'

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In This Corner -- The Lemonheads: In 1992, alterna-rock poster boy Evan Dando and his group modernized Simon & Garfunkel's tune, which they recorded for a video release of 'The Graduate,' giving it a pop-punk twist. Subsequently released as a single, this version resuscitated the song and exposed it to a new generation of kids. The Lemonheads' most famous album, 'It's a Shame About Ray,' was originally issued without 'Mrs. Robinson,' which was tacked on to the album after the song became a Top 10 hit.

The Lemonheads, 'Mrs. Robinson

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