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Post by Pops Freshenmeyer on Aug 21, 2017 17:21:25 GMT -5
Sort of a flip to the "Covers that Improve on the Original In Some Way" thread, I'm wondering about the songs that, despite how many covers there are, you are baffled as to why because the original song was never that great.
I have two in mind -- two songs that, I think, may be part of my more controversial dislikes among my musical tastes, and it feels like when I tell people I told like these songs, I've committed some kind of sin.
The first is Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."
No matter who is doing this song, no matter the context as to why they're covering this song, or the story behind it, I hate it. I think, in naming it 'Hallelujah,' it's a song designed for immediate association and identification -- as many interpretations as there are, all assigned to who's singing it, there's always a more personal interpretation. As such, I don't think Leonard Cohen's version is all that special to begin with. I never found the "humanity" or "sincerity" in his music, and a lot of it stems from this song being done to death.
I've seen Tim Minchin perform it at one of his shows, wherein he introduced the song as one of his favorites to play because he delights in the irony of a room full of atheists singing the word "Hallelujah," and it was perhaps this moment that made me officially hate the song forever.
The second is Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," which I think has a similar mawkish sentimentality that works for cheap depth and emotional resonance. I considered myself a pretty big fan of the Smashing Pumpkins in my teenage years, but lord almighty, did I hate their cover of "Landslide." I once told an ex that the song was so awful that not even the Pumpkins could make it palatable to me. I've since grown out of the Smashing Pumpkins, but my disdain for "Landslide" and all who cover it remains.
So what song is beyond interpretation to you? Is there a cover version that just confirmed your hatred for the song?
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Post by The Spice Weasel on Aug 21, 2017 20:32:49 GMT -5
Last Kiss by Pearl Jam
Growing up, the oldie rock station was on much of the time in our house. There is a lot of music from the 50's and 60's that I loved then and still enjoy. But that was always one of my least favorite songs. When that PJ cover came out, you couldn't get away from it and it was horrible.
I never used to like Landslide but I've come around on it. It tends to get over used, but I thought South Park's use when Stan was depressed was pretty spot on.
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Post by Pops Freshenmeyer on Aug 22, 2017 22:54:08 GMT -5
Last Kiss by Pearl Jam Growing up, the oldie rock station was on much of the time in our house. There is a lot of music from the 50's and 60's that I loved then and still enjoy. But that was always one of my least favorite songs. When that PJ cover came out, you couldn't get away from it and it was horrible. I never used to like Landslide but I've come around on it. It tends to get over used, but I thought South Park's use when Stan was depressed was pretty spot on. I remember a Adult Contemporary station in NYC used to play that "Last Kiss" cover a lot -- despite having no other Pearl Jam songs on their regular rotation. It was out of place for so many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that the production tells you this is not meant for this station, and whatever makes it popular is noth something featured among its regularliseners. |
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Rainbow Rosa
TI Forumite
not gay, just colorful
Posts: 3,604 
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Post by Rainbow Rosa on Jan 11, 2019 19:20:21 GMT -5
I've never heard a good version of "Video Killed the Radio Star." The original song has a fantastic arrangement and buildup, but is marred by one of the worst vocal hooks I've ever heard. Lots of covers of the song ditch the former but keep the latter; the Presidents of the USA cover makes the chorus tolerable with the added harmony but is a generic alt-rock song (and also bad).
It's bizarre that every cover of the song keeps the worst part of it intact - cover versions of overplayed pop songs should bring out the hidden nuances of the original, not slavishly reproduce the horrible parts of them that are permanently lodged in the cultural memory.
