I heard that he did a private show for the execs of Apple and maybe we have all joined the dots together a little too hastily.

Good lord, the Jackson cover of Come Together is aweful to my ears! I thought that ever since I first saw MoonWalker and was extremely disappointed that it ended with a weak cover of a song that was produced, performed, and mixed to PERFECTION by The Beatles.

If the Jackson version had any hint of the rubbery funk and deep midnight blues that the Beatles one had it would be good, but no, it sounds like a mechanical robot produced the cover. And Michael Jackson's vocals are not impassioned no matter how much he pushes his voice. That's simply because almost all his songs started having the same vocal affect. It becomes almost like a lazy technique to sing it that way.

Even Aerosmith's hit single cover is weak in comparison to the original.

The original Come Together is great in the same way Prince's Sign O the Times is great. Perfect minimal mix where every sound is perfect. And when you realize that Lennon mixed in himself saying "Shoot me" on the beat, on the one, it becomes a bit prophetic.

I heard Come Together long ago before I even knew or cared that it was The Beatles, and it sounded genius even as a possible unknown one hit wonder from classic rock radio in my childhood.

Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of Jackson from "Never Could Say Goodbye" to "Butterflies" and those tracks are as good as Beatles tunes to my ears... but NOT his aweful cover of "Come Together"

I don't enjoy Prince's cover either.

So we've got one person saying they didn't like the cover because it stayed too close to the original, and other people saying they don't like it because it's too different.

I do get that the original is not supposed to be "a tight groove". But I like tight grooves. That's why I like Prince. Like, for me, "Black Sweat" is the best song on 3121, because it's a tight groove. And "Te Amo Corazon" is not one of my favorites because it's a looser noodly sort of song.

And I'm not saying the original song isn't well written or doesn't have good qualities. But I feel the song was vastly improved by MJ's version, there was more feeling in the vocals and the arrangement brought out the qualities of the song much better when it was turned into that extremely heavy, powerful, 80's pop funk jam.

So I guess it comes to opinion, but what it boils down to for me is that it's performed better musically and vocally. I get that some people feel it's strayed from the ideas or the points or the feeling of the original song, but I don't believe that a cover needs to remain faithful to the original. It simply has to be good. It will perhaps always be a contentious issue becuase both The Beatles and MJ have vast emotional resonance with their fans. And I'll duly admit that I'm a huge MJ fan, and try as I might, I'm largely unable to get into The Beatles work. It simply doesn't resonate to me in any way other than them being good songwriters. And maybe that's a generational thing.

Militant said:

So we've got one person saying they didn't like the cover because it stayed too close to the original, and other people saying they don't like it because it's too different.

I do get that the original is not supposed to be "a tight groove". But I like tight grooves. That's why I like Prince. Like, for me, "Black Sweat" is the best song on 3121, because it's a tight groove. And "Te Amo Corazon" is not one of my favorites because it's a looser noodly sort of song.

And I'm not saying the original song isn't well written or doesn't have good qualities. But I feel the song was vastly improved by MJ's version, there was more feeling in the vocals and the arrangement brought out the qualities of the song much better when it was turned into that extremely heavy, powerful, 80's pop funk jam.

So I guess it comes to opinion, but what it boils down to for me is that it's performed better musically and vocally. I get that some people feel it's strayed from the ideas or the points or the feeling of the original song, but I don't believe that a cover needs to remain faithful to the original. It simply has to be good. It will perhaps always be a contentious issue becuase both The Beatles and MJ have vast emotional resonance with their fans. And I'll duly admit that I'm a huge MJ fan, and try as I might, I'm largely unable to get into The Beatles work. It simply doesn't resonate to me in any way other than them being good songwriters. And maybe that's a generational thing.

Lol.............maybe your ears actually work.

Militant said:

So we've got one person saying they didn't like the cover because it stayed too close to the original, and other people saying they don't like it because it's too different.

