covers of songs that didn't need to be remade - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jamesanthony · 07-06-2004, 04:57 PM

While listening to one of those sampling stations at the record shop that lets you hear little portions of each song on a CD I realized that there are quite a few songs that have some pretty lame covers. Some songs have only 1 version that is good to me. One such song is What You Won't Do for Love by Bobby Caldwell from 1978. I don't know if he wrote this song for himself but it is a perfect meeting of song and artist. Every other version of that song that I have heard is lacking (actually none of Caldwell's other songs are as good as this- maybe that is why it was his only mainstream chart hit). Go West had a version in 1993 that I liked at the time but now realize it is because I like the song itself, but their remake is not at all charming.

Another tune that has only one definitive version is Just the Two Of Us by Grover Washington Jr and Bill Withers from 1981. I've heard a couple terrible covers of that one as well as the obligatory rap sample version.

One more is Where Is the Love by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. This one has been remade alot and not every version is atrocious but the chemistry on the original just can't be duplicated (probably because Flack and Hathaway had a real relationship unlike the other singers put together by the record companies).

What are some other songs that have only one definitive version and the covers sound terrible/weak in comparison? I guess this could include a song that was weak in its original version and had a remake that was much much more definitive.

Dean Winchester · 07-06-2004, 05:59 PM

Take My Breath Away didn't need to be remade, the original was perfection

Total Eclipse Of The Heart is another song that a remake of it was unnecesary, the Bonnie Tyler version was definitive for the song and nobody else could make the song the same

jamesanthony · 07-06-2004, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79

Total Eclipse Of The Heart is another song that a remake of it was unnecesary, the Bonnie Tyler version was definitive for the song and nobody else could make the song the same

That new version by Nikki French is a dance song I remember. Tyler's version is much better, but those dance remakes are made for people to dance to in dimly lit clubs, I don't think they're intended for people to actually listen to. There's a dance remake of Bryan Adams' Heaven and Phil Collins' Something Happened On the Way to Heaven that are just like that.

vashti1999 · 07-06-2004, 07:23 PM

Back in the 80's or early 90s, I remember an r&b act called By All Means. They did a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" that made me wish covers were outlawed. I seriously wanted this group arrested and charged with a crime. First of all, there's simply no reason for anyone to cover that song since Marvin's version is perfection. But to do some lame going through the motions version of the song like they did,

Prince's "Kiss" didn't need to be remade by the Art of Noise and Tom Jones. Prince's original was funky, the remake was indeed the art of noise.

Penny Lane · 07-06-2004, 07:30 PM

Anything by The Beatles didn't NEED to be remade. But several remakes of their songs were pretty good I'll have to admit. In fact The Beatles themselves remade several early rock and roll hits that were pretty darn good!(Twist And Shout, Rock And Roll Music, etc.)

Penny Lane · 07-06-2004, 07:32 PM

Faith Hill's remake of Janis Joplin's "Take Another Piece Of My Heart" was totally unnecessary!

Dean Winchester · 07-06-2004, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
That new version by Nikki French is a dance song I remember. Tyler's version is much better, but those dance remakes are made for people to dance to in dimly lit clubs, I don't think they're intended for people to actually listen to. There's a dance remake of Bryan Adams' Heaven and Phil Collins' Something Happened On the Way to Heaven that are just like that.

well, I think it's better to remix the originals, like I heard a club mix of Air Supply's All Out Of Love that sounded great

Cactus Jack · 07-06-2004, 08:08 PM

I dont really like Uncle Kracker's version of "Drift Away"

jamesanthony · 07-06-2004, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by "Weird" Jack Wilso-vic
I dont really like Uncle Kracker's version of "Drift Away"

This is another record that I liked a lot when it was out more because of the song itself rather than the actual recording. Uncle Kracker pales badly in comparison to Dobie Gray as far as singing ability is concerned. Gray's solo original is really one of a kind. I've heard some pretty weird covers of this song; at least Kracker went out and dug up Gray to help him make the song a hit.

Mr. Stefani · 07-06-2004, 08:54 PM

Jessica did not need to remake Robbie Williams "Angel". She can't sing for **** and killed a perfectly good song. Get your own damn material.

musicradio77 · 07-06-2004, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Penny Lane
Faith Hill's remake of Janis Joplin's "Take Another Piece Of My Heart" was totally unnecessary!

So did the exact version by Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge. They had that version too.

