Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

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spiritualized
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Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by spiritualized »

Lo and behold, here is the newest game in town, where you nominated the best cover versions in your musical culture and decided that the later version was far better than the original one.
Were your tastes in line with the general consensus, or is it just you ?
Time to find out !

The game will start with all 128 songs pitted against their original versions, in groups of 4, two per week. A couple of songs will not make the cut, as we have 130 unique nominations

You don't have to have nominated to participate.

Please feel free to add any comment, I hope there will be plenty to discuss.

Vote for who you think penned the best version of the song. If the original wins, the cover is eliminated.

In the second round, only cover versions will remain and they will be pitted against each other in a different voting format (to be determined by the number of songs going through the first stage.

The votes will close next Sunday @ 20:00 Western European, get your votes in early ! Good luck & Have FUN !

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield vs Nina Hagen
Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half vs The Fall
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong vs Joey Ramone
American Woman - The Guess Who vs Lenny Kravitz


Group 22
Get Here - Brenda Russell vs Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips vs Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Cy Coleman vs Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles vs Regina Spektor

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Safetycat
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by Safetycat »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield > Nina Hagen
I think the original is much better, but I appreciate Hagen's attempt at a full style change (this almost feels like an acoustic cover)

Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half < The Fall
The Fall's version is very similar to the original but with easily double the sound. Bigger and better.

What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong > Joey Ramone
Punk Wonderful World is fun but doesn't hold a candle to the og.

American Woman - The Guess Who > Lenny Kravitz
Leaving out the opening is a mis-step in my view.

Group 22
Get Here - Brenda Russell > Oleta Adams
Close but giving it to the original take

I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips < Marvin Gaye
There's merit in the original version but Marvin Gaye knocks this out of the park.

Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Cy Coleman < Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple demolishes the original here, it's incredibly transformative.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles > Regina Spektor
While the traditional Japanese instrumentation on the cover is fun, George Harrison still wins here
slick
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by slick »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield
Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
American Woman - Lenny Kravitz


Group 22
Get Here - Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
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Schüttelbirne
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by Schüttelbirne »

Group 21
4 | Curtis Mayfield | Let's Not Forget vs. 1 | Nina Hagen | Nicht vergessen
9 | The OtherHalf | Mr. Pharmacist vs. 10 | The Fall | Mr. Pharmacist
3 | Louis Armstrong | What a Wonderful World vs.16 | Joey Ramone | What a Wonderful World
11 | The Guess Who | American Woman vs. 13 | Lenny Kravitz | American Woman

Group 22
14 | Brenda Russell | Get Here vs. 12 | Oleta Adams | Get Here
8 | Gladys Knight & the Pips | I Heard It Through the Grapevine vs. 7 | Marvin Gaye | I Heard It Through the Grapevine
15 | Cy Coleman | Why Try to Change Me Now? vs. 5 | Fiona Apple | Why Try to Change Me Now?
2 | The Beatles | While My Guitar Gently Weeps vs. 6 | Regina Spektor | While My Guitar Gently Weeps
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Rob
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by Rob »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield
Both are good and soulful in their own way. I prefer Mayfield's voice here.

Mr Pharmacist - The Fall
Not all that different actually, even if the song nowadays seems to belong to The Fall. They just play it harder. I'll go with that one.

What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong's version is untouchable, though I do like Joey Ramone's more uptempo take.

American Woman - The Guess Who
Lenny Kravitz was my introduction to this song. He takes it back to basics, putting its essential rock element to its core. This also has the effect that The Guess Who's original actually still sounds more unique. I prefer that one, especially because it already has the best of Kravitz' version and more.


Group 22
Get Here - Oleta Adams
This song is way to schmalzy and overwrought for my tastes in either version. Still I'll take Oleta Adams anytime, because the production of Brenda Russell's version is so dated and tacky that I can barely stand it.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
This one again. I love the Gladys Knight version, but Marvin Gaye's is a perfect 10. He puts so much emotion in it.

Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Fiona Apple
Cy Coleman's version is quite beautiful and has a bit of a lose, almost ramshackle feel that is almost unusual for songs of it's type. Fiona Apple can do lose and ramshackle very well, but that's not what she does here. Instead, she plays it straight, although the sound is quite sparse, which helps her aching delivery. I found it very moving.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Regina Spektor
I'm surprised this game doesn't include more Beatles covers. The Fab Four were basically a assembly line boy band who stumbled into some good tunes they were barely able to actually play. It takes other musicians to reveal the gems inside.
I kid of course, but as much as I love the Beatles version of the Weeping Guitar, I've been complete besotted by Regina Spektor's cover (to be clear, both are in my top 1000 of all time). There is something about the Japanese instrumentations, Spektor's voice and the way she does the outro that takes it to an even higher plain for me.
Spektor is really good at outstanding covers of already legendary songs. I also rank her version of Radiohead's No Surprises in my top 1000, but because I didn't put it higher than the original I didn't nominate it here.

