Pointless covers

Spiritual_Chaos
Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,510
in Other Music
So, I stumbled over Stone Sours's covers of Creeping Death (Metallica), Love Gun (KISS) and We Die Young (AiC) and they are impressively faithful to the originals... but sounds like good but lifeless karaoke sessions. They add nothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClRPSYpBNOs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HFaUoulmx4

The same with Weezers Africa cover -- what is the point of it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk5Dwg5zm2U

Any other good examples of - not bad but - pointless covers?
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
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Comments

  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,837
    Do covers only have a point if they change the original song?
    Guess I am unsure of your definition of a cover with a point.

    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • Spiritual_Chaos
    Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,510
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Do covers only have a point if they change the original song?
    Guess I am unsure of your definition of a cover with a point.

    I think they have to add something.
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,837
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Do covers only have a point if they change the original song?
    Guess I am unsure of your definition of a cover with a point.

    I think they have to add something.
    Meh.  I don't necessarily agree.  Some covers I hear, where they totally change the song, make me want to smash the crap out of the radio.
    Was just curious, don't want to derail your thread.

    I like this cover, it does not change the original so perhaps it fits your description.
    (Or, perhaps shooting it in space brought something.  ;) )



    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • Spiritual_Chaos
    Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,510
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Do covers only have a point if they change the original song?
    Guess I am unsure of your definition of a cover with a point.

    I think they have to add something.
    Meh.  I don't necessarily agree.  Some covers I hear, where they totally change the song, make me want to smash the crap out of the radio.
    Was just curious, don't want to derail your thread.

    I like this cover, it does not change the original so perhaps it fits your description.
    (Or, perhaps shooting it in space brought something.  ;) )



    I'm not saying you have to revamp the song completely or turn a blues song into a jazz song.
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • ultrapig
    ultrapig South Dakota Posts: 173
    Any cover by Five Finger Death Punch. 
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,131
    There s been a few songs that pj has covered over the years that are pointless. Arms aloft anyone?
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • Thirty Bills Unpaid
    Thirty Bills Unpaid Posts: 16,881
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Do covers only have a point if they change the original song?
    Guess I am unsure of your definition of a cover with a point.

    I think they have to add something.
    You mean like this stirring rendition of PJ's Jeremy?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWTEQMxZIyY

    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,717
    edited September 2018
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Do covers only have a point if they change the original song?
    Guess I am unsure of your definition of a cover with a point.

    I think they have to add something.
    Meh.  I don't necessarily agree.  Some covers I hear, where they totally change the song, make me want to smash the crap out of the radio.
    Was just curious, don't want to derail your thread.

    I agree that a cover needs to improve upon the original or at least make it something different in some way for there to be a point to it. That doesn't mean the song is greatly changed. It just has to be somehow better or different. Sometimes that means that almost nothing changed - the cover artist might just be more talented, I.e. better voice, more emotion, better guitar playing, whatever. Or, of course, they make bigger changes that are awesome. A cover that doesn't add something is really just karaoke.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • ledvedderman
    ledvedderman Posts: 7,762
    I don’t know if they have to ADD something for the better of the song. But I think there needs to be something of original flavor put in the song. Give me a reason to listen to your version of the song in place of the original. 
    E8toX.gif

    http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,717
    edited September 2018
    ledvedderman said:
    I don’t know if they have to ADD something for the better of the song. But I think there needs to be something of original flavor put in the song. Give me a reason to listen to your version of the song in place of the original. 
    That's what I mean. Whatever that is that creates an original flavour (or something more tangible) is "adding" something.
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • jeffbr
    jeffbr Seattle Posts: 7,177
    Sometimes I just like to hear artists that I like cover other artists or songs that I like. They don't have to change it. The "something" is that it is performed by a particular artist I like. Let's look at some of PJ covers that I like just fine:

    Driven to Tears - What's special? PJ is playing it. Is it "better" than the original: Not for me. But I still like it and don't think it's a "pointless cover".
    Comfortably Numb: What's special? PJ is playing it. Is it "better" than the original: Not for me. But I still like it and don't think it's a "pointless cover".
    Crown of Thorns: What's special? PJ is playing it. Is it "better" than the original: Not for me. But I still like it and don't think it's a "pointless cover".
    Won't Back Down: What's special? PJ is playing it. Is it "better" than the original: Not for me. But I still like it and don't think it's a "pointless cover".

    I guess I don't need the cover to be "better" or to have a significant change for me to enjoy a cover. Pointless is subjective I suppose.
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,717
    edited September 2018
    I don't need a change (I don't mind one either), but it does have to be better or something new for me to appreciate it. That often involves a change. Otherwise it just seems like a waste of time. I mean, if there is no change and no improvement to the original, why not just listen to the original? With PJ covers, well, I don't like all of them. But for a lot of them, they aren't necessarily improved (though sometimes they are), but they are all definitely different in some way, and that includes the huge difference Eddie's unique voice inevitably makes.... I think that is what "PJ is playing it" mostly means, no? I mean, Mike can throw in some good solo or something, but really the reason it's not pointless is because Eddie is singing it and that actually matters in his case. That is not the case for all singers. 

    ... I do think PJ vastly improves Crown of Thorns though. ;)
    ... I also think they never should have covered Driven to Tears or Won't Back Down in the first place. I consider those two covers failures..... Although still changed, that's for sure!
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,131
    Driven to tears is awful live. Won’t back down is meh. I liked crazy mary pre boom.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • cjzoly
    cjzoly Posts: 508
    PJ_Soul said:

    ... I do think PJ vastly improves Crown of Thorns though. ;)

    AHHHHHH...You have Andy spinning in his tomb... ;)
    I'm a Thief, I'm a Liar, There's my Church, I sing in the Choir...Hallelujah...
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,717
    mcgruff10 said:
    Driven to tears is awful live. Won’t back down is meh. I liked crazy mary pre boom.
    Yeah, I like Crazy Mary quite a bit. Even with Boom.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,717
    cjzoly said:
    PJ_Soul said:

    ... I do think PJ vastly improves Crown of Thorns though. ;)

    AHHHHHH...You have Andy spinning in his tomb... ;)
    I have to ask... Is he really in a tomb?
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • cjzoly
    cjzoly Posts: 508
    I don't know...But Andy in a coffin didn't sound right...I was thinking tomb sounded more worldly...It is Mr. Wood...
    I'm a Thief, I'm a Liar, There's my Church, I sing in the Choir...Hallelujah...
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,717
    cjzoly said:
    I don't know...But Andy in a coffin didn't sound right...I was thinking tomb sounded more worldly...It is Mr. Wood...
    Lol..... I have to admit, and not to speak ill of the dead or anything.... But I've never been much of a fan.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • njnancy
    njnancy Posts: 5,096
    Thirty Bills Unpaid said:
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Do covers only have a point if they change the original song?
    Guess I am unsure of your definition of a cover with a point.

    I think they have to add something.
    You mean like this stirring rendition of PJ's Jeremy?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWTEQMxZIyY

    :o
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,717
    edited September 2018
    Thirty Bills Unpaid said:
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Do covers only have a point if they change the original song?
    Guess I am unsure of your definition of a cover with a point.

    I think they have to add something.
    You mean like this stirring rendition of PJ's Jeremy?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWTEQMxZIyY

    Lol. She's just awful.
    Not a bad actress though. She should have stuck to that!
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata

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