SBTB Geek · 07-07-2004, 01:36 PM

Although I don't like Jessica's version of "Take My Breath Away," I do think her cover of "Angels" is much better than the original.

dlemond · 07-07-2004, 02:03 PM

No need for Kid Rock's remake of "Feel Like Makin' Love" by Bad Company.

Apparently if you can't sing, you scream.

HuntingtonM15 · 07-07-2004, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Penny Lane
Faith Hill's remake of Janis Joplin's "Take Another Piece Of My Heart" was totally unnecessary!

That was actually a very good move for Faith. It was one of the songs that helped her break into the world of country music. Country fans seemed to give a good response to the new version of the song. It was still well responded to last time Faith went out on tour in 2000.

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 07-07-2004, 03:25 PM

Hilary and Haylee Duff's remake of "Our Lips Are Sealed" was completely unnecessary.

07-06-2004, 04:57 PM	#1
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	covers of songs that didn't need to be remade While listening to one of those sampling stations at the record shop that lets you hear little portions of each song on a CD I realized that there are quite a few songs that have some pretty lame covers. Some songs have only 1 version that is good to me. One such song is What You Won't Do for Love by Bobby Caldwell from 1978. I don't know if he wrote this song for himself but it is a perfect meeting of song and artist. Every other version of that song that I have heard is lacking (actually none of Caldwell's other songs are as good as this- maybe that is why it was his only mainstream chart hit). Go West had a version in 1993 that I liked at the time but now realize it is because I like the song itself, but their remake is not at all charming. Another tune that has only one definitive version is Just the Two Of Us by Grover Washington Jr and Bill Withers from 1981. I've heard a couple terrible covers of that one as well as the obligatory rap sample version. One more is Where Is the Love by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. This one has been remade alot and not every version is atrocious but the chemistry on the original just can't be duplicated (probably because Flack and Hathaway had a real relationship unlike the other singers put together by the record companies). What are some other songs that have only one definitive version and the covers sound terrible/weak in comparison? I guess this could include a song that was weak in its original version and had a remake that was much much more definitive.

07-06-2004, 07:23 PM	#4
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	Back in the 80's or early 90s, I remember an r&b act called By All Means. They did a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" that made me wish covers were outlawed. I seriously wanted this group arrested and charged with a crime. First of all, there's simply no reason for anyone to cover that song since Marvin's version is perfection. But to do some lame going through the motions version of the song like they did, Prince's "Kiss" didn't need to be remade by the Art of Noise and Tom Jones. Prince's original was funky, the remake was indeed the art of noise.
	__________________ .

07-06-2004, 07:30 PM	#5
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,036	Anything by The Beatles didn't NEED to be remade. But several remakes of their songs were pretty good I'll have to admit. In fact The Beatles themselves remade several early rock and roll hits that were pretty darn good!(Twist And Shout, Rock And Roll Music, etc.)
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

07-06-2004, 08:08 PM	#8
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	I dont really like Uncle Kracker's version of "Drift Away"
	__________________ Id Love to help you Tracy, but I cant have sex with a black guy, Id lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR-Jenna Maroney,30 Rock April 17,2009 9:02 PM : 100,000th post!

07-06-2004, 05:59 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	Take My Breath Away didn't need to be remade, the original was perfection Total Eclipse Of The Heart is another song that a remake of it was unnecesary, the Bonnie Tyler version was definitive for the song and nobody else could make the song the same

07-06-2004, 07:32 PM	#6
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,036	Faith Hill's remake of Janis Joplin's "Take Another Piece Of My Heart" was totally unnecessary!

07-06-2004, 08:54 PM	#10
Mr. Stefani Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Posts: 20,757	Jessica did not need to remake Robbie Williams "Angel". She can't sing for **** and killed a perfectly good song. Get your own damn material.

07-07-2004, 01:36 PM	#12
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	Although I don't like Jessica's version of "Take My Breath Away," I do think her cover of "Angels" is much better than the original.

07-07-2004, 02:03 PM	#13
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	No need for Kid Rock's remake of "Feel Like Makin' Love" by Bad Company. Apparently if you can't sing, you scream.

07-07-2004, 03:25 PM	#15
AllIWantIsYourClutch peaceout. Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 02, 2001 Location: Illinois. Posts: 53,424	Hilary and Haylee Duff's remake of "Our Lips Are Sealed" was completely unnecessary.