09-14-2011, 08:10 PM
FAVORITE MUSIC COVERS
So, I have not seen a thread on music covers, and I thought that was a gap that was worth filling. This thread isn't to invite arguments about who did the best version of a song. It is about the singers and bands who brought a new perspective to or revitalized a song. All music forms are welcome and genera crossovers are great too. Have fun with it.
I'll start out with three of my favorites.
The late great Jeff Buckley covering Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". I know Rufus Wainwright did a really great version, but for me, Buckley really captures the song and his vocals on it are ASTONISHING.
OK, so I never liked this song until I heard this version. I thought it was trite and cloying. But Johnny Cash, in my opinion, has the same ethereal quality of voice as Maria Callas. Both have the ability to take a song and imbue it with more emotion and reality than it has ever been sung with before. So, if you haven't heard this version before, turn up the nob on your speakers and hear this song for the very first time.
Finally, Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole's splicing of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with "What a Wonderful World". What can I say. The song can make me go from an utter state of discouragement to totally rejuvenation and optimism--a beautiful rendering of two beautiful old songs.
So, I have not seen a thread on music covers, and I thought that was a gap that was worth filling. This thread isn't to invite arguments about who did the best version of a song. It is about the singers and bands who brought a new perspective to or revitalized a song. All music forms are welcome and genera crossovers are great too. Have fun with it.
I'll start out with three of my favorites.
The late great Jeff Buckley covering Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". I know Rufus Wainwright did a really great version, but for me, Buckley really captures the song and his vocals on it are ASTONISHING.
OK, so I never liked this song until I heard this version. I thought it was trite and cloying. But Johnny Cash, in my opinion, has the same ethereal quality of voice as Maria Callas. Both have the ability to take a song and imbue it with more emotion and reality than it has ever been sung with before. So, if you haven't heard this version before, turn up the nob on your speakers and hear this song for the very first time.
Finally, Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole's splicing of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with "What a Wonderful World". What can I say. The song can make me go from an utter state of discouragement to totally rejuvenation and optimism--a beautiful rendering of two beautiful old songs.