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This is an interesting topic. Prince has covered other artist's material for a long time, and, judging by the latest NPGMC CD, continues to feel the need to do so.
That said, the latest article, 'Cover Up' on the official web site in the Features section: at: http://www.npgmusicclub.c...verup.html states: 'There might b times when artists feel the need 2 pay homage 2 other artists, but, even then, would they really want 2 do so by appropriating these artists’ works? There r many ways 2 pay homage, and covers r, ultimately, a rather sterile 4m of homage, bcuz they r of such limited creative value'. It is the last part of the above statement that I find interesting in the light of Prince continuing to record covers (as well as perform them in his shows to this day). ALT+PLS+RTN: Pure as a pane of ice. It's a gift. |
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Prince's originals every time.
Alicia plain struggles on 'How come you don't call me'. The best out of the bunch is Chaka Khan, followed by Sinead. The rest pale in comparision to the originals. And Jordan Knight ...?! Don't even get me started. [This message was edited Thu Jul 4 8:55:28 PDT 2002 by Antony7] | |
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And what about Simple mind's "sign of the times"?
Tina Turner's Let's pretend we're married? Rebecca Rominj Stamos' "Darling Nikki" ?(I must admit, I really like this version, she could have sung it in her last movie, DE PALMA's FEMME FATALE, it would have improved -a little- the film...) Cindy Lauper's When U were mine ? (I think it has dated very badly) Ice T's Head? (great!) Joe Cocker's 5 Women ? (I definitely go for Prince's version) | |
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Simple Minds Sign Of The Times has got to be the worst cover of a Prince song ever! No wonder they disappeared. Can't remember abnother song thats made me as mad as that did, especially after paying $15 to get it! Its the only part of my Prince collection I've destroyed, it just felt like the moral thing to do. I did it for all of us. | |
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I dig the Simple Minds, they are one of my fave bands, Sparkle in the Rain is a tremendous album, but their prince cover sucked big time indeed, just like all the covers on their neon lights album | |
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Janfriend said: Prince's "The beautiful Ones" vs. Mariah's
I really Love MC's version cuz I heard it before the original one, but P's version is sumthin els besides I love that Wendy's guitar lick when he screamed: Do you love him or do you love me cuz I love you" Ahhh classic. D'Angelo's "She's Always In My Hair" vs. Prince's Neva heard of D's version Prince's "When Doves Cry" vs. Ginuwine's (I don't have to guess this one) 
LaToya Jackson's "Private Joy" and "1999" vs. P's Neva heard of LJ's version too Rebbie Jackson's "I Feel For You," Chaka Khan"'s "I Feel For You" vs. P's Chaka Chaka Chaka, man this ol' cow's voice have'nt changed a BIT!! Meli'sa Morgan's "Do Me Baby" vs. P's Miss Morgan's version is classic and P's version's is classic too but P's version got more emotion while Morgan's version was SEXY SEXY SEXY 
TLC's "If I Was Your Girlfriend" vs. P's TLC's Tevin Campbell's "Shhh" vs. P's P's Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares To You" vs. P's with Rosie Am I the only one who can't stand Sinead or her bald head??? Lawd, Rosie' version of course. The sistah gave me mad chills when I heard her on that one Jordan Knight's "ICNTTPOYM," The Goo Goo Dolls "ICNTTPOYM" vs. P's P's Alicia Keys "How Come You Don't Call Me" vs. Prince's "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?" I love Miss Keys but P's version bring lotta memories to my head. Also I love the fact that the song is DARK AND MOODY. I love DARK songs sooo much! TLC's "Get It Up" vs. The Time's "Get It Up" BOTH  they both have their different styles
Tell, tell. I know there's somebody who likes the remakes better. I'm not one of them oh, I forgot Tom Jones' "Kiss" vs. P's Lawd have mercy, I HATE TOM SOOO MUCH and his silly ass songs too. ___ [This message was edited Wed Jul 3 19:59:50 PDT 2002 by Janfriend] 2 QUIETKISS:AMEN 2 YA !! | |
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Joe Cocker does a mean "Five Women". ::Brother, can you paradigm?:: | |
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the only one who eye love better is i feel 4 u from chaka khan. woekie woekie!!! | |
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The group Living Color did a cover of 17 Days. I like the one by Prince better though. | |
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Call me an Ass Kisser, but I like the Prince version of all the songs listed. Mainly because I'm a Prince fan, ofcourse.
