Obscurer with Paul Smith

Hi fans!

Today I would like to talk about Mark Ronson’s last album. More specifically I would like to address the fact that he has chosen to release Amy Winehouse’s, version* of ‘Valerie’, rather than my version** of ‘Apply Some Pressure’, the world-conquering Maximo Park song that was so good I had to cover it myself.

A lot of people have asked me if I mind being snubbed like this, especially since my track is one of the best - if not the actual best - on the album. The answer is………….. NO! I totally do not mind that Mark is not using my track as a single, for me it was always more of an experiment anyway.

When I first had the idea of covering my own song, Mark was unsure. I had to track him down through his record company and ring him at home. I don’t think he was very happy about that but after half an hour of explaining who Maximo Park was and who I was he seemed to warm a little. I told him that I’d heard he was doing a covers album, and explained that I’d like to do one of my own, if that was okay.

This was because I am a naturally subversive person - example: the other day, I asked an old lady if I could have her seat on the bus - and I wanted to freak people out. I also had a small wager with one of my friends that I could get a little ‘double whammy’ going on with the writing and performance royalties.

Anyway, it all worked out perfectly and my song is available on all good copies of Mark Ronson’s fantastic covers album, ‘Version’.***

The reason I am not bothered about Amy Winehouse getting the single and not me is because I have poetry in my life - she only has drugs. Think about that.

Today’s Obscurer track is ‘Apply Some Pressure’ by Mark Ronson.

Thanks all, peace out!

Paul
X


*Now I understand why Mark called the album ’Version’.

**It’s quite clever, isn’t it?

***Not so much the third time.