The fact that we all really like the RP, does not mean having ceased to be critical sense. I refer to some of the extracts of music and musical styles, which are not properly appreciated and valued by the listeners. And here there is some responsibility for production, that is constantly "channel" the attention, too much, for so-called "soft-rock" (that is trendy screams), and then when you try to "inject" more authors who require hearing demanding, people are surprised. And then if they are not well known authors, there exists a "shock" on the assessments and ...... same time that the production tries to arouse people's attention to authors in the areas of folk, ethnic, african, latin, world music, celtic, country, jazz, blues, etc., the ears of the some listeners seem to suffer a panic attack and momentarily fade ..... Well, it seems that the programming "ideal" would be to give equal exposure proportional to all types of music (even at the expense of losing some listeners usual, but make many others). As an author before composing a new song, has no guaranteed recipe for success, so the radio also does not know the right recipe. Still, I have to acknowledge (and thank) for the RP is probably making more effort to the criterion that just spur, on the international radio stations. And you have no illusions, the majority of interested listeners, are not even registered and have never written a single line in the comments on these pages and never given a score to a song. Listen, enjoy or "stand up" in silence the arrival of "their song" and never protest.
No Good! There's just some stuff you shouldn't cover, unless... Check out Pearl Jam at VH1 tribute to The Who on youtube. They know how to cover The Who!
sometimes a cloudburst is just a minor antenna adjustment away from life...
No Good! There's just some stuff you shouldn't cover, unless... Check out Pearl Jam at VH1 tribute to The Who on youtube. They know how to cover The Who!
There's a long profile of LaVette in the New Yorker this week. She sang this song for her recent big break at 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which honored, among others, the Who. Daltrey and Townsend were there and loved her performance. But according to the article, when she was first told that this was the song she was required to sing, she wept. "The highest opportunity I've ever been offered in my life, and this is the song I've been given", she said. "I felt completely defeated". Not that she didn't make the song her own ultimately (the article describes that nicely), but I'd rather hear her sing what she calls her genre, rhythm and blues.
Think about the original of this song—-Roger Daltrey is screaming his head off throughout the entire song. Overwrought white guy. No reason why the same amount of energy shouldn't go into this version.
Well, come to think of it, I didn't really like the original much either. But somehow, this version the "energy" sounds forced and there's a mismatch between the style and the content. But that's just my ear.
I'm guilty of not liking this version. But - all I've ever known was the Who original, so anything other than that has been, for me - the eternal purist - verbotten. It's difficult for me to hear a favorite song tackled by someone else - it's almost like (I was gonna write "rape," but I think "sacrilege" is a better fit.) While I just can't bring myself to love this version, I can at least now appreciate it - and also appreciate the guts it takes to attempt a different take on a classic.
I'll give this a few more listens, with my newly-opened mind. And I WON'T think of the Who - I'll take this as a new creation and rate it (or not rate it) accordingly. Did I ever mention that I love RadioParadise because of all this music? Oh. Never mind then...
Right on Cynaera, well put. That's all any of us can ask of any other person — a chance, just a chance. Like you, that's what thrills me about RP (and its supporters are part of the calculus too), and I often struggle with new takes on old standards thanks to the barrage approach of commercial radio. I certainly appreciate your open-mind.
The overwrought gospel style just doesn't work for everything.
"Overwrought Gospel." Perfect! It sounds completely fake to me. Trying WAY to hard.
Think about the original of this song—-Roger Daltrey is screaming his head off throughout the entire song. Overwrought white guy. No reason why the same amount of energy shouldn't go into this version.
In the first few bars I thought, "Ugh, how to kill a great song", then thought "no, it's just an intro and she's gonna burst out with something smolking, heartfelt and emotional". But now, I'm back to "Ugh, how to(totally) kill a great song".
I have this CD, but it's the first time I've heard this song here and couldn't believe all the negative comments. I think it's an original, even ballsy interpretation.
In the first few bars I thought, "Ugh, how to kill a great song", then thought "no, it's just an intro and she's gonna burst out with something smoking powerful and emotional". But now, I'm back to "Ugh, how to(totally) kill a great song".
Well, I really enjoyed this version of the great rock classic, so I'm a little disappointed to see all the negative comments on this blog. Fortunately, for fans like us, we have 2 things going in our favor: 1) the internet, and 2) known and respected critics who also think well of it. Looky what I found on Bettye's Amazon page:
"Produced by BETTYE, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others, before concluding right where the very idea for INTERPRETATIONS started: BETTYE’s visceral show-stopping rendition of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” from the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which appears here as a bonus track.
That performance – which first brought BETTYE together with Stevens (the event’s producer) and Mathes (its musical director) – served notice that BETTYE is no mere singer. As an extraordinary interpreter of song, she doesn’t merely mold a piece of music to suit her tastes; she is a conjurer of deep, emotional truths:
“Bettye LaVette punched a hole right