Some people did shameful in some of Prince's remakes. Chaka Kahn did a great job. Alicia Keyes did a descent job, though I'm gettin tired of it. Tevin Campbell did excellent, as well as Sinead O'Connor Blue "Don't Play Me" Blue  | |
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Alicia Keys' version of 'How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore' is what made me seek out the Prince version of the song. I'm a bit young so sometimes I have to do some backtracking. I knew it was too good to be her's and I must admit that I enjoy Prince's version much better. Ms. Keys is missing out on some of the emotion. I like both versions of 'Nothing Compares 2 U' and Tom Jones' version of 'Kiss' scares me. I can never sit through the whole thing. | |
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Maybe I'm the only one that likes Prince and Rosie's version of Nothing Compares 2 U better.  I just like it as a live duet, and I think the vocals and instrumentation is better than Sinead's version. I've always thought Sinead's version was boring, though the video was good. | |
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I'm sorry..but The Family version of Nothing Compares 2 U is even better than Prince and Rosie AND Sinead's version.
(maybe because I'm partial to it...I heard that one first) The Prince.org Photo Album http://www.purplehouse.nl...ery/Jacqui | |
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UHHH HOW ABOUT WHO GIVES A FLYING FUCK | |
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Supernova said: Janfriend said: I honestly do like JordanKnight's "I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man" because it's slow and completely different. He's not trying to imitate. I appreciated it...but Prince's style and tempo make more sense with the lyrics, he's just lookin for a good time and the music makes you feel like having a good time. You don't think about how sad the story truly is. Jordan's makes you feel how sad it really is.It's a little depressing
Funny you should mention that. Personally, I think Knight's version conveyed the emotion more closely to the lyrical content, whereas with the original I never feel the lyrics in my gut, because it's uptempo and poppy. But since Knight was part of New Kids On The Block anything he touches comes along with that stigma. I think I typed that funny. I meant I like Jordan's version because it does show the true emotional side of that song and Jordan comes off as the guy who cares enough to tell her "I'm not the man for you" whereas Prince version is more "Too bad, too sad. Unless you wanna screw, get outta my face." It wasn't until I heard Jordan's version that I really felt that song, but I don't think Prince's original intent was to come off like Jordan's. P's was more like "I'm not gonna be a daddy to yo kids." I love both equally, actually and I like Tevin's "Shhh" over P's cuz I heard his first. I think it was originally written for Tevin and P decided to do his own version later. "I'd like to do you after school like some homework..." makes more since coming from Tevin than P. Even the waiting til everyone's fast asleep makes more since coming from an adolescent. Tevin did a really good job with that one | |
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I like almost all of Prince's songs over their cover versions except for Tevin's "Shhh"(P's seems a little overproduced for me)- and Sinead's "Nothing Compares 2U".
These 2 cover versions seem to accent the innocence of both songs. I think Prince produced "Shhh" for Tevin so kudos to him to see the 'other side' of the composition. I still listen to Tevin's album too-"I'm Ready"- very, very sweet. There are of, course, 4 Prince-penned songs on the album. "Uncle Sam" and "Paris 1798430", esp, are very telling songs. Check em out if you haven't. "...Ebony American heart's all in two, makin' his soul disappear with no trace or clue, Brother's got an ounce of living, takin' dope from the Man...aint no where to run when it's from Uncle Sam...ayyy"- Paris 1798430 | |
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In response to the original question, I prefer Prince's versions of his compositions in all but three cases:
Chaka Khan - 'I Feel For You' (This was a close one -- I really like Prince's version of this song.) Sinead O'Connor - 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (As with a few others here, the first version I heard was by The Family (I purchased the album on vinyl back in '85). I also have The Hits/The B-Sides, so curiously enough, I have every version of this song except the one I prefer. While I really like The Family's album, IMO their version of this song is the worst I've heard.) Jordan Knight - 'I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man' (To me, it just seems to capture the essence a little better. Well, that and I never liked Prince's version of the song...) | |
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generally speaking, remakes are not as good as the original versions of songs, no matter who's doing them. Luther Vandross is 1 of the FEW singers who usually improves on original versions; Roger Troutman did some good remakes, mainly "Grapevine"..
