elmer said:

Imaginative said:

before you start spewing out cover versions you prefer to the original, think about if the cover version is the definitive version. It's not necessarily the same thing.)

It pretty much is the same thing.

No it isn't. Take "Respect" for instance. While there are many people who prefer the Otis original over the Aretha cover, all but the most unreasonable would consider hers definitive.

AlexdeParis said:

elmer said:

It pretty much is the same thing.

No it isn't. Take "Respect" for instance. While there are many people who prefer the Otis original over the Aretha cover, all but the most unreasonable would consider hers definitive.

But if for them it surpasses the original we can consider them unreasonable all we like, despite the claptrap it remains their definitve version.

Shadows In the Rain by Sting as opposed to The Police.

Hurt - Johnny Cash

All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

Hellelujah - Jeff Buckley

It Must Be Love - Madness

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

Northing Compares to U - Sinead O'Conner

I want Candy - Bow Wow Wow

[Edited 7/10/11 20:12pm]

elmer said:

AlexdeParis said:

No it isn't. Take "Respect" for instance. While there are many people who prefer the Otis original over the Aretha cover, all but the most unreasonable would consider hers definitive.

But if for them it surpasses the original we can consider them unreasonable all we like, despite the claptrap it remains their definitve version.

Um...

Nevermind. I have no interest in a discussion on semantics.

IdentityCrisis said:

Grace Jones - She's Lost Control

Totally disagree there. The Joy Division track is a classic. And I heard the Grace version first.

elmer said:

Imaginative said:

before you start spewing out cover versions you prefer to the original, think about if the cover version is the definitive version. It's not necessarily the same thing.)

It pretty much is the same thing.

Not to me. There are many covers I prefer that I will concede are not definitive.

sextonseven said:

elmer said:

It pretty much is the same thing.

Not to me. There are many covers I prefer that I will concede are not definitive.

We've been agreeing a lot lately. Sign of the apocalypse?

sextonseven said:

elmer said:

It pretty much is the same thing.

Not to me. There are many covers I prefer that I will concede are not definitive.

Agreed. I prefer listening to the Tori Amos cover of "A Case of You" but I would never say it was the definitive version.

It's 2 different things.

A couple I'd say:

Annie Lennox - No More "I Love You's" (The Lover Speaks)

Patti Smith - Because the Night (Bruce Springsteen)

Rolling Stones - Time is On My Side (Irma Thomas)

Santana - Black Magic Woman (Fleetwood Mac)

Blondie - Hanging on the Telephone (The Nerves)

Cyndi Lauper - Money Changes Everything (The Brains)

Celine Dion - It's All Coming Back to Me Now (Pandora's Box)

Black Crowes - Hard to Handle (Otis Redding)

Rod Stewart - Reason to Believe (Tim Hardin)

The Bangles - If You Knew What She Wants (Jules Shear)

Billy Idol - To Be a Lover (Wlliam Bell)

The Animals - House of the Rising Son (trad. folk song)

Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower

Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe

Santana - Black Magic Woman

Whitesnake - Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City

Eric Clapton - Cocaine

Harry Nilsson - Without You

Hound Dog - Elvis Presley

AlexdeParis said:

sextonseven said:

Not to me. There are many covers I prefer that I will concede are not definitive.

We've been agreeing a lot lately. Sign of the apocalypse?

2012 is only a few months away!

NoVideo said:

sextonseven said:

Not to me. There are many covers I prefer that I will concede are not definitive.

Agreed. I prefer listening to the Tori Amos cover of "A Case of You" but I would never say it was the definitive version.

It's 2 different things.

A couple I'd say:

Annie Lennox - No More "I Love You's" (The Lover Speaks)

Patti Smith - Because the Night (Bruce Springsteen)

Rolling Stones - Time is On My Side (Irma Thomas)

Santana - Black Magic Woman (Fleetwood Mac)

Blondie - Hanging on the Telephone (The Nerves)

Cyndi Lauper - Money Changes Everything (The Brains)

Celine Dion - It's All Coming Back to Me Now (Pandora's Box)

Black Crowes - Hard to Handle (Otis Redding)

Rod Stewart - Reason to Believe (Tim Hardin)

The Bangles - If You Knew What She Wants (Jules Shear)

Billy Idol - To Be a Lover (Wlliam Bell)

The Animals - House of the Rising Son (trad. folk song)

The best example I can think of is Joe Cocker's cover of "With A Little Help From My Friends". The original is my favorite Beatles song ever, but I won't deny that Joe Cocker did a fantastic job making it his own and anyone looking to hear an incredible rendition should seek that one out first. I'd just rather listen to the original.

I just thought of another definitive cover that isn't my favorite:

I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits

I much prefer the original by Earl-Jean.

elmer said:

Imaginative said:

before you start spewing out cover versions you prefer to the original, think about if the cover version is the definitive version. It's not necessarily the same thing.)

It pretty much is the same thing.

When I think of a Definitive cover version, I think of a song that has been covered by multiple artists but one stands out and is more well-known above all the rest. It may not necessarily be your personal favorite, but it's the version that most people strongly associate with a particular artist. That's why I choose Chaka's cover of "I Feel For You" and Tina's version of "Let's Stay Together". Mind you, these two happen to be my own personal favorites of those songs but again, these are songs that are very strongly associated with both artists.

sextonseven said:

I just thought of another definitive cover that isn't my favorite:

I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits

I much prefer the original by Earl-Jean.

"Without You" by Harry Nilsson is definitive. But I prefer the Badfinger original.