Lenny & Cree has always been my favorite even though I was glad to see someone else give this song some attention. I just think the original is richer. I love their voices together and the guitar in the opening. Van Hunt’s is a little thin and fragile by comparison. And as much as I dig Van his vocals don’t do anything for me.

JackieBlue said:

Lenny & Cree has always been my favorite even though I was glad to see someone else give this song some attention. I just think the original is richer. I love their voices together and the guitar in the opening. Van Hunt’s is a little thin and fragile by comparison. And as much as I dig Van his vocals don’t do anything for me.

Both move me in a different way. I actually can't decide which of them is superior. Thats kinda rare IMO.

Harlepolis said:

JackieBlue said:

Lenny & Cree has always been my favorite even though I was glad to see someone else give this song some attention. I just think the original is richer. I love their voices together and the guitar in the opening. Van Hunt’s is a little thin and fragile by comparison. And as much as I dig Van his vocals don’t do anything for me.

Both move me in a different way. I actually can't decide which of them is superior. Thats kinda rare IMO.

Van and Nikka is a much gentler version and gives it a different feel. I didn't dislike it but I LOVED the original from the first moment i heard it.

I really like both version. I'm glad they're both very different and have a separate feel to it. I think there should've been a duet with Lenny and Nikka instead. Van and Cree are lacking in their vocals for me.

I'd like to point out that Van wrote that song.

But i still prefer the Cree/Lenny version a bit more.

Wow I didn't know Cree Summer could sing like THAT. Maybe she went into the wrong field (acting)...

I'm gonna have to go with the Lenny K version. It's just better - the cover is dull by comparison. I hate saying that too, because I actually love Nikka Costa - but they took out all the stuff musically that makes the song good in the first place.

I have to say Cree and Lenny. The chemisty of their voices work better together.

I'd never heard either version before, thanks for hipping me to something cool, Harlepolis.

.

[Edited 2/8/11 9:19am]

armpit said:

Wow I didn't know Cree Summer could sing like THAT. Maybe she went into the wrong field (acting)...

I'm gonna have to go with the Lenny K version. It's just better - the cover is dull by comparison. I hate saying that too, because I actually love Nikka Costa - but they took out all the stuff musically that makes the song good in the first place.

Well, do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won't be sorry.

And you're welcome, Hatrina

Harlepolis said:

armpit said:

Wow I didn't know Cree Summer could sing like THAT. Maybe she went into the wrong field (acting)...

I'm gonna have to go with the Lenny K version. It's just better - the cover is dull by comparison. I hate saying that too, because I actually love Nikka Costa - but they took out all the stuff musically that makes the song good in the first place.

Well, do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won't be sorry.

And you're welcome, Hatrina

I just listened to some snippets over at Amazon....The first three tracks sound kinda like turds, but after that I think it picks up in a biggggg way. Want.

Thanks for the recommendation.

armpit said:

Harlepolis said:

Well, do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won't be sorry.

And you're welcome, Hatrina

I just listened to some snippets over at Amazon....The first three tracks sound kinda like turds, but after that I think it picks up in a biggggg way. Want.

Thanks for the recommendation.

You don't wanna know how many years that album have been collecting dust in my house but thankfully I came around, I think the woman put ALOT of heart in that project of hers, and I came to love it after just a couple of listen(I always discover good things in my house whenever I'm sick and can't show up for work).

armpit said:

Harlepolis said:

Well, do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won't be sorry.

And you're welcome, Hatrina

I just listened to some snippets over at Amazon....The first three tracks sound kinda like turds, but after that I think it picks up in a biggggg way. Want.

Thanks for the recommendation.

And if you can still get your hands on it, you might consider checking out her earlier work with a band called Subject to Change. Their only album, Womb Amnesia, has a rougher, more amateurish indie sound, but it's got some interesting moments. And Cree's vocals are powerful:

Cree borrowed 1 or 2 songs from Womb Amnesia for reworking on Street Faerie, if I recall correctly.

[Edited 2/8/11 9:44am]

I have always said, if you can't do a cover BETTER, then do it DIFFERENTLY. This is a perfect example of that. They are very different sounding songs with very different moods. Both are very nice versions. I'm not choosing.

Harlepolis said:

armpit said:

Wow I didn't know Cree Summer could sing like THAT. Maybe she went into the wrong field (acting)...

I'm gonna have to go with the Lenny K version. It's just better - the cover is dull by comparison. I hate saying that too, because I actually love Nikka Costa - but they took out all the stuff musically that makes the song good in the first place.

Well, do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won't be sorry.

And you're welcome, Hatrina

I picked this up when it was new. I played it ONCE.

Graycap23 said:

Harlepolis said:

Well, do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won't be sorry.

