“All My Friends” by Tokyo Police Club
Originally by LCD Soundsystem
I can’t imagine anyone is going to argue that this cover is better than the original, but it’s a fun take on a perfect song. So here goes Tokyo Police Club with their 2007 entry into their 10 Covers/ 10 Years/ 10 Days project. The melancholy is gone, and it’s transformed into more of a rocking affair, but it’s still solid and worth a listen. Be sure to check out the Tokyo Police Club Soundcloud page to keep up with their 10 Covers/ 10 Years/ 10 Days project.
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I’ve long thought this is an excellent song (the LCD Soundsystem version, although this version is cool too). I used to think the line, “I wouldn’t change one stupid decision for another five years of life” was wonderful, insightful, and several other positive adjectives (I’m a hopeless fan boy of good music, everyone knows this). I used to think, “Yeah, I feel the same way.” Now, though, it’s lost its punch with me. I still wouldn’t trade any stupid decisions (I am proud, for instance, of climbing a trees at midnight as a 19-year-old and again at 21). But the problem now is, I don’t think I’d trade anything for another five years of life. Sorry to all those rooting to the contrary, I don’t want to keep going five years longer than planned. These last five have been too hard for me to want anymore.
I will say this: There’s another line—“You spend the first five years trying to get with the plan and the next five years trying to be with your friends again”—that may be the perfect summation of my, and I suspect many others’, 20s. I’d say now I’m in the second half of that clause, scheming ways to make my “career” take me closer to the people I like best. But, we’ll see. The “you” LCD Soundsystem sings about never really gets back to where he wanted, so it’s hard to feel optimistic.
Whew, what a downer, huh?
