Is it blasphemy to state this simple fact? Sure, Chaka first did it, but Mary j Blige just did it better, sang it better. I love Chaka, but truth is truth.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=--GkU2UuHeE

Please dahling! Its not the truth, its just another crappy ass opinion,,,which I respect none the less

And nah, its sure as cold hell ain't better

OH HELL TO THE MUTHAFUCKIN NAAAAAH! CHAKA MAD!!

Are you deaf? This has got to be the dumbest question I've ever heard on this board. LOL

No way.

You have to prove it, not just shake yo heads..lol

Chaka's vocals are better.

Proven.

No but I dig both versions tho Chaka is the best. Even Mary admits to it.

Mary did a very good job with it, I'll admit that. There's no denying the original though.

For example, as much as I love Mariah Carey, her covers of Journey's "Open Arms" and Phil Collins' "Against All Odds" were nice, but definitely not better.

2freaky4church1 said:

Chaka's soft gentle quality of the first verse lends to a nice build up to the third verse and ending. Her version seems unrestrained and there is more texture to her voice than on Mary's. And Chaka simply has better chops.

This is funny, cause I have just been searching youtube for Jagger´s Sweet Thing. I am not into Rolling Stones or Jagger, but I just love that song.
That was a little of topic though, so sorry.

JackieBlue said:

in a word, "NO".

2freaky4church1 said:

Ok, as you wish!

Mary's vocals have a bit more lilt, whatever that means.

The guitar opening is more adventurous.

Now, Prince's lame versions, that's different.

I don't even like Mary's version..

anyway..
--> click me

I'm a huge fan of MJB and I love her version, but the short answer is no.

2freaky4church1 said:

Mary's was good. But Chaka's is THE masterpiece!

Mary doesn't even compare with Chaka on any level. That's like saying is Chris Brown's version/performance of Thriller better than MJ's....and we all know the answer to this question.

Mary's interpretation of "Sweet Thing" is inferior to the original. I hate it and never hestitate to fast forward through it.

HELL NO!!!

uPtoWnNY said:

2freaky4church1 said:

Let's see, where should I start?

1) Do we count the pitchy delivery of the line here is where you want to be? (:23)
2) Do we count the weak delivery of the copycat adlib leading into the modulation? (2:00)
The reverb didn't help smooth it out.
3) Do we count the bailout on the i'll of love me now or i'll go crazy? (2:35)

And those a just a few of the vocal malfeasances.
We won't even discuss how the guitar hook was approached.

The reason why these points are pertinent is because her version is pretty much an exact copy of the original.
Why would one cover a classic tune like this and not bring anything unique to the table?

Nothing wrong with liking Mary J's version, but entering her in a head-to-head battle with Chaka will result in something equivalent to a 19 second tap out from an opponent of Kimbo Slice.

(Chaka being analogous to Kimbo of course)

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Chaka didn't like it either. I remember her dissing Mary in an interview

bboy87 said:

I don't remember that. Where's the interview clip?

uh no...none of mary's remakes are better than the originals

TonyVanDam said:

Oh it was a famous thing

Chaka was furious back then. She didn't like it when Whitney sang "I'm Every Woman" but she REALLY hit the roof when Mary J sang "Sweet Thing"

They didn't get along untill later.