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Foo Fighters — Down In The Park
Album: Songs In The Key Of X
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1629









Released: 1996
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Down in the park
Where the Machmen meet
The machines are playing 'kill-by-numbers'
Down in the park with a friend called 'Fire'

I was in a car crash
Or was it the war?
But I've never been quite the same
Little white lies like, 'I was there'

Come to 'Tom-Tom's'
The place to eat
Like it was built in one day
You can watch the humans trying to run

Oh, look, there's a rape machine
I'd go outside if it looked the other way
Wouldn't believe the things they do

Down in the park
Where the chant is 'death, death, death'
'Til the sun cries morning
Down in the park with friends of mine

'We are not lovers
We are not romantics
We are here to serve you'
A different face but the words never change
Comments (183)add comment
 timmus wrote:

As a longtime Numan fan, I will say this doesn't have the dark, dissociated mood that's demanded of the original work.  Sounds more like a tune from someone bumming around on the couch on the weekend, but still it's a good cover on its own merits.




I  Agree completely.  ...but Numan does it best!  Thanx RP!   
As a longtime Numan fan, I will say this doesn't have the dark, dissociated mood that's demanded of the original work.  Sounds more like a tune from someone bumming around on the couch on the weekend, but still it's a good cover on its own merits.
FAIL
Only Numan our Lovesick little android can pull this off.
 sunward wrote:


Yeah, tough beans for you, I guess. At the risk of being politically correct, I'll just quote from the Wikipedia article on Foo Fighters: 

"Over the course of their career, Foo Fighters have won 15 Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album five times, making them among the most successful rock acts in Grammy history. In 2021, the band was announced as recipients of the first-ever "Global Icon" award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, their first year of eligibility."

It seems like a large number of folks would disagree with you idiot_wind. But I suppose that they are just the bleating masses, eh? It would be interesting to hear what it is you don't like about Foo Fighters. The guitar work perhaps or the drumming... 


Hey sunward,

I will stick with my opinion. This band is mediocre at best.   There is such a HUGE deficit of talented RnR bands today, that any mediocre band can step in and receive dimwitted accolades.  There just ain't much competition.  This band would be a 3rd rate warm up band for 1970s venues.  
 
And like Bob Dylan,  I don't pay much attention to what people think.   It's not my problem. 


  
Great cover of a classic,well done👍
I love this cover.
 Jeffrey_Mishik wrote:

the beginning is weak but it improves



it is rather true to the original Tubeway Army version
the beginning is weak but it improves
 idiot_wind wrote:

Ha!

This is the band that MTV now calls "legendary". 

I guess those geniuses will soon state the same about the bands Poison, Maroon 5,  and Arcade Fire. 

So sad to see how far RnR has declined that any mediocre band that doesn't kill itself with booze and drugs and play formulaic music for 25 years can step into the void and become annoitted.  
 
I know, I know...it's not politically correct to criticize this band.  Tough beans, eh? 



Yeah, tough beans for you, I guess. At the risk of being politically correct, I'll just quote from the Wikipedia article on Foo Fighters: 

"Over the course of their career, Foo Fighters have won 15 Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album five times, making them among the most successful rock acts in Grammy history. In 2021, the band was announced as recipients of the first-ever "Global Icon" award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, their first year of eligibility."

It seems like a large number of folks would disagree with you idiot_wind. But I suppose that they are just the bleating masses, eh? It would be interesting to hear what it is you don't like about Foo Fighters. The guitar work perhaps or the drumming... 
IDK?  First time I heard this version. I will have to hear it again to decide.
Doesn't sound like the band is what you're criticizing.

idiot_wind wrote:

Ha!

This is the band that MTV now calls "legendary". 

I guess those geniuses will soon state the same about the bands Poison, Maroon 5,  and Arcade Fire. 

So sad to see how far RnR has declined that any mediocre band that doesn't kill itself with booze and drugs and play formulaic music for 25 years can step into the void and become annoitted.  
 