I do get that the original is not supposed to be "a tight groove". But I like tight grooves. That's why I like Prince. Like, for me, "Black Sweat" is the best song on 3121, because it's a tight groove. And "Te Amo Corazon" is not one of my favorites because it's a looser noodly sort of song.

And I'm not saying the original song isn't well written or doesn't have good qualities. But I feel the song was vastly improved by MJ's version, there was more feeling in the vocals and the arrangement brought out the qualities of the song much better when it was turned into that extremely heavy, powerful, 80's pop funk jam.

So I guess it comes to opinion, but what it boils down to for me is that it's performed better musically and vocally. I get that some people feel it's strayed from the ideas or the points or the feeling of the original song, but I don't believe that a cover needs to remain faithful to the original. It simply has to be good. It will perhaps always be a contentious issue becuase both The Beatles and MJ have vast emotional resonance with their fans. And I'll duly admit that I'm a huge MJ fan, and try as I might, I'm largely unable to get into The Beatles work. It simply doesn't resonate to me in any way other than them being good songwriters. And maybe that's a generational thing.

Cool. And yes, you're right--there's a great deal of emotional resonance with these artists, and I'm sure that plays into a lot of the responses to the two versions. I don't have a general preference for tight vs. loose grooves, but just think different qualities in the song come through in the Beatles' version--and I definitely agree that "Black Sweat" is miles above "Te Amo Corazon." And I'm a big Beatles fan and never really got Michael Jackson as a major artist--and I've tried. What's weird is how this whole thread became about someone else's cover of a Beatles track--strangely enough one that we already know what Prince would do with it.

He did the album, it's called Around the World in a Day.

BlackCandle said:

OK. Forget the MJ thing for a mo. I distinctly recall reading that around the time of the 3121 tour, Prince had to "audition" for Paul McCartney and some record execs in order to get their approval to cover Beatles music. Since this thread arose I've been searching like mad to find where I read it and I can't. Does anyone know where I might have seen this? I think it was assumed this meant he intended to do a covers album, but this coincided with him starting to perform Come Together and Long and Winding Road Live. [Edited 7/8/13 14:28pm]

But that doesn't really make sense? Why would he need to "audition" for their approval? Obviously from a legal perspective he wouldn't, though I suppose it's possible he might want McCartney's "blessing" I guess. Is there a record of his doing this with anyone else before he does covers? Or, as you already said, is there a record of his doing it with McCartney? If this is his practice, it might make his reactions to other people doing covers of him a little less hypocritical, I suppose.

Certainly sounds odd to me. Could this somehow be the same gig for Apple people that GoldiesParade refers to up top of the page?

[Edited 7/8/13 14:48pm]

Militant, MJ did not outdo the Beatles on this one. He did a great job in his idiom, but the genius of Come Together is 100 % the song itself as performed by the Beatles. Back then, it was so far ahead you just can't imagine just how original it was today.

MJ's version is great but it it's a much poorer musical and artistic accomplishment every way you look at it.

It's nothing on the level of Hendrix's Watchtower.

Also this "rumour" doesn't sound credible to me, I really doubt Prince ever contemplated releasing such a whole album of so many songs, it's a hoax.

GoldiesParade said:

Anyway I don't even see why Prince would do this, save for ATWIAD The Beatles have been a very minor influence for Prince. I could see him doing tribute albums to George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Sly Stone, Larry Graham and every afro-american artist that came before him, or even Joni Mitchell, before it would make sense for him to tribute The Beatles

Militant said:

Graycap23 said:

I actually agree with this.

That's cos you know what's up my brother

Ain't no soul, no passion in that original song. MJ tore it up and defined it.

I've never met anyone in real life that prefers the original song to MJ's cover.

I've never met anyone in real life that prefers the original song to MJ's cover.

hi - nice to meet you Im vinx98.

vinx98 said:

Militant said:

That's cos you know what's up my brother

Ain't no soul, no passion in that original song. MJ tore it up and defined it.

I've never met anyone in real life that prefers the original song to MJ's cover.