I can understand how singers would want to redo (their favorite) Prince song(s).. but really, I've yet to hear anyone redo any of his songs with the same passion or emotion or whatever.. likewise, I'd say Prince has been 50/50 in terms of others' songs he's redone. Singers will always do remakes, but it takes something REALLY SPECIAL to distinguish a remake from an original.. Specific comments on each remake: Janfriend said: Prince's "The beautiful Ones" vs. Mariah's
-> Mariah's version doesn't hold up, despite her overall singing ability D'Angelo's "She's Always In My Hair" vs. Prince's -> not bad, but not the original Prince's "When Doves Cry" vs. Ginuwine's (I don't have to guess this one) -> I HATE "Ginuwines" version, & I hate him for even TRYING to redo this classic. As far as I can tell, he hasn't really had a hit since. Poetic justice. LaToya Jackson's "Private Joy" and "1999" vs. P's -> comparing LaToya to Prince in ANYTHING is like comparing SPAM to FILET MIGNON. Rebbie Jackson's "I Feel For You," Chaka Khan"'s "I Feel For You" vs. P's -> never heard Rebbie's version & I doubt I've missed much; Chaka's version is good- I'd like it much more WITHOUT that annoying rap; P's still the best, a very sexy song.. Meli'sa Morgan's "Do Me Baby" vs. P's -> I HATE Morgan's version, again, too watered down. As I recall, this song was her 1st- & appropriately ONLY- "hit." That's what you get for trying to build your career on someone else's song.. TLC's "If I Was Your Girlfriend" vs. P's -> never heard the TLC version, I'd be shocked if it were better than the original Tevin Campbell's "Shhh" vs. P's Didn't Tevin's version come out 1st? Anyway, the music on P's version is better, so the song is better Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares To You" vs. P's with Rosie -> in this case, THE FAMILY's version- the "original" version is still the best. Sine-aid's (sic) version.. I have no idea how that song got so big.. maybe it was the video? (not that that's any more logical to me either..) Jordan Knight's "ICNTTPOYM," The Goo Goo Dolls "ICNTTPOYM" vs. P's -> euh... nice try, Jordan, but no cigar. Alicia Keys "How Come You Don't Call Me" vs. Prince's "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?" -> Alicia's version too "hip-hop," I don't like drums in this song TLC's "Get It Up" vs. The Time's "Get It Up" -> as usual, THE ORIGINAL VERSION IS WAY BETTER. I'm sorry, did the TLC version of this song have the killer guitar & keyboard solos in it??? Tell, tell. I know there's somebody who likes the remakes better. I'm not one of them oh, I forgot Tom Jones' "Kiss" vs. P's -> I like Tom Jones as a singer- & as a player; this version, while still inferior, is quirky enough to be liked & I like the little Steely Dan sample added to the beginning of the 3rd verse.. another remake I didn't see mentioned was Crystal Water's remake of "Uptown," the song that really got me into Prince back in '80.. Sorry, Crystal.. that remake is 100%.. rip off also, didn't Cindi Lauper do a remake of "When you were mine"? ___ [This message was edited Wed Jul 3 19:59:50 PDT 2002 by Janfriend] I'll see you tonight..
in ALL MY DREAMS.. |
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Enjoy Chaka and Sineads version over Prince...