I know, I know...it's not politically correct to criticize this band.  Tough beans, eh? 



Ha!

This is the band that MTV now calls "legendary". 

I guess those geniuses will soon state the same about the bands Poison, Maroon 5,  and Arcade Fire. 

So sad to see how far RnR has declined that any mediocre band that doesn't kill itself with booze and drugs and play formulaic music for 25 years can step into the void and become annoitted.  
 
I know, I know...it's not politically correct to criticize this band.  Tough beans, eh? 
Good cover!
 dwsneed wrote:


You have heard the Gary Numan song they are covering, correct? 



Gary Numan's 1979, 'Down In The Park'


 firefly6 wrote:
Play the original Gary Numan version some time!
 
Just wanted to add "please" to that,...or maybe even a "por favor" 
Real Tubeway Army please!
Cover songs are truly inspired when they take a distinctly different approach to the original, transforming into something conceptually different - in contrast to the song’s original concept.  Such transformation is not easy to do.

Great covers do not simply sing the words and play the music in roughly the same spirit. Yes, the cover vocals and music are inherently different from the original (they are, after all, different singers and musicians), but the differences can and should be more than this. Otherwise the cover cannot stand on its own creative merit and could rightly be described as mimicry.

Examples of great covers:
Pretty Woman - Van Halen (original by Roy Orbison)
Ziggy Stardust - Bauhaus (original by David Bowie)
China Girl - David Bowie (original by Iggy Pop)
More cymbals please, Dave.
Play the original Gary Numan version some time!
Interesting. Dystopian nightmare visions of Gary Numan as requested were turned down here yet we find the Foo's  take on things. How bout Are Friends Electric? M.E.
?
Had the Gary Numan album as a kid. FF's do a solid cover here 
 richardefulop253 wrote:
That voice could have easily been a very sober Ozzy Osborne singing. It sounded a lot like him to me. But I am stoned.
 
Yes!  I thought of Ozzy right away!
like foo fighters but this tune is just a bore imo - neeeeext
 ppopp wrote:
I like Dave Grohl, but his FF stuff bores me to the point of wanting to split my nostrils open with a potato peeler. Well - maybe a garlic crusher.
 
Hey ppopp,

Watch out! It's not politically correct to criticize this band. 


I like Dave Grohl, but his FF stuff bores me to the point of wanting to split my nostrils open with a potato peeler. Well - maybe a garlic crusher.
 idiot_wind wrote:
Wow. This song is so, so, so, different. So unique.  So ground breaking.  Such a departure form previous songs. 

It's like nothing they ever done before.  I mean the vocals are so different. The guitar work is so different. Th drumming  is  so different.  

Wow. These guys are really pushing  the music envelope. With them at the vanguard  of modern RnR,   I predict RnR will be popular for years to come.    
 

You have heard the Gary Numan song they are covering, correct?
Wow. This song is so, so, so, different. So unique.  So ground breaking.  Such a departure form previous songs. 

It's like nothing they ever done before.  I mean the vocals are so different. The guitar work is so different. Th drumming  is  so different.  

Wow. These guys are really pushing  the music envelope. With them at the vanguard  of modern RnR,   I predict RnR will be popular for years to come.    
cool tune. I like the original better, but this works too. And I'll bet Gary could use the revenue from the cover too.
Hey sae,

I agree with you.  I think the the Foo Fighters really suck (thud and drone, mono tones, no imagination, every songs sounds the same).  

But it's not politically correct to criticize them because  alot kids grew up with them and they are adults now.)

And since there was such a lack of good RnR bands  in the 1990s - 2000s, the Foo Fighters are "the last band standing" get accolades heaped upon them. 