I've never met anyone in real life that prefers the original song to MJ's cover.

hi - nice to meet you Im vinx98.

The Org ain't "real life", you know... We don't even exist, bro...

I think even he knows he can't compete with that, it's just different....

Militant said:

A mystery to me.... -- cuz the Beatles' best work is "universal"..:

just how can you not songs like Strawberry Fields, Come Together, or I Am The Walrus, just to name 3 classics... that's really a mystery to me... those are perfect, well imho, (and to a lot of others, obviously)..

-- could it be that someone like Militant and others haven't made their homework, listening to the great work of this band.. ?

I mean it IS afterall The Beatles, the biggest and to me the best band ever. That is premium song writing and song production as well.


Not even the genius Prince has made so many strong classics. The Beatles is really outstanding. And always will be. To me, yeah this band is "universal"...

Beatles untouchable for me.
I do not want a cover album by Prince.

BlackCandle said:

OK. Forget the MJ thing for a mo. I distinctly recall reading that around the time of the 3121 tour, Prince had to "audition" for Paul McCartney and some record execs in order to get their approval to cover Beatles music. Since this thread arose I've been searching like mad to find where I read it and I can't. Does anyone know where I might have seen this? I think it was assumed this meant he intended to do a covers album, but this coincided with him starting to perform Come Together and Long and Winding Road Live.

^ Interesting, I would love to read that...

callimnate said:

The Beatles love just baffles my mind.

I love music......all types of music the the music that I love the most if music that I can feel.

There isn't a single Beatles song performed by them that I can feel.

Not a single one yet covers by folks like Donnie Hathaway send chills down my spine.

I just don't get the Beatles love.

Can anyone please explain it 2 me.

I'm not talking about the writing of lyrics, about talking about their performance of their own material.

I don't don't just get.

BlackCandle said:

OK. Forget the MJ thing for a mo. I distinctly recall reading that around the time of the 3121 tour, Prince had to "audition" for Paul McCartney and some record execs in order to get their approval to cover Beatles music. Since this thread arose I've been searching like mad to find where I read it and I can't. Does anyone know where I might have seen this? I think it was assumed this meant he intended to do a covers album, but this coincided with him starting to perform Come Together and Long and Winding Road Live.

Nonsense: anyone can cover anything as anyone as long as they pay royalties, there's no such thing as auditioning MF's for approval

Graycap23 said:

The Beatles love just baffles my mind.

I love music......all types of music the the music that I love the most if music that I can feel.

There isn't a single Beatles song performed by them that I can feel.

Not a single one yet covers by folks like Donnie Hathaway send chills down my spine.

I just don't get the Beatles love.

Can anyone please explain it 2 me.

I'm not talking about the writing of lyrics, about talking about their performance of their own material.

I don't don't just get.

In all honesty Gray, I don't think anything we could say would change your mind. I think you've made the decision not to like the Beatles, and therefore, you never will.

I agree that music has to move us in some way and when it does, it's fantastic and when it doesn't we just shrug and say we don't get it.

Their influence was huge on groups that followed. How many bands have a Lennon and a McCartney? If you listen to their albums, you'll hear rock, acoustic and psychedelic songs in succession as the decade progressed. They recorded for only about eight years, broke up over 40 years ago, and people still talk about them. There records still sell in the millions every year. They recorded using new and unique methods. You can go to almost any part of the world and you'll find Beatles fans. It's not just a UK or North American thing.

They were also quite rebellious and the young folks at the time thought it was very cool.

Graycap23 said:

The Beatles love just baffles my mind.

I love music......all types of music the the music that I love the most if music that I can feel.

There isn't a single Beatles song performed by them that I can feel.

Not a single one yet covers by folks like Donnie Hathaway send chills down my spine.

I just don't get the Beatles love.

Can anyone please explain it 2 me.

I'm not talking about the writing of lyrics, about talking about their performance of their own material.

I don't don't just get.

You want to hear the explanation of the mechanism of love?