And you're welcome, Hatrina

I picked this up when it was new. I played it ONCE.

I couldn't really get into the whole thing either. But there's something about Cree's spirit that appeals to me.

Lammastide said:

Graycap23 said:

I picked this up when it was new. I played it ONCE.

I couldn't really get into the whole thing either. But there's something about Cree's spirit that appeals to me.

I dig Cree..............95% of the Different World cast was cool also.

Graycap23 said:

Lammastide said:

I couldn't really get into the whole thing either. But there's something about Cree's spirit that appeals to me.

I dig Cree..............95% of the Different World cast was cool also.

Cut the snobbery you two and listen to the damn thing again

I'd vote for Van and Nikka. I perfer both of thier vocal stlyes. Plus Van Hunt wrote the song, so he gets points for that as well.

Harlepolis said:

Graycap23 said:

I dig Cree..............95% of the Different World cast was cool also.

Cut the snobbery you two and listen to the damn thing again

I tried 2 listen again about a year ago and my ears went NUMB.

I love Street Faerie. I've been waititng for a follow up for over a decade.

Cree Summer all day. Classic song, classic album.

Definitely Van and Nikka's version. It's much more emotional, dynamic, and their vocals seem much more appropriate for what, to me, is an introspective song.

I like Lenny and Cree's version, but it doesn't go anywhere. It has only two real dynamic ranges throuought the entire song, which are with and without distorted guitars. Van/Nikka's version has twists and turns, the instrumental arrangement is somewhat kaliedescopic because it changes quite a bit; things get added, things get taken away.

Lenny and Cree seemed to treat it like just another song, wheras Van and Nikka massaged it. It's probably because Van wrote it, but he & Nikka sing it like they've been through it, whereas I don't get the same emotional impact from Lenny and Cree's performances.

They're both great. If I had to pick, I'd probably go with my boy Van.

guitarslinger44 said:

Definitely Van and Nikka's version. It's much more emotional, dynamic, and their vocals seem much more appropriate for what, to me, is an introspective song.

I like Lenny and Cree's version, but it doesn't go anywhere. It has only two real dynamic ranges throuought the entire song, which are with and without distorted guitars. Van/Nikka's version has twists and turns, the instrumental arrangement is somewhat kaliedescopic because it changes quite a bit; things get added, things get taken away.

Lenny and Cree seemed to treat it like just another song, wheras Van and Nikka massaged it. It's probably because Van wrote it, but he & Nikka sing it like they've been through it, whereas I don't get the same emotional impact from Lenny and Cree's performances.

This just shows how differently people can hear the same things, because to me it's the other way around - that Van's version sounds like just another song and the original sounds more heartfelt .

Interesting side debate on this... Is Cree Summer and Lenny Kravitz theorginal version or his Van Hunt's the orginal... Van Hunt wrote the song.... But Cree Summer version came out first...

P2daP said:

Interesting side debate on this... Is Cree Summer and Lenny Kravitz theorginal version or his Van Hunt's the orginal... Van Hunt wrote the song.... But Cree Summer version came out first...

Well that depends.

Van Hunt wrote it 4 Cree and Lenny. He's credited as the writer of Mean Sleep and one or two other songs on her album. There's even footage of her and Lenny recording it on Lenny's VH1 Behind The Music special from 1999. Van and Nikka's version wasnt released until 2006.

I guess it's the same as asking since Prince wrote "Shhh" 4 Tevin Campbell, does that make Tevin's the original and Prince's 1994/95 Gold Experience version a cover.

I like the Van Hunt/Nikka duet more. When Nikka comes in on the chorus, it's magic.

guitarslinger44 said:

Definitely Van and Nikka's version. It's much more emotional, dynamic, and their vocals seem much more appropriate for what, to me, is an introspective song.

I like Lenny and Cree's version, but it doesn't go anywhere. It has only two real dynamic ranges throuought the entire song, which are with and without distorted guitars. Van/Nikka's version has twists and turns, the instrumental arrangement is somewhat kaliedescopic because it changes quite a bit; things get added, things get taken away.

Lenny and Cree seemed to treat it like just another song, wheras Van and Nikka massaged it. It's probably because Van wrote it, but he & Nikka sing it like they've been through it, whereas I don't get the same emotional impact from Lenny and Cree's performances.

Good answer. Cree's album is great, but "Mean Sleep" is one of the songs I like least on it.

I've always wanted to hear Van Hunt paired with Cree Summer on this song. I don't like Nikka's voice on this song. It just doesn't blend well with Van's. However I think the Van's production is better. It has more flourishing sounds.

ButterscotchPimp said:

I'd like to point out that Van wrote that song.

But i still prefer the Cree/Lenny version a bit more.

Van & Cree co-wrote that song...if i remember.I like both versions.