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Clash of the Cover Songs: Peter Schilling vs. Shiny Toy Guns

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!

Peter Schilling and Shiny Toy Guns

The Song: 'Major Tom (Coming Home)' (original version by Peter Schilling)

The Contestants: Peter Schilling vs. Shiny Toy Guns

In This Corner -- Peter Schilling: The character of Major Tom was born out of David Bowie's mind, but Peter Schilling made good use of the fictional astronaut in his international '80s synthpop hit. It might be difficult to tell exactly what's happening with Tom -- who initially made an appearance in Bowie's 'Space Oddity' -- as we're handicapping this battle by presenting the German version instead of the English one. Still, the subject (and language) of the tune are really secondary to its electro excellence. Heavy with synthesizers and a soaring chorus as it is, we dare you not to dance to it.

Peter Schilling, 'Major Tom (Coming Home)'


In This Corner -- Shiny Toy Guns: The Oklahoma-based band's modern take on Schilling's song finds its niche in a fancy commercial for the Lincoln MKZ as of late, but it isn't merely some sell-out track. Taking cues from the original version of the tune, the cover sticks to the future-forward electro-pop that made the song work so well in the first place. However, the group swaps out the song's signature male vocals in favor of a female singer.

Shiny Toy Guns, 'Major Tom (Coming Home)'


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Leticia

Nem tem comparação " Major tom " na voz de peter schilling ficou fantastica sem palavras pra descrever , tira o folego de qualquer um ;D
Ja a versão de Shiny Toy Guns ficou uma merda principalmente o refão eles destruiram completamente :p

October 11 2010 at 5:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MajorMark

Shiny Toy Guns has a slower tempo to their but I think they did an AMAZING job on it. I have to give them props if your talking 1 vers 1. If your talking orginality... I dont know if Peter came up with it himself, but obviously he is the original. He would probably agree Shiny Toy Guns did better.

July 30 2010 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lita

Wow! I'm a Shiny Toy Guns fan, but hands down Peter Schilling reins on this one!

May 25 2010 at 12:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
james ha

even in german peter kicks their ass.

May 25 2010 at 10:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply