Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

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spiritualized
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Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

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 Spotify playlist is in order of original, then cover. Uilab's and Red House Painters' cover are unavailable on Spotify, you have a YT link

The votes will close next Sunday @ 12:00 Western European, get your votes in early ! Good luck & Have FUN !

Group 6
Respect - Otis Redding vs Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice vs St Etienne
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg vs Placebo
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia vs Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee

Group 6
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher vs Redd Kross (YT)
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order vs Frente!
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice vs Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli vs Lauryn Hill


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bonnielaurel
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by bonnielaurel »

Group 5
Aretha Franklin
St Etienne
Serge Gainsbourg
Songs: Ohia

Group 6
Sonny & Cher
New Order
Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Lauryn Hill
De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by luvulongTIM »

St. Etienne’s is actually a cover within a cover btw, first with Donna Savage than the one that pretty much got Sarah Cracknell hired permanently to be in the band.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Miguel »

Group 7
Respect - Otis Redding
Let's Kiss & Make Up - St Etienne
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia

Group 8
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher
Bizarre Love Triangle - Frente!
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
hero
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by hero »

Group 5
Respect - Otis Redding vs Aretha Franklin
One of the easiest choice so far. I actually prefer listening to Otis over Aretha in general but she didn't only cover this song. It's her song now, she stole it and made it her own. It's a top 500 track of all time for me. Otis versions isn't even close.

Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice vs St Etienne
Like both groups here but not my favorite tune. Neither version, so I go with the original.

Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg vs Placebo
Same as the last one, not a favorite song with either. So I'll go with Serge.

Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia vs Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee
Wasn't familiar with the song. So I think it's the first time I hear both versions. I'll go for the cover here. Good tune.

Group 6
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher vs Redd Kross (YT)
Tough call. But I have to go with Sonny and Cher. Feels more genuine in a way.

Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order vs Frente!
Nothing wrong with doing an acoustic cover like Frente! here but hard to upgrade one of New Orders top tracks. Easy choice.

The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice vs Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
The cover was a new track to me. Really liked it but in the end I still prefer the orginal.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli vs Lauryn Hill
When hearing them after each other there's a lot of similarities in the melody with the Blower's Daughter. :) Wasn't prepared for that. Like the Lauryn Hill version a lot when it came out for a quite boring song. But over time, Lauryns version feels more and more pointless. Just adding some swag to it doesn't do anything for me. Tough call, but I'd say the original stands better over time.

Six originals this week and the second week in a row when I'm without nominations? Are they just random or how do you set the groups together?
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by spiritualized »

hero wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:31 pm
Six originals this week and the second week in a row when I'm without nominations? Are they just random or how do you set the groups together?
They're randomized.
I try to put some judgment calls to avoid too many nominations by one person in a given week. Your songs will get their turn :)
Some will have to give way, though, I think we had more than 128 nominations, but I will apply rules to make it fair to all nominators
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Henry »

Group 5
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice vs St Etienne (TBD)
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg vs Placebo (TBD)
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia vs Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee (TBD)

Group 6
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice vs Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge (TBD)
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Safetycat »

Group 7
Respect - Otis Redding < Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice < St Etienne
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg > Placebo
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia > Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee

Group 8
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher < Redd Kross
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order > Frente!
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice > Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli > Lauryn Hill
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by phil »

Group 5
Respect - Otis Redding vs Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice vs St Etienne
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg vs Placebo
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia vs Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee


Group 6
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher vs Redd Kross (YT)
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order vs Frente!
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice vs Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli vs Lauryn Hill
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by DaveC »

Group 5
Respect - Otis Redding vs Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice vs St Etienne
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg vs Placebo
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia vs Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee

Group 6
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher vs Redd Kross
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order vs Frente!
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice vs Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli vs Lauryn Hill
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by acroamor »

Respect - Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss & Make Up - St Etienne
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg
Farewell Transmission - Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee

Group 6
It's The Little Things - Redd Kross (YT)
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
The Blower's Daughter - Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Lauryn Hill
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Cadavaca »

Respect: Otis Redding vs. Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss and Make Up: The Field Mice vs. Saint Etienne
Requiem...: Serge Gainsbourg vs. Placebo
Farewell Transmission: Songs: Ohia vs. Kevin Morby & Waxahatchee

It's the Little Things: Sonny and Cher vs. Redd Kross
Bizarre Love Triangle: New Order vs. Frente!
The Blower's Daughter: Damien Rice vs. Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes Off (of) You: Frankie Valli vs. Lauryn Hill

I felt that all but one of the covers this week was very similar in quality to the original version. I guess there's a bit of an existential issue here, in that artists only bother to cover songs that they find good in the first place.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Schüttelbirne »

Group 7
14 | Otis Redding | Respect vs. 10 | Aretha Franklin | Respect
15 | The Field Mice | Let's Kiss and Make Up vs. 16 | Saint Etienne | Kiss and Make Up
12 | Serge Gainsbourg | Requiem pour un con vs. 3 | Placebo | Requiem for a Jerk
11 | Songs: Ohia | Farewell Transmission vs. 5 | Kevin Morby & Waxahatchee | Farewell Transmission

Group 8
13 | Sonny & Cher | It's the Little Things vs. 8 | Redd Kross | It's the Little Things
7 | New Order | Bizarre Love Triangle vs. 4 | Frente! | Bizarre Love Triangle
1 | Damien Rice | The Blower's Daughter vs. 9 | Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge | É Isso Aí
2 | Frankie Valli | Can't Take My Eyes Off You vs. 6 | Lauryn Hill | Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by spiritualized »

Group 5
Respect: Otis Redding vs. Aretha Franklin
Aretha owns this song. The backing vocals were an excellent addition and brought tempo to a good, but a bit bland original.

Let's Kiss and Make Up: The Field Mice vs. Saint Etienne
The time of release of these two songs was very close (3 years), but I prefer the original by a mile. Sweet indie pop from the Sarah Records stable, the bass line is, as most Field Mice songs, an absolute wonder and the drums programming gives the song a twee X Factor. The cover kinda puts it aside and adds a dance vibe to it.

Requiem...: Serge Gainsbourg vs. Placebo
Placebo did a good job to update and translate this classic from Gainsbourg. As much as Gainsbarre's personality is up for debate, he could write a mean tune. The original wins, by a margin.

Farewell Transmission: Songs: Ohia vs. Kevin Morby & Waxahatchee
The original is a Hall of Fame, top 1000 song in my books. Jason Molina's voice is almost breaking with emotion at times. The Albini production is nothing short of stellar, giving each instrument its fair due in the song, the steel guitar is spine-tingling.
As I listened to the cover for the first time, I felt the emotion in Molina's voice wasn't brought back by Morby and Waxahatchee and I missed it.

Group 6
It's the Little Things: Sonny and Cher vs. Redd Kross
The original sounds a bit too dated to my ears - I think Redd Kross did a good job updating it, giving it a rocking edge whilst staying rather close to the initial output.

Bizarre Love Triangle: New Order vs. Frente!
I'm a bit dubious about Bizarre Love Triangle - Sumner's voice is usually flat, but this is painfully obvious on this track. The keyboards sound very dated too and Hook's bass takes a backstand, except for a "solo" towards the last third of the song. I think I prefer the updated version of 94.
The cover is lovely - yes it's just an "acoustic" version, but Angie Hart's voice just adds another dimension and proves it's actually quite a fine song.

The Blower's Daughter: Damien Rice vs. Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
I really can't stand the original, so the cover was going to win anyway. I like the language switch, actually and Jorge's voice is better by a mile, if a bit too dramatic

Can't Take My Eyes Off You: Frankie Valli vs. Lauryn Hill
Really tough one. I really quite like Hill's take on this, she is kinda upping the delivery speed of the voice and adding hip hop beats. It works for me, but I get a bit more emotion and reality from the original. Lauryn Hill sounds a bit blasée about it all, when the song asks for a proper emotional outburst.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Rob »

Group 6
Respect - Aretha Franklin
A surprisingly easy win for Franklin. I also usually prefer Otis Redding, but I somehow never noticed how more powerful Franklin's version was not just in singing, but in the pumping musical accompaniment.

Let's Kiss & Make Up - St Etienne
Not a song I will return much too in either version, but Saint Etienne are a bit more lively. The Field Mice are just a little too languid for my tastes.

Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Placebo
I have to go for the wacky arrangements by Placebo here.

Farewell Transmission - Kevin Morby & Waxahatchee
Songs: Ohia has the more unique arrangement. I want to vote for them and not for the more palatable, 'easy' version, but in all honesty, the beautiful combination of the voices of Waxhatchee and Kevin Morby can't be resisted.

Group 6
It's The Little Things - Redd Kross
Sonny & Cher's song sounds oddly rough and unfinished. Redd Kross get out the real pop potential.

Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order vs Frente!
With apologies to the nominator, but the Frente version made me laugh a little. The cute girl/ sensitive guy covering a classic song on acoustic guitar/ ukulele is one of the big cliches in music. Ever since I found out that there are indeed cute ukulele versions of Sex Pistol songs they have lost the spell over me. Frente's version isn't bad or anything. It's quite good in fact. But this is a case were even a one-one copy of the original would be more original.

The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
The thing what makes Damien Rice's song so great is the contrast between the big emotions and the stark sound. This is exactly what Jorge and Caroline remove, making it a song that is just good.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
Lauryn Hill makes it a little too languid. The song works better for me with more energy.


And now the covers are back in front again, with two more points over the originals, after four weeks.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Listyguy »

Group 6
Respect - Otis Redding vs Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice vs St Etienne
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg vs Placebo
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia vs Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee

Group 6
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher vs Redd Kross (YT)
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order vs Frente!
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice vs Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli vs Lauryn Hill
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by SL3 »

Group 6
Respect - Otis Redding vs Aretha Franklin
Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice vs St Etienne
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg vs Placebo
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia vs Kevin Morby & Waxhatchee

Group 6
It's The Little Things - Sonny & Cher vs Redd Kross
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order vs Frente!
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice vs Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli vs Lauryn Hill

Nice one following The Blowers Daughter with Can't Take My Eyes Off You!
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by mileswide »

Group 5
Respect: 5. Otis Redding v. 3. Aretha Franklin
(Let's) Kiss and Make up: 15. The Field Mice v. 6. St. Etienne
Requiem: 1. Serge Gainsbourg v. 8. Placebo 'Con' is a cratedigger's delight- never mind covers, how hasn't it been sampled more?
Farewell Transmission: 11. Songs: Ohia v.7. Kevin Morby & Waxahatchee

Group 6
It's the Little Things: 10. Sonny & Cher v. 9. Redd Kross
BLT: 2. New Order v. 12. Frente!
The Blower's Daughter: 14. Damien Rice v. 16. Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge
Can't Take My Eyes off (of) You: 13. Frankie Valli v. 4. Lauryn Hill
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Romain »

mileswide wrote: Sat Dec 11, 2021 1:54 am Requiem pour 'Con' is a cratedigger's delight- never mind covers, how hasn't it been sampled more?
And it's a song from 1968, a complete U.F.O..

It's an OST for the film Le pacha where Serge play himself and you can see the "recording" of the song on the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELxr5asAe-4
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by TheLastEnemy »

Group 7
Respect - Aretha Franklin. One of the best covers in my opinion, changes the meaning of the song and sounds way better too.
Let's Kiss & Make Up - The Field Mice. When listening to the original I thought there was room for a much better cover, but, despite being a fan of St. Etienne, I felt they fell far short.
Requiem pour un con / Requiem for a Jerk - Serge Gainsbourg. Again, fan of Placebo, but didn't feel they added that much.
Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia vs Kevin Morby. Nothing much to choose between them so I have gone for the original as the cover didn't add much in my view.

