When the cover is better than the original (8)
Judy Collins: “Both Sides Now” (Joni Mitchell)
I debated whether to include this, because it gets some people really upset, but I’ll stand by it. Collins’ bell-like clarity gives the song a pathos the original never had. The Joshua Rifkin arrangement doesn’t hurt.
Tommee Profitt and Brooke: “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” (Elvis Presley; written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss)
Ok, Elvis is the King, and there is nothing wrong with his version, which plays like an innocent love song. Problem is, it’s not. It’s about fatal attraction, and could have been the soundtrack to a horror film or murder noir. That’s Proffitt’s stock in trade, so it makes sense he would figure this out. Having Brooke sing it was the crowning bit of evil genius.
Henk Poort and Emma Heesters: “Vivo per Lei” (Andrea Bocelli and fill-in-the-blank; written and premiered by O.R.O.)
Henk Poort is a long-time mainstay of the European opera and musical circuit. Emma Heesters is a youtuber who gets millions of views for her covers of pop songs. “Uncle Henk” chose her for this duet over several much more experienced singers--it was her first time performing for a live audience. She turns in a gorgeous, natural performance. Meanwhile, watch as he effortlessly dismisses Bocelli.
The Joni and Judy versions are so different, it is hard to compare them. Joni's is so stripped down and raw that it really hits deep. Judy's version is also great, but very different. it's very produced, with more of a pop feeling (yes, i am that old to remember when pop sounded like that).
i really love Elvis' version of it, but for dark, i think i would like to see what Chris Cornell would have done with the Hawaiian Wedding Song. This version is good, but not better than the original. Elvis' voice was simple and strong in the original - i like it because it is in the middle of my range, so i can sing it .
Henk Poort was spot on. Emma Heesters was ok. She got a bit nasally in the performance and is not up to Henk's quality. if i am a bit jaded on this, it might be the distraction of the strange humans sitting on the couch with their mouths open, with the dumbest expressions I've seen in quite a while.
Keep 'em coming! -skibsted
Engaging post! Here's my take:
1) I had never heard the original Both Sides Now, and I thought the Judy Collins version was awful...until I heard the Joni Mitchell version, which was terrible AND awful. If I've gotta pick one, definitely Judy.
2) Can't Help Falling in Love Dark Version is pure genius!
3) I also had not heard Andre singing Vivo per Lei, but after checking it out, I'm with you on this one--Henk & Emma brought down the house.