Same thing with Arcade Fire today.  There is a huge lack of inspired and imaginative RnR bands today and the music really suffers.  







saellig668552 wrote:
unbearable, a musically non value shredding - a nasty pothole in an otherwise musically brilliant road (playlist) - get it off the playlist please
Maybe Grohl is just paying homage to a brilliant musician and not trying to be better, sometimes trying to copy someone is the best form of paying respect, using guitars instead of keyboards is different that's all

saellig668552 wrote:

unbearable, a musically non value shredding - a
nasty pothole in an otherwise musically brilliant road (playlist) - get
it off the playlist please

 
dwhayslett wrote:

Maybe you could just go listen to something else for a while.  See if you can get RP to Play Something Different, perhaps.
 
Why do the logical (and readily available) thing when you can cry for attention instead?
 saellig668552 wrote:
unbearable, a musically non  value shredding  -  a nasty pothole in an otherwise musically brilliant road (playlist) - get it off the playlist please
 
Maybe you could just go listen to something else for a while.  See if you can get RP to Play Something Different, perhaps.
Weird to be so copycat in an homage. For all the Mr Nice Guy, Grohl doesn't seem to know who he is, a weak personality which always comes across through his music as something missing.
 saellig668552 wrote:
unbearable, a musically non  value shredding  -  a nasty pothole in an otherwise musically brilliant road (playlist) - get it off the playlist please
 

Ouch!
unbearable, a musically non  value shredding  -  a nasty pothole in an otherwise musically brilliant road (playlist) - get it off the playlist please
 dwsneed wrote:
The original was so much better, why do a song and try to make it exactly like the original? I guess you hope the young audience thinks its your song.

 
As noted below, this isn't "exactly like the original".  While your highly mercenary explanation is possible, I expect the motive behind covering this is that Foo Fighters fans get exposed to a song that this band likes a lot.  At a bare minimum, it gets Gary Numan some royalties (hopefully).  
 dwsneed wrote:
The original was so much better, why do a song and try to make it exactly like the original? I guess you hope the young audience thinks its your song.

 
This was recorded for an album which was an X-Files-themed collection of songs done by numerous artists and chosen for its "sci-fi" subject matter.  There was no attempt to fool "the young audience".  Anyhow, it doesn't sound exactly like the Numan/Tubeway Army original anyhow, which I also prefer.
Play more Gary Numan please!
{#Beat}  Diggin it
 
Please play the Gary Numan version instead of this sub-par interpretation.
 cely wrote:

Yes, I agree with this.  It seems lots of listeners think this cover is too out there, but the original would be more so.  And would be welcome!

 
Yes! Give us Gary Numan. He has done way more than just Cars. His new album is really good.
Not a huge Foo fan, but not a bad cover...of course love Gary Numan
 kingart wrote:

Very little Ozzy sounds like to me. But I understand. I'm drinking a can of 13% a.b.v. something, so it's something approaching liquid bread weed. But Dave's drums are not a Black Sabbath slam. 

 
I hear Ozzy inflection clear as night.  You are correct.
 
 thewiseking wrote:
lame cover GIVE US GARY NUMAN. We need Are Friends Electric

 
Yes, I agree with this.  It seems lots of listeners think this cover is too out there, but the original would be more so.  And would be welcome!
 richardefulop253 wrote:
That voice could have easily been a very sober Ozzy Osborne singing. It sounded a lot like him to me. But I am stoned.

 
Very little Ozzy sounds like to me. But I understand. I'm drinking a can of 13% a.b.v. something, so it's something approaching liquid bread weed. But Dave's drums are not a Black Sabbath slam. 
Used to have this CD... I had forgotten how good some of those tracks were. C'mon Bill give Unmarked Helicopters a spin :)
lame cover GIVE US GARY NUMAN. We need Are Friends Electric
That voice could have easily been a very sober Ozzy Osborne singing. It sounded a lot like him to me. But I am stoned.
Well, OK. I like RP exposing me to stuff I otherwise wouldn't hear.
I don't love this, but I certainly wouldn't have searched it out on my own.
The original was so much better, why do a song and try to make it exactly like the original? I guess you hope the young audience thinks its your song.
Prefer Numan's synths over Grohl's loud guitars.
 vanillagorilla wrote:
I'II take the original with the brilliant Gary Numan keyboards...timeless

 
Same here! Nothing beats the Original!
{#Bananapiano}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Drummer}{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}
I'II take the original with the brilliant Gary Numan keyboards...timeless
Sounds like an old 20/20 song.
Very cool.
 
{#Dancingbanana_2}
This is an amazing cover and shows how great Foo Fighters are as a band. True to the original yet they put their own stamp on it. Very nice.
What a perfect cover. Pays homage to the original and yet makes it their own. Great song too.
Huh, Tubeway Army cover, you don't hear THOSE much do ya?
{#Jump} Down in the park.
for some songs, a cover version is just a cover version, and usually to satisfy the band playing it.   i'd replace this with the original.
 gesue wrote:
good, but nothing reaches the original of  {#Notworthy} {#Notworthy} {#Notworthy}  Gary Numan!{#Notworthy} {#Notworthy} {#Notworthy} 

 

For those comparing this version to Numan's one, please compare the comparable!
The Foo did a great transfiguration here.

Foo Fighters = 9 Points

Gary Numan = 10 +  {#Yes}{#Yes}{#Yes}


good, but nothing reaches the original of  {#Notworthy} {#Notworthy} {#Notworthy}  Gary Numan!{#Notworthy} {#Notworthy} {#Notworthy} 
First heard this on the X-Files as may have already been mentioned.

I used to be big Numan fan, he was the first 'grown up' concert i ever went to back in '84. Lost his way dramatically but his new NIN inspired stuff is not too bad.

Another track from X-Files all those years ago was Devil's Right Hand that introduced me to the weird and wonderful world of Nick Cave.
I bet Lou Reed loved this.  RIP and know you are missed.
What an interesting cover :) I was thinking it was sort of retro-sounding electro-pop, not what I would have expected of Foo Fighters-  and then see that it was originally done by Mr. Numan :D A respectable effort - 6 for the first listen via PSD
Always like to hear this cover, RP plays a lot of the Pearl Jam, Nirvana faves, so to say it is a no-grunge zone seems a little flawed...  Watch the original artist doing his thing in 'Urgh! A music war', loved it in the 80's, love it today.
And crazy world music isn't my thing either, yet I listen almost every day...

TuneAgeWhereWoof wrote:
Grindy annoying grunge is not why I come here.... 

 


 jt1 wrote:

A wide variety of music is why I come here...and the Foos playing Neman is cetainly different to much of what I listen to here and elsewhere.
Not bad either. Think I'll have to find the original and give it a listen...when I can tear myself away from RP for 5 minutes.
  So far, the Foo do the best covers.


 gemtag wrote:
Just think it's strange Foo is doing Numan at all. Seem worlds apart.
 
then the Pink Floyd and Rafferty covers must really confuse you. Or the cover Nirvana did of David Bowie.
 TuneAgeWhereWoof wrote:
Grindy annoying grunge is not why I come here.... 
 
A wide variety of music is why I come here...and the Foos playing Neman is cetainly different to much of what I listen to here and elsewhere.
Not bad either. Think I'll have to find the original and give it a listen...when I can tear myself away from RP for 5 minutes.
 TuneAgeWhereWoof wrote:
Grindy annoying grunge is not why I come here.... 
 

Open your ears man,  this is totally a New Wave, circa early 80s (with albeit a few extra distorted guitars) and not what some folks used to call grunge
 TuneAgeWhereWoof wrote:
Grindy annoying grunge is not why I come here.... 
 
True statement from me too....BUT in moderation...this station has a nice variety. THIS is why I listen. Thank you Bill and Rebecca for letting such a vast array of music to filter through. I appreciate THAT more than anything! It makes me far more exposed to music I would have otherwise not heard or let alone...enjoy!
How do I join this band? I can fight foo with the best of 'em. 
Just think it's strange Foo is doing Numan at all. Seem worlds apart.
Grindy annoying grunge is not why I come here.... 
Second favorite Foo Fighters song...
their cover of baker street is also pretty damn good
 Foot wrote:
Without looking at my screen I'm shocked this was a cover.  It sounds incredibly like the original, I'm not a Foo Fighters fan but that was spot-on Gary Numan & the Tubeway Army clone.
  ...except for the substitution of the guitars for some of the keyboards.