Group 8
It's The Little Things - Redd Kross. Didn't know the song, knew a dozen or so songs that sounded just like it, much preferred the sound of the cover.
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order. I love the Frente! version but the original still does it for me.
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice. Didn't like the cover, didn't really see the point, love the original.
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli. I love the fact that this is next to The Blower's Daughter, which semi-borrows a line from this. The original is a classic, I didn't like the Lauryn Hill version, it felt a bit messy to me.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by spiritualized »

Results for week 4 !

16 voters , nice turnout !

Respect: Otis Redding vs. Aretha Franklin (1-15)
Let's Kiss and Make Up: The Field Mice vs. Saint Etienne (8-7)
Requiem...: Serge Gainsbourg vs. Placebo (12-3)
Farewell Transmission: Songs: Ohia vs. Kevin Morby & Waxahatchee (8-7)

It's the Little Things: Sonny and Cher vs. Redd Kross (7-9)
Bizarre Love Triangle: New Order vs. Frente! (12-4)
The Blower's Daughter: Damien Rice vs. Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge (9-6)
Can't Take My Eyes Off (of) You: Frankie Valli vs. Lauryn Hill (12-4)

Only two covers make it to the next round : Aretha Franklin and Redd Kross
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by luvulongTIM »

Holy hell. The ONE song I would have bet money on would have gotten absolutely demolished and it actually won was The Field Mice’s Let’s Kiss and Make Up. In fact I was positive it would have gotten beaten so badly I was contemplating not even putting the song in. I remember hearing it for the first time and just scoffing really. I heard it on their best of compilation and honestly thought the only reason they even included was could of how successful and well regarded the St. Etienne cover was. The lead singer on a scale of Stephen Malkmus to 10 barely scrapes the maybe 3 or 4 but he does make it work despite his diminutive vocal shortcomings on such masterpieces as Emma’s House. This one however I just thought was as throwaway as it got. I guess with the cult following (thanks to Kurt Cobain) of acts like the Pastels despite stale and dull vocal stylings, it makes sense it would get over with some people. Idiot me going on this rank would have tied it if I actually voted. Oh well.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by mileswide »

Romain wrote: Sat Dec 11, 2021 7:48 am
mileswide wrote: Sat Dec 11, 2021 1:54 am Requiem pour 'Con' is a cratedigger's delight- never mind covers, how hasn't it been sampled more?
And it's a song from 1968, a complete U.F.O..

It's an OST for the film Le pacha where Serge play himself and you can see the "recording" of the song on the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELxr5asAe-4
That clip oozes cool, shame it's so short :( Your avatar had to be smoking more than singing though, didn't he- classic Serge! It was actually through your 2018 All-time Songs List that I decided to check out Requiem pour un c... in the first place, alors merci au moins deux fois ! You're right, it still sounds like it's beamed from space light years ahead of us 🛸
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 4

Post by Romain »

mileswide wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 1:00 am
Romain wrote: Sat Dec 11, 2021 7:48 am
mileswide wrote: Sat Dec 11, 2021 1:54 am Requiem pour 'Con' is a cratedigger's delight- never mind covers, how hasn't it been sampled more?
And it's a song from 1968, a complete U.F.O..

It's an OST for the film Le pacha where Serge play himself and you can see the "recording" of the song on the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELxr5asAe-4
That clip oozes cool, shame it's so short :( Your avatar had to be smoking more than singing though, didn't he- classic Serge! It was actually through your 2018 All-time Songs List that I decided to check out Requiem pour un c... in the first place, alors merci au moins deux fois ! You're right, it still sounds like it's beamed from space light years ahead of us 🛸
Thank you for you sweet comment mileswide, you are really a "chic type"! On the other hand, you made a mistake, it's Requiem pour un con and not Requiem pour un c... ;-)
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