The List Thread

[ggould]

Cover songs that are better than the original version...

http://www.emusic.com/listen/#/music-news/list-hub/covers-that-beat-the-originals/

What I've actually heard, I agree with - especially St. Etienne's cover of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart".  That's some good shiznit, right there.

Well, I don't know how intentionally snarky the writer is here:

I bet you didn’t know this great hippie anthem was actually a blistering Civil Rights-era “freedom song,” did you? Well, all it takes is one listen to hear the truth. In the Staples’ hands, the psychedelic California folk-rock number is transformed into Delta-deep gospel soul from Chicago. There’s no denying the slow, heavy and sepulchral cover is better than the Buffalo Springfield original

I have this recording, and it is great.  Our band plays this version in church.  But the song was originally written about the teenage riots on Sunset Strip, not the Civil Rights struggle.

[RGMike]

a discussion on my fave movie blog about "worst rhyming lyrics". Sting comes in for some serious hatin'

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/08/penalty.php

[sundaygal]

a discussion on my fave movie blog about "worst rhyming lyrics". Sting comes in for some serious hatin'

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/08/penalty.php

The worst to me is R Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly".  Makes me want to tear my eyeballs out everytime.  The only people who should find these lyrics inspirational shouldn't be over 5 years old.

[RGMike]

Peter Hartlaub on the worst-ever covers of "Me & Bobby McGee" -- hilarious.  Esp love his slam of Tori Amos.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?entry_id=92895

[ggould]

Peter Hartlaub on the worst-ever covers of "Me & Bobby McGee" -- hilarious.  Esp love his slam of Tori Amos.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?entry_id=92895

For what it's worth, Janis and the Dead's version have somewhat a life all their own.  I did this interview with Weir back in 2004 for the premier of Festival Express:  http://www.gdforum.com/reviews/FestivalExpress.html

During the part with Bobby he talks about an early morning session on the train with Janis (about 1:30 into the interview) on how he came up with the ending Janis and the Dead use.

http://www.gdforum.com/reviews/FE_BW_interview.mp3

[RGMike]

Rolling Stone readers choose worst cover versions EVAH:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/rolling-stone-readers-choose-the-worst-cover-songs-of-all-time-20110818?link=mostpopular2

[radical347]

Rolling Stone readers choose worst cover versions EVAH:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/rolling-stone-readers-choose-the-worst-cover-songs-of-all-time-20110818?link=mostpopular2

Hmm...this just looks like a random sampling of covers by extremely popular pop and/or novelty artists of the past decade or so, except for #10.  The only one I really agree with is Jessica Simpson, but then again just about everything else by her has sucked.  Maybe Britney's "Satisfaction" also & I haven't heard #1.  Avril's cover of System of a Down's "Chop Suey" was much worse, although I don't think there was a studio version of it.

"Behind Blue Eyes" was as good as Limp Bizkit gets and a perfect "culminating experience" for them.  Sheryl Crow's version of "Sweet Child O Mine" is not a bad song.  I thought Madonna's version of "American Pie" was way better than the original, partly for one of the reasons that the Rolling Stones poll hates it (it cuts out half the song.  I consider that a good thing as I think the original drones on for way too long.)

My vote for worst cover ever would have to be Holly Cole - "I Can See Clearly Now."

[sundaygal]

Another Rolling Stone readers poll...worst songs of the 90s.  For me, #8 is the worst.  However, #5 is one of the best.  Go figure.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/readers-poll-the-worst-songs-of-the-nineties-20110831

[RGMike]

Another Rolling Stone readers poll...worst songs of the 90s.  For me, #8 is the worst.  However, #5 is one of the best.  Go figure.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/readers-poll-the-worst-songs-of-the-nineties-20110831

yeah I seriously disagree with them about "Tubthumping" and "MMMBop" -- the former is brilliant, the latter one of the great pure-pop singles of the last 25 years.  And I'd also make a case for "Achy Breaky Heart"; the song is quite a clever bit of country-pop songwriting; it was Cyrus' white-boy dance (non-)moves that ruined everything.

This may be the pot calling the kettle, but they're confusing "bad" with "overexposed" in a few cases here.

[Big Fingers McGee]

I'll agree with "My Heart Will Go On", and I could be persuaded to hate "Ice Ice Baby" enough to be in my bottom ten of the decade.

Apart from that, eight other songs from the 90's that royally suck.  I restrained myself from including 2000's "With Arms Wide Open":

"I Will Always Love You" (Whitney) - sorry, I just could never stand this
"I'll Be" (Edwin McCain) - unbearable pap
"Butterfly Kisses" (Bob Carlisle) - gag me with a spoon
"Back 2 Good" (matchbox twenty) - dry and passionless, even by their standards.
"Let Her Cry" (Hootie & The Blowfish) - ibid
"American Woman" (Lenny Kravitz) - wrong person to remake this
"I'll Be Missing You" (Puff Daddy and others) - the dead homie sample, one of my least favorite genres
"Big, Big World" (Emilia)

[ggould]

This may be the pot calling the kettle, but they're confusing "bad" with "overexposed" in a few cases here.

 

[RGMike]

a cow orker has asked me to name my 3 favorite Stevie Wonder songs evah. Talk about an impossible task!  anyone here, feel free to chime in.

[Lightnin' Rod]

a cow orker has asked me to name my 3 favorite Stevie Wonder songs evah. Talk about an impossible task!  anyone here, feel free to chime in.

"Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" is my #1.  After that, it gets harder.

[Alicat]

a cow orker has asked me to name my 3 favorite Stevie Wonder songs evah. Talk about an impossible task!  anyone here, feel free to chime in.

I was made to love her
Yester-me, yester-you, yesterday

[sundaygal]

a cow orker has asked me to name my 3 favorite Stevie Wonder songs evah. Talk about an impossible task!  anyone here, feel free to chime in.

Living for the Citaaay, definitely!