 Rockit wrote:


I Agree!
 

me too!

Last Play of the original: Jun 30, 2005 - 16:04

it has been a while...

This song is really plodding and not very in line with other RP songs. Not horrible, just horribly out of place
Awesome.
"Down in the park" is a classic Numan staple from Replicas and the Foos do it justice much in the manner that NIN did with Joy Division's "Dead Souls".


down in the park with friends of mine
we are not lovers, we are not romantics
we are here to serve
different face but the words never change
 


 coding_to_music wrote:
Great song & cover

Would be good to hear the original by Gary Numan... 
 

I Agree!
Great song :-)
Thanks RP
I'm bumping to a 6 because of the alien on the cover.  Can't wait to hear the other version, either.
Great song & cover

Would be good to hear the original by Gary Numan... 
Being of a "different demographic" than the majority of RP listeners, I wasn't exposed to this music until now for the most part. It's great to hear most of this for the first time through ears unbiased by FM overplay, teenage angst, or whatever.
I love these Foo fellows... Loud and proud. Followed by... Mr Zeppelin — good company!{#Bananajam}

Who knew - a FF song I actually like?! Nice.
Wow! This Gary Numan cover version really sonds like old Comsat Angels from 1980. "On the Beach" off their debut album "Waiting for a Miracle", which is a great album by the way.
YES!  Love Foos!  Saw them for the first time on monday!  Spectacular!
If I had a band, I would do a cover of Gary Numan, also.  This if friggin' awesome!!
Great Foo show in Sacramento on Tuesday Night!

The Foo
Splendid
 GT66 wrote:
Dare I say a cover that is better than the original? I dare, and I say it.
 

{#Clap}
Good to hear stuff off this cd - it's a good one!
Fight that foo!
Dare I say a cover that is better than the original? I dare, and I say it.
ick, just ick...no thanks
 Catalytic wrote:
I didn't think any member of the Foo Fighters was old enough to have heard this. It's an excellent cover. 
 
Grohl was 10 when this song was released.

I didn't think any member of the Foo Fighters was old enough to have heard this. It's an excellent cover. 
I like the Foo overall, but not this one.{#No}
who else saw this in Urgh! A Music War?
Without looking at my screen I'm shocked this was a cover.  It sounds incredibly like the original, I'm not a Foo Fighters fan but that was spot-on Gary Numan & the Tubeway Army clone.
Wow - haven't heard this in a while!  Thanks for digging it up, Bill!  Great cover.

Edit: incidentally, this is the song that got me into the Foo Fighters (was a major X-Files geek).
I am thinking to myself, geesh I think I have all the Foo Fighter CDs, but don't recall this one...X-Files CD. Guess I don't have all their stuff.
 Nuance wrote:
Sounds like a bad bar band. Have heard way better versions from the UK.
 
Yea, that's what it sounds like. Paaaalease! {#Snooty}
 drife wrote:
Doesn't really touch the original. Gary Numan just can't be imitated. Love the
original, this is passable.
 

Gary Numan certainly could be imitated - his music, while astoundingly innovative, was not that complex. 

And thank god that this cover is NOT an imitation.  I like the original, but this version rocks!

 Nuance wrote:
Sounds like a bad bar band. Have heard way better versions from the UK.
 
No, you haven't.  Name one current UK band that does what Foo Fighters does better.

I thought this was Gary Newman!
Shesdifferent wrote:
Yeah, rock & roll on RP!
I second that yeah.

Sounds like a bad bar band. Have heard way better versions from the UK.
Noisy
Yup, love the Newman and Tubeway Army (?) original as well, but this just helps prove, as far as I am concerned, that Dave, Taylor and the rest of the Foos are gods......{#Drunk}