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Post by MyNameIsNoneOfYourGoddamnBusin on Jan 12, 2019 11:50:25 GMT -5
I've never heard a good version of "Video Killed the Radio Star." The original song has a fantastic arrangement and buildup, but is marred by one of the worst vocal hooks I've ever heard. Lots of covers of the song ditch the former but keep the latter; the Presidents of the USA cover makes the chorus tolerable with the added harmony but is a generic alt-rock song (and also bad). It's bizarre that every cover of the song keeps the worst part of it intact - cover versions of overplayed pop songs should bring out the hidden nuances of the original, not slavishly reproduce the horrible parts of them that are permanently lodged in the cultural memory. If it wasn't for the novelty of opening MTV, almost no one would remember that that song ever existed (it's not a particularly good song by any metric and was at best a minor hit by a band that broke up a few years afterwards/was absorbed by Yes). |
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Post by DangOlJimmyITellYouWhat on Jan 12, 2019 17:37:16 GMT -5
Sort of a flip to the "Covers that Improve on the Original In Some Way" thread, I'm wondering about the songs that, despite how many covers there are, you are baffled as to why because the original song was never that great. I have two in mind -- two songs that, I think, may be part of my more controversial dislikes among my musical tastes, and it feels like when I tell people I told like these songs, I've committed some kind of sin. The first is Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." No matter who is doing this song, no matter the context as to why they're covering this song, or the story behind it, I hate it. I think, in naming it 'Hallelujah,' it's a song designed for immediate association and identification -- as many interpretations as there are, all assigned to who's singing it, there's always a more personal interpretation. As such, I don't think Leonard Cohen's version is all that special to begin with. I never found the "humanity" or "sincerity" in his music, and a lot of it stems from this song being done to death. I've seen Tim Minchin perform it at one of his shows, wherein he introduced the song as one of his favorites to play because he delights in the irony of a room full of atheists singing the word "Hallelujah," and it was perhaps this moment that made me officially hate the song forever. The second is Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," which I think has a similar mawkish sentimentality that works for cheap depth and emotional resonance. I considered myself a pretty big fan of the Smashing Pumpkins in my teenage years, but lord almighty, did I hate their cover of "Landslide." I once told an ex that the song was so awful that not even the Pumpkins could make it palatable to me. I've since grown out of the Smashing Pumpkins, but my disdain for "Landslide" and all who cover it remains. So what song is beyond interpretation to you? Is there a cover version that just confirmed your hatred for the song? Oh my god, thank you. I fucking hate Hallelujah. IMO It’s heavy-handed and maudlin and more like college freshman poetry than sincere. |
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Crash Test Dumbass
AV Clubber
ffc what now
Posts: 7,058
Gender (additional): mostly snacks
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Post by Crash Test Dumbass on Jan 13, 2019 10:57:58 GMT -5
There's at least one acoustic cover of Baby Shark. I would link to it, but are you really that curious?
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Post by Lt. Broccoli on Jan 17, 2019 20:12:38 GMT -5
Obligatory vote for "Africa"
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Post by Prole Hole on Feb 4, 2019 7:15:26 GMT -5
Obligatory vote for "Africa" I just want you to know that I've always loved you. You're my very favourite thing. It seems too obvious to vote for things like "Blowin' In The Wind" I guess. So I'll go for... "Unchained Melody" has always been a pile of shit and that song needs to die. Now. |
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moimoi
AV Clubber
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Post by moimoi on Feb 5, 2019 15:45:29 GMT -5
Given my utter contempt for Lionel Ritchie, I have to nominate “Endless Love”. It’s tune-less and plodding and not even Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey could save it.
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Post by DangOlJimmyITellYouWhat on Feb 9, 2019 12:58:33 GMT -5
Obligatory vote for "Africa" I just want you to know that I've always loved you. You're my very favourite thing. It seems too obvious to vote for things like "Blowin' In The Wind" I guess. So I'll go for... "Unchained Melody" has always been a pile of shit and that song needs to die. Now. Also any version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”. Kill it with napalm. |
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Rainbow Rosa
TI Forumite
not gay, just colorful
Posts: 3,604
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Post by Rainbow Rosa on Sept 23, 2020 16:32:54 GMT -5
I think it's perversely impressive how terrible "Can't Help Falling In Love" is, and how every ten years or so some group comes along and records a worse version of it.
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patbat
TI Forumite
OK です か
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Post by patbat on Oct 14, 2020 16:28:46 GMT -5
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Post by Desert Dweller on Oct 24, 2020 19:15:53 GMT -5
I think it's perversely impressive how terrible "Can't Help Falling In Love" is, and how every ten years or so some group comes along and records a worse version of it.
I'm going to call this true because I can only tolerate the Elvis version. I like the way he sings it. Hate all those versions you posted.
Edited to add: Wanted to chip in here that "Can't Help Falling in Love" is based on a French classical song by Martini called "Plaisir d'amour" and was written in 1784. One of many pop songs that rip off classical music for their melodies. I still think Elvis does a pretty good job singing it, though.
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