Today’s subject examines the case of cover where the covering artist is superior – in every way – to the original artist. And yet somehow, against all objectively measured odds, it just doesn’t work.
The original track comes from George Michael’s Faith (which, on a personal note, was the soundtrack to my 1987):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF5Aq5kF2ek[/youtube]
And then we have Joan Baez – yes, Joan Baez, with all of her empathy and history and vocal talents – making a hash of it on German television.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-TH_MqYfog[/youtube]
I don’t really know why she failed, here. It’s a theme she can put herself into, with the force of her entire career. George Michael, as much as I enjoy him, can’t hold a candle to her talents. And yet we’re left wishing that she hadn’t bothered. Mystifying.
Peej
“[…] on German television.”
Well, there you have it–German TV can make even the most powerful singers like, oh I don’t know, the great Hasslehoff perform subpar (I mean the man is otherwise really excellent). Hah.
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Seriously, I do think the accompaniment was wrong, and just the whole setup, in general–it just felt kind of un’Baez’y. I’m guessing if it had been her, her guitar, and a spotlight on a stage with fans pressed up close, it would have come out differently. There’s lot to be said for the vibe you can get from your audience.
sasha
I misread your post and spent the first few bars of the Baez performance waiting for it to turn into “Faith”.
Karen
It is fascinating how this happens with a lot of covers, but I don’t think it’s so mysterious… The original version had a full, if synthy, driving backbeat that surrounded George Michael’s voice as he gave the words a breathy urgency and funky rhythm, sexing up the song and making it sound like he’s singing from the heart about his own experience.
Joan Baez has a lovely voice, but she’s accompanied by what sounds like a MIDI karaoke file and she lets the lyrics just lie there in the melody as though she’s quoting a document, drowning the song in hollow sincerity.