I will not explain to you how genius songwriters they are ( I think, it's an axiom).
I can only say about the personal feelings: no other artist's songs do not make me the same feeling of comfort and happiness. just the definition of feel good music.
they are not vocal acrobats, but their voices are pleasant to the ear and are suitable for their music.
their songs are very easy to understand, they are not overwhelmed by the specific sound effects, specific vocal techniques, their voices are not "acquired taste", they are pretty standard, so I think most people can relate to their music.
let's frankly, a lot of people will never into Prince at least because so many find his voice annoying.

Love is difficult to decompose into molecules and theoretical foundation ... you either feel it or not.

Graycap23 said:

The Beatles love just baffles my mind.

I love music......all types of music the the music that I love the most if music that I can feel.

There isn't a single Beatles song performed by them that I can feel.

Not a single one yet covers by folks like Donnie Hathaway send chills down my spine.

I just don't get the Beatles love.

Can anyone please explain it 2 me.

I'm not talking about the writing of lyrics, about talking about their performance of their own material.

I don't don't just get.

I can explain it for you-

You are of the false belief that only African American folks possess ryhthm and soul.

The Beatles fucking rule!

[Edited 7/10/13 11:00am]

Militant said:

I'm a musician. I have released three albums on major labels (Sony/BMG and Virgin/EMI).

^That quote is some of the funniest, most ironic shit I have ever read on this site!

John Lennon would have laughed you out of the room.

The Beatles were cool,you are just a poseur.

mask said:

Graycap23 said:

The Beatles love just baffles my mind.

I love music......all types of music the the music that I love the most if music that I can feel.

There isn't a single Beatles song performed by them that I can feel.

Not a single one yet covers by folks like Donnie Hathaway send chills down my spine.

I just don't get the Beatles love.

Can anyone please explain it 2 me.

I'm not talking about the writing of lyrics, about talking about their performance of their own material.

I don't don't just get.

I can explain it for you-

You are of the false belief that only African American folks possess ryhthm and soul.

The Beatles fucking rule!

[Edited 7/10/13 11:00am]

Lol..........not quite sure where u got that from but your response does not address my question.

LiLi1992 said:

Graycap23 said:

The Beatles love just baffles my mind.

I love music......all types of music the the music that I love the most if music that I can feel.

There isn't a single Beatles song performed by them that I can feel.

Not a single one yet covers by folks like Donnie Hathaway send chills down my spine.

I just don't get the Beatles love.

Can anyone please explain it 2 me.

I'm not talking about the writing of lyrics, about talking about their performance of their own material.

I don't don't just get.

You want to hear the explanation of the mechanism of love?

I will not explain to you how genius songwriters they are ( I think, it's an axiom).
I can only say about the personal feelings: no other artist's songs do not make me the same feeling of comfort and happiness. just the definition of feel good music.
they are not vocal acrobats, but their voices are pleasant to the ear and are suitable for their music.
their songs are very easy to understand, they are not overwhelmed by the specific sound effects, specific vocal techniques, their voices are not "acquired taste", they are pretty standard, so I think most people can relate to their music.
let's frankly, a lot of people will never into Prince at least because so many find his voice annoying.

Love is difficult to decompose into molecules and theoretical foundation ... you either feel it or not.

I understand that.

Makes plenty of sense.

Empress said:

Graycap23 said:

The Beatles love just baffles my mind.

I love music......all types of music the the music that I love the most if music that I can feel.

There isn't a single Beatles song performed by them that I can feel.

Not a single one yet covers by folks like Donnie Hathaway send chills down my spine.

I just don't get the Beatles love.

Can anyone please explain it 2 me.

I'm not talking about the writing of lyrics, about talking about their performance of their own material.

I don't don't just get.

In all honesty Gray, I don't think anything we could say would change your mind. I think you've made the decision not to like the Beatles, and therefore, you never will.

I have all of their material...............I have not made up my mind, but I've been listening 2 the material and it never "hits" me.