And that makes another win for covers this week. Covers are now ahead in my personal tally with 8 points. This means that if the originals want to keep up they better win a complete week in a total knock-out!
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bonnielaurel
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by bonnielaurel »

Group 21
Curtis Mayfield
The Fall
Louis Armstrong
Lenny Kravitz

Group 22
Oleta Adams
Marvin Gaye
Fiona Apple
The Beatles
De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by DaveC »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield vs Nina Hagen
Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half vs The Fall (I never knew this was a cover)
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong vs Joey Ramone
American Woman - The Guess Who vs Lenny Kravitz


Group 22
Get Here - Brenda Russell vs Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips vs Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Cy Coleman vs Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles vs Regina Spektor
Henry
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by Henry »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield
Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half vs The Fall - TBD
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
American Woman - The Guess Who


Group 22
Get Here - Brenda Russell vs Oleta Adams - TBD
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Cy Coleman vs Fiona Apple - TBD
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by Miguel »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield
Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
American Woman - The Guess Who


Group 22
Get Here - Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now? - Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by Listyguy »

"Nicht vergessen" doesn't seem to be available in the United States, and I was unable to find the song on YouTube either. Does anyone know where I can listen to that one?

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield vs Nina Hagen
Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half vs The Fall
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong vs Joey Ramone
American Woman - The Guess Who vs Lenny Kravitz


Group 22
Get Here - Brenda Russell vs Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips vs Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Cy Coleman vs Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles vs Regina Spektor
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by luvulongTIM »

We’ll find out when this poll is all said and done but the big elephant in the room HAS to be if anybody picked The Mamas and the Papas “California Dreamin” cause I just heard what had to be at LEAST the 20th rendition cover of that song in the last 5-10 years alone. I always wondered what appeal that song has on the current generation to want to make it the most over covered not Christmas related, pop song of this millennium. And if they did pick the song which version cause there are so many to pick from. Well either way no one’s getting fat but Michelle Phillips wallet.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by TheLastEnemy »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield
Mr Pharmacist - The Fall
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
American Woman - The Guess Who


Group 22
Get Here - Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by Cadavaca »

Let's Not Forget/Nicht Vergessen: Curtis Mayfield vs. Nina Hagen
Mr. Pharmacist: The Other Half vs. The Fall
What a Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong vs. Joey Ramone
American Woman: The Guess Who vs. Lenny Kravitz

Get Here: Brenda Russell vs. Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Gladys Knight and the Pips vs. Marvin Gaye
Why Try to Change Me Now?: Cy Coleman vs. Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Beatles vs. Regina Spektor
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by SL3 »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Nina Hagen
Mr Pharmacist - The Fall (I also never knew this one was a cover!)
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
American Woman - The Guess Who

Group 22
Get Here - Oleta Adams (Another one that I never realised was a cover)
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye (This one is very close for me as I really like both versions but when it comes to the crunch Marvin > Gladys > CCR)
Why Try To Change Me Now - Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by phil »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield vs Nina Hagen
Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half vs The Fall
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong vs Joey Ramone
American Woman - The Guess Who vs Lenny Kravitz


Group 22
Get Here - Brenda Russell vs Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips vs Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Cy Coleman vs Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles vs Regina Spektor
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by mileswide »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget/Nicht vergessen: 10. Curtis Mayfield v. 11. Nina Hagen
Mr. Pharmacist: 6. The Other Half v. 9. The Fall
What a Wonderful World: 5. Joey Ramone v. 8. Louis Armstrong
American Woman: 7. The Guess Who v. 15. Lenny Kravitz

Group 22
Get Here: 16. Brenda Russell v. 12. Oleta Adams
I Heard It through the Grapevine: 4. Gladys Knight & the Pips v. 1. Marvin Gaye
Why Try to Change Me Now?: 14. Cy Coleman v. 13. Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps: 2. The Beatles v. 3. Regina Spektor
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by spiritualized »

Group 21
Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield
Mr Pharmacist - The Fall
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
American Woman - Lenny Kravitz


Group 22
Get Here - Oleta Adams
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Fiona Apple
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
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spiritualized
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 11

Post by spiritualized »

Some VERY polarized results this week, with 15 voters

Let's Not Forget - Curtis Mayfield vs Nina Hagen (9-4)
Mr Pharmacist - The Other Half vs The Fall (5-9)
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong vs Joey Ramone (13-2)
American Woman - The Guess Who vs Lenny Kravitz (12-3)
Get Here - Brenda Russell vs Oleta Adams (2 - 12)
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips vs Marvin Gaye (0-15)
Why Try To Change Me Now ? - Cy Coleman vs Fiona Apple (0-14)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles vs Regina Spektor (14-1)

The Fall, Oleta Adams, Marvin Gaye and Fiona Apple move to the next stage !
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