As much music as I've listened to throughout existence, every so often you hear different versions. Sometimes I'm convinced that it's the original, and then years later SUPRISE! Sometimes I prefer the remakes, and other times I get annoyed that artists choose a particular song or artist to remake their songs. Let me go on record to say that remaking Prince, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye and especially Stevie Wonder songs should not be permitted. Either because I have yet to hear a good remake, or unless somebody tries an opera version that it will have the same affect on me. With that in mind, here are mine:

Summer Breeze - Seals/Crofts vs. The Isley Brothers
I like both versions. Makes me want to kick back and enjoy nature or just relax.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & the Pips vs. Marvin Gaye
For the longest time I thought it was a Marvin exclusive, until I heard GK&P and the year it was recorded. The versions are different enough that it doesn't sound as if Marvin was imitating them. So I like both.

I Still Believe - Brenda K. Starr vs. Mariah Carey
Rumor has it that Brenda helped Mariah get a record deal. Later on they weren't on speaking terms for awhile. Then Mariah decided to remake the song as a tribute to her old pal. Whateva, I still prefer Brenda's version.

Yesterday - The Beatles vs. Everybody and their mama
Probably the most remade song or at least the top 5.
I've heard maybe a dozen version including Boyz II Men and En Vogue. I prolly lean more to The Beatles, but Boyz II Men's version is just as good.

Got to Get You Into My Life - The Beatles vs. Earth Wind & Fire
I grew up on Earth Wind & Fire, and that was the only version I knew until a decade ago. Come to find out on my parent's 45 record it states as clear as day written by Lennon/McCartney. Gotta give it to EWF.

Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack vs. Lauryn Hill
Both versions are different enough especially with Lauryn's hip hop touch to Roberta's subtlty. They are both special in their own way.

Got to Be There - Jackson 5 vs. Chaka Khan
Chaka's pipes tug at my heart, and Jackson 5 were practically flawless. I love both.

Betcha By Golly Wow - The Stylistics vs. Prince
Ok, I'll prolly get slammed for this, but I have to give it to The Stylistics. I never embraced Prince's version. Sorry!

Hotel California - The Eagles vs. Al B. Sure
I'll give the edge to The Eagles since I still hear it all the time on the radio. The ending is my fave part. With Sure's version, his sounded spooky and had me thinking that Hotel California was Bates Motel or something.

Georgy Porgy - Toto feat. Cheryl Lynn vs. Eric Benet & Faith Evans
Toto had the late 70's booging version. One of my all time fave songs from that period. Eric & Faith did a commendable remake, but nothing beats the original.

Better than the original:

Hendrix's "All Around The Watchtower"

&

Al Green's "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart".

Better than the Orginal "Until you Come back to Me that's what I'm gonna do" Aretha Franklin over Stevie Wonder.Jimi Hendrix"All along the Watchtower" over Bob Dylan's.

Essence said:

oh amen to that!!!

also::

al green's "for the good times". the original is great, but al just has a way about him, y'know?

--gm--

Aretha Franklin"Respect" talk about a Song that Defined a Career?? what a Cover!!!

I'm still thinking of songs but I just wanna say that if ANYONE EVER remakes Al Green's "Simply Beautiful", IT WILL BE A CRIME. That song is so perfect, it should never EVER be touched by anyone. Thank you...

funkyslsistah said:

Agreed. They're apples and oranges really, and I like both.


I prefer Gladys Knight & The Pips version much more, it has the band feel and the backbeat that I like better. Marvin's version is more introspective. Plus, I'm just sick of hearing Marvin's version all the time.





I absolutely detest what Wycleff did to the Fugees cover of this song. Roberta's version is more moving to me.


I never liked either song. And Prince never did anything special with it. Where he transcends a cover is in a live setting.


My list:

We Can Work It Out - The Beatles or Stevie Wonder. I prefer Stevie's version. He added an UMPH to it that I like better.

Strawberry Letter 23 - Shuggie Otis or The Brothers Johnson. Firstly, George Johnson's vocals are more mature, more sensual than Shuggie's when his original was recorded. Secondly, it's FUNKY. Shuggie's almost sounds like a country song by comparison, and I don't say that to demean the country music genre.

Eleanor Rigby - Beatles or Aretha Franklin. This is another apples and oranges comparison for me. There's nothing but a string section and vocals on the original. Aretha took it to church. I like both versions, but when I want to hear it uptempo I take out Aretha's version.

I Say A Little Prayer - There have been so many people who have recorded this Bacharach/David song I don't know who did the original, all I know is I like Aretha's version best. It featured her secret weapon back then: The Sweet Inspirations. This is every bit their song as it is Aretha's. And that's sayin somethin.

The Weight - The Band or Aretha Franklin. Though I dig both, I prefer Aretha's churched-up version.

You're All I Need To Get By - much like "I'll Say A Little Prayer", this song has been done by many different people. The only one I've heard prior to Aretha's is the one by Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye. I prefer Aretha's version.

Spanish Harlem - Ben E. King or Aretha Franklin. Aretha by a landslide. King's was minimalist compared to Aretha's fuller arrangement and band version. And do NOT tell me that Aretha's piano playing the most underrated thing about her. Do NOT! The piano solo, along with the interweaving of the string section in this song is intoxicating. The song itself is arranging genius. I have to admit, it leaves Ben E. King's original in the dust.

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel or Aretha Franklin. Well, gee. I honestly dig both versions, but Aretha put on a vocal clinic, and her band and background vocalists were always stellar from top to bottom. I hear the beauty of Simon & Garfunkel's original ... I also hear the beauty of Aretha's version. I'm also brought to tears by Aretha's version. I like being brought to tears if for no other reason than the creation and performance of a GREAT song.

Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) - Stevie Wonder or Aretha Franklin. In case you hadn't noticed I dig a lot of Aretha covers from her years at Atlantic Records. Aretha was known as someone who would cover a song and ABSO - FRIGGIN - LUTELY make it her own, and make you just about forget about the original version. Her interpretive skills are second to NO ONE. This one is no exception. Most of you probably haven't heard Stevie's original, but ... after Aretha recorded it, she owned it. Trust me. And then of course, there was Otis Redding's "Respect"..."That girl done stole my song!" ~Otis Redding.

Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan. I LOVE Stevie Ray, but I think his version is too drawn out. Hendrix's is less than 3 minutes. Less than even 2 and a half, I think. But it hits all the right spots in that short amount of time. It leaves you wanting more - wanting to hear the song over and over again. And nobody else but Jimi could have thought of that simple, yet majestic guitar solo. I prefer Jimi's original, but Stevie's is not terrible in any way.

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan. Jimi's version has more bottom to it, the rhythm section is thick and rumbling. Again, I prefer Jimi.

I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder or Eric Clapton. Clapton should have left this one alone. Period.

Superstition - Stevie Wonder or Stevie Ray Vaughan. Again, you may get the idea that I dislike Stevie Ray, that's not the case at all. I just think these covers were done best in the hands of the authors. None of Stevie Ray's covers (that I've heard) leave a bad taste in my mouth, I just prefer the originals. I don't want to hear anybody cover his "Riviera Paradise" either. Well, maybe only a couple of living guitarists could do it justice.

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - Bee Gees or Al Green. Al. Rev. Al. His version captured the lyrical tension of the song. Rev. Al.

Just My Imagination - The Temptations or Prince (LIVE). The Tempts couldn't play geetar like THAT! I was stunned when I heard Prince's version for the first time, and to this day I am still stunned. Sometimes Prince makes his guitar talk. This time he made it cry. That arrangement was out of left field, and it stuck to my ribs. This is one of those songs that makes not only believers, but non-believers realize how special Prince is. I always respected the Tempts' version, but I'm in awe of Prince's interpretation. His tears were in that performance. So were mine.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Relieved?

I lied:

When You Were Mine - Prince or Ani Difranco (LIVE). They're so bananas/watermelons that I adore both versions. Ani's interpretation is less uptempo (a ballad to be exact), and more of a lament. With Maceo Parker contributing sax. It's a very worthy version. Don't make me choose because I'll be greedy and take both.

Poison Ivy - Don't know who sang this Leiber & Stoller tune first, but Meshell Ndegéocello turned this mofo inside OUT. It's 180 degrees different than the version I've always heard. A perfect example of apples and oranges comparing the two. I like Meshell's version better, if you couldn't tell. From the second Batman soundtrack, btw.

yada, blada, blah...
[This message was edited Thu Feb 27 0:46:48 PST 2003 by Supernova]

Luther Vandross is one of the few artists who can do a remake and make it sound BETTER than the original...


***"Superstar"(1983)---His version kills the original Carpenters version.

***"Since I Lost My Baby"(1982)---Luther's version kills the original Temptations version

***"A House Is Not A Home"(1981)---Yes,I love the original Dionne Warwick version,but Luther's version is superior

***"Anyone Who Had A Heart"(1986)---Ditto

***"Creepin"(1985)---NO ONE should really be re-making a Stevie Wonder song,but Luther's version of this song is at least as good as the original.

DavidEye said:

Except for his and Mariah Carey's version of "Endless Love"... Oh, it was horrible. Why did they even bother? There was no touching the original on that one!

June7 said:

I agree! In fact,surprisingly enough,Luther's entire album of remakes 'Songs'(1994) was really disappointing.On this album,he simply picked too many songs that didn't really need updating (such as Heatwave's "Always And Forever" and of course,"Endless Love").I think it works best when he does only ONE remake on his regular albums,as opposed to doing a whole collection of them.That's odd,isn't it?

Supernova said:

DAMN, Nova, you got me wanting to break that shit out right now...

Freak Like Me-Adina Howard, covered by UK girl-group Sugababes.

This cover-version rocks! It is way funkier than Adina Howard's wannabe gangsta-R&B. Why? Because the Sugababes have 3 vocals, a way heavier beat, guitars and (last but not least) that catchy Gary Numan sample (I believe it is from Cars) that drags you with them!

abierman said:

Freak Like Me is essentially a cover of Bootsy Collins' "I'd Rather Be With You" but this sample never gets mentioned other than in the credits.

Neither Adina Howard or Sugababes are messing with that original...

CalhounSq said:

Mary J Blige and Talib Kweli have sampled the track and Lynden David Hall covers it on his forthcoming live album.

Essence said:

I can SORT OF forgive the samples, but a COVER???!!! There should be a law against it, I swear :X



.
[This message was edited Thu Feb 27 4:23:43 PST 2003 by CalhounSq]

A lot of originals should never be touched. I love Prince, but he is at his absolute best when he does his own thing. I do have some favorite remakes though. My absolute favorite remake of all time is How Do You Mend A Broken Heart by Al Green. I cry everytime I hear that song. It is pure bliss. Like Supernova said, Stevie Wonder's version of We Can Work It Out is great. I prefer it to the original. I like Ray Charles' version of Georgia On My Mind and Eleanor Rigby. If I think about some more, I could probably come up with some more.

Essence said:

this is not true, I'm sure some samples are used, but not Bootsy's I'd Rather Be With You! That song was covered by N.W.A., with the title I'd Rather Fuck You.

DavidEye said:

Everytime his version of "Always and Forever" comes on the radio, my immediate reflex is to go to the radio and change the station. I can't stand it!!! I think any remakes of his post '90 are questionable at best and awful at worse. He's had a career of remakes, but for some reason the last batch or two rubbed my ears the wrong way.

abierman said:

It's all above board, go check the credits on Adina's original for "Clinton/Collins", the song uses the verse melody and structure and hence plays a much bigger part than a Numan sample or Adina's revised lyrics.

funkyslsistah said:

Phyllis Hyman nailed The Stylistics when she covered BBGW.

Rene & Angela covered an intersting version of Hoterl Cali which can be found in their 1st album.

Georgy Porgy-Both versions got their moments. However, I dig the flute in the original.

A remake that wasn't too bad Boys to Men did an alright job - the song was It's So Hard to Say Goodbye done originally by G C Cameron, both verison are good but me being a Coolie High movie fan I'd have to say Camerons version is my pic

Essence said:

I definitely agree with you. When I first heard Adina's song, it immediately reminded me of I'd Rather Be With You.
Adina:
I will be a freak until the day, until the dawn.
Bootsy:
I'd rather be with until I'm through. Oh, yes I do.

DavidEye said:

it was a Surprise that It didn't work for Him.

I wish folk would leave the Bee Gees catalogue alone.
There's been tons of sucky cover versions in recent years.

first of all, i just wanna say that a good half the time i like the original cut of a song more than its remake...

...and the stylistics & the delfonics shoulda taken prince in a dark alley and smacked 'im around a bit, cuz what he did 2 "betcha by golly wow" and "la la means i love you" wuz just grade-a vomitrocious.

some remakes that i can stand:

cyndi lauper, "when you were mine": this has gotta be the cutest remake of a prince song ever.

the brothers johnson, "strawberry letter 23": they did this song justice. the original version wasn't that hot.

Cloudbuster said:

oh man yes...like what destiny's brats did with "emotion"...samantha sang and the remainin gibb brothers should get 'em 4 what they did 2 that song.

stymie said:

Yeah like you I originally just noticed it by ear but it's not opinion it's fact and is credited officially albeit not mentioned promo wise in terms of the Sugababes.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I hear ya!

Cloudbuster said:

Wyclef Messed up "Stayin' Alive" as well.unless your Name is Al Green please stay away from the Bee Gees Catelog.

I like "Light My Fire" by The Doors, Jose Feliciano, and Amii Stewart). and "Pretty Woman" Roy Orbison, and Al Green.