OK, let's get real people. Which cover tune was almost as good (or maybe ) than the original?
- Thread starter froropmkr72
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Really ? Interesting. Is it because of the low, dark vocals or the video ? It definitely gives a different take on the meaning of the song.
Dude can really sing but when he breaks out the throaty growl stuff I can’t do it. Always fascinating though how singing delivery can change the meaning of lyrics. It is interesting to listen to.
The best covers are the ones that reinterpret a song say like Gary Jules doing Mad World, or someone who is a great singer with a great voice like Linda Rondstadt and the worst are the ones that just copy and add little to nothing to the original.
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Lang’s is basically a cover of a cover as it’s way more Buckley than Cohen. That’s true of most versions of this song.
What a delight that video is. It contains everything. An incredible Cover intro that gives the original complete justice, carries the song throughout and leaves complete satisfaction, What a fun group VH were. Outside of Wezzer and a few others. We should start a "fun band" string of groups that made people happy.
Two very different covers of an all time favorite that I like just as much as the original:
I agree. I think sometimes when the original is a great great song, the singer wants to put their mark on the song, so they oversing the song. I think David Draiman is a good singer, but he overdoes it on this song. I think the same thing with James Hetfield singing "Turn the Page."
This was one that popped into my mind immediately. Along with "Crazy" from Willie Nelson that she knocks out of the park.
Very hard to beat the live version of "With a Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker. I LOVE those backup singers!! Excellent for repeat, repeat, repeat, etc, listening.
Another Beatles one is "Blackbird" by Mary McCaslin. So sweet!
"Cocaine" by Eric Clapton, thanks to JJ Cale. (Loved the song, never touched the junk!)
I think the darker tone to the vocal fits the song better. S&G's version is very light, and I've never really thought it fit the song's story well. The first time I heard the Disturbed version, it felt like the way it always should have been done. I really like the way he (Dave Draiman) builds the intensity through the song...although there is a point where he probably overdrives it a bit. Still, I'd rather listen to it than the original...but I was never really an S&G fan anyway.
It's probably residual trauma from my elementary school music teacher who made us sing it to start every class - and then finish with "Rocky Mountain High" - while she played guitar like she was mad at it.
Isn't it funny how people with opposite political leanings are hugging each other when it comes to music? Take a poll of everyone coming into a concert and you'd have a wide variety of politics, but music brings it everyone together. It shouldn't be politicized , overly commercialized or sexualized. It has something for everyone and we only take what we care to take away from. Recently divorced...there's Leonard Cohen.
'So you can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll
I'm very sorry, baby, doesn't look like me at all
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong
Ah, they don't let a woman kill you, not in the Tower of Song'
I'll match red solo cups with Toby Keith or party with Concrete Blonde. Love them all and whatever their political leanings....I DON'T CARE!!!!!! Ultimately, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young were friends.
If there's anything that transcends the ordinary world...it music and art.
Oh, another good cover tune...this Matisyahu of BobMarley
That is as it should be. There are a lot of artists that I disagree with their politics but really enjoy their music. I hold Jane Fonda pretty much in disgust, yet I can still laugh and enjoy her in 9 to 5.
After losing my wife there were some pretty down times, and I would listen to this one a lot. Not sure if it made things better or worse, but I love the song and I gave thanks for my friends.
And if you want to really think about some of your friends, try this one out:
Oh boy, don't know what it's like to lose a wife because I was engaged twice but never got married, Had to stop Mary's song half way through. Too much after reading your story. Don't know what it's like to lose a child, but my mother did. My oldest sister was born in 1945 and died in the same year. Lost my mother less than a month after she cried on my chest a month about her loss just after I turning 12. A few months after, Id listen to Songbird every day before school until I wouldn't cry anymore. Never made it. I think it was some time in the summer I could actually do it. 'Wish You Were'? Maybe sing along one out of four times. Otherwise, I turn it off immediately. Ya, can't figure out if music helps or just allows people to express emotions bottled up inside. Yet, we keep coming back for more.
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So nice, saw her do it recently on a Fleetwood Mac concert video. Starting off the day with tears again. Ha!
Couple more covers that were so well done- "Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Credence Clearwater Revival and "People Get Ready" by the Chambers Brothers. Good stuff.
Had no idea that was a cover and I remeber seeing this performance for the first time. What was it on though 90'?
Holy crap, what the hell happened to Madonna? And it appears that her look is the next wave of the "it" look for the celeb in-crowd. Have you seen the Jigsaw meme?
Nothing wrong with the DLR era, imho, but Hagar brought a sprituality and soul to VH that DLR didn't. DLR's lyrics were... silly, to be nice. He continued his wackadoodle lyrics on his solo stuff as well.
It was on Springsteen's debut album, Greetings from Ashbury Park.
Because they did so well with one Springsteen song, they also had hits with two other Springsteen songs. In fact, all three of these songs were on Springsteen's Greetings from Ashbury Park.
DLR as a solo artist was horrible. He needed to be around Eddie. I think the biggest difference is that DLR joined the Van Halen brothers when he was 18. His songwriting was from the point of view of an 18-30 year old. So, they sang about chasing girls.
Sammy was 38 when he joined VH. He was a grown ass man by then and wrote about love and spirituality.
I'm not talking about their world view, literally some of the lyrics DLR wrote are complete nonsense, both with and without VH.
“Only time will tell if we stand the test of time”. Van Hagar blew goats and every other farm animal. VH with DLR was good ole fashioned cock rock and the lyrics were irrelevant next to the strutting and preening. It was all about the ‘tude. The hilarity begins with any discussion of Sammy Hagar as a serious and capable lyricist - he is one of the worst and cheesiest lyricists ever.
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Wow. Have you listened to his catalog? Sammy has written a bunch of fun songs, but also a lot of beautiful music. Your opinion is ridiculous. I suppose you think "Jump" is a rock classic.
So you weren’t paying attention: he said some of DLRs lyrics were nonsense (hey, I agree) so I quoted perhaps the dumbest song lyric ever - written by none other than Sammy Hagar. Neither of these guys will be remembered as great, or even middling lyricists.
If you think that lyric was the dumbest ever, you really haven't listened to many songs.
Everything VH up through 1984 was f'ing amazing. Fair Warning is the most underrated album in rock n roll history. Brilliance. Even 1984 had Hot For Teacher which is an all timer.
If you disagree, you're a communist seeking to re-write history.
Lord, strike that poor boy down
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FWIW I’ve got nothing against dumb lyrics - there are tons of good songs with dumb lyrics.
I like Lenny's songs. Burton had a great voice . Love the GW songs as well. Sammy's solo stuff was better than his VH days. His interviews talking about music are fun to watch. He knows a S-load about music.
Not to mention that Sammy's brother lives in Kent. I like Sammy's catalog from his solo days, his VH days, and his Chickenfoot days. Also like his current band The Circle who just mostly play Sammy's hits from all era's.
I was just suggesting that no one replaces DLR as far as that's concerned. Sammy's his own talent and it doesn't necessarily sound like old VH. I'll have to check out Chickenfoot.
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