Give Up the Wings

????

I had a hard time figuring this one out (obviously) because I had a tough time understanding the lyrics. I do remember this one being featured in a commercial awhile back, probably Intel with the guys in the clean suits. This one is distinctive in the guitary sounding key riff, which has a half-note trilly thing going on which is hard to use without sounding cheesy. Also notable are the string synths, and that the chord structure is quite simple--only 3 chords, and mostly one.

"Smooth Criminal" / Alien Ant Farm

Aha, a cover that improves on the original. This song is too hard rock/punk sounding for Michael Jackson. AAF does it more appropriately. They should've also lost the high harmonies, which remind me of MJ's version.

"Give Up the Funk" / Pariliament

You can always tell this group because they have a chorus all singing the same melody in every voice--bass, soprano, tenor, etc. Its neat that the brass part is for once one of the more subtle parts--brass usually stands out. Instead, the string synth line is really separated from everything else and the bass line is mixed heavier than normal.