Stil think Cindy Laupers version of When U Were Mine is cute... and while its no where near the greatness of the original...i enjoy Randy Crawfords version of Purple Rain...the jazz vibe works surpisingly well. | |
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A female singer with a superior singing voice seems to sound much much better than Prince's tortured whispery (out of tune?) falsetto. That's why I much prefer O'connor's version of "Nothing Compares 2 U", Khan's "I Feel 4 U", Mills' "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore" and even the Morgan version of "Do Me Baby". I have not heard Carey's "The Beautiful Ones", but I doubt she's got anything to match the guitar adlib that Prince leaps into at the finale. Keyes version of "How Cum..." is ok, but in no way does she match up to his version. I really don't remember the TLC version of "Get It Up" Is it any good? All the covers by male singers/rappers are laughable, but the kitsch of TOM JONES's "KISS" is so campy and it's freakin' hilarious! test | |
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jtgillia said: Maybe I'm the only one that likes Prince and Rosie's version of Nothing Compares 2 U better.
I just like it as a live duet, and I think the vocals and instrumentation is better than Sinead's version. I've always thought Sinead's version was boring, though the video was good.Hell nah you're not alone, we both are on the same boat baby!! I don't even like Sinead or her songs and as far as Rosie/P's version wwwoohhhooo LOL they give a sistah goosebumps everytime I listen to it. | |
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There are some other remakes by other artists I forgot to mention like Cyndi, Stephanie, and others, but has ANYBODY heard Leann Rimes' version of "Purple Rain" I haven't and I don't think I want to | |
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I can't believe y'all never heard that remake of "It's gonna be lonely" by this chic who called herself Princess - it came out in like 89-90. That was a good one! Look it up! | |
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Oh and I almost forgot - Randy Crawford has done a version of Purple Rain also.
I like her but her version of that is some serious elevator music there. I'm on a roll now, i'll be back if i think of anymore remakes that weren't listed on here. | |
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I would like to add one last comment and that is that Sinead O'Connor's version of Nothing Compares 2 U might as well just be fingernails scratching across the board for as much as I dislike it. Makes me cringe!
ok that's it. | |
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yes i heard a different version to its gonna be lonely. the only remake with any merit is chaka khans I feel for you. all the rest suck, the artist took all the soul out of the songs not too mention the funk. Chaka funked up the song and kept the soul in it. everyone else is corny. | |
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Soulsista said: I would like to add one last comment and that is that Sinead O'Connor's version of Nothing Compares 2 U might as well just be fingernails scratching across the board for as much as I dislike it. Makes me cringe!
ok that's it. THANK U! | |
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Chaka Khan with Grandmaster Melle Mel & harmonica by Stevie Wonder is the definitive version of "I Feel For You".
Sinead O'Connor's version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" is leaps ahead of The Family's. I can't stand how The Family's chords don't modulate on the chorus like Sinead's; their melody has less movement, and less effect. | |
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todd305 said: In response to the original question, I prefer Prince's versions of his compositions in all but three cases:
Chaka Khan - 'I Feel For You' (This was a close one -- I really like Prince's version of this song.) Sinead O'Connor - 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (As with a few others here, the first version I heard was by The Family (I purchased the album on vinyl back in '85). I also have The Hits/The B-Sides, so curiously enough, I have every version of this song except the one I prefer. While I really like The Family's album, IMO their version of this song is the worst I've heard.) Jordan Knight - 'I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man' (To me, it just seems to capture the essence a little better. Well, that and I never liked Prince's version of the song...) What he said. This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes. | |
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Here's mine:
Prince's - "The Beautiful Ones" "She's Always In My Hair" - Prince's Prince's - "When Doves Cry" Prince's - "1999" Chaka Khan"'s - "I Feel 4 You" (that was easy!) Prince's - "Do Me Baby" Prince's - "If I Was Your Girlfriend" Prince's - "Shhh" Sinead O'Connor's - "Nothing Compares 2 U" (that was easy, 2) Prince's - "ICNTTPOYM" Prince's - "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" The Time's - "Get It Up" Prince's - "Kiss" (altho Tom's version is not all that bad...) ...and that's my honest opinion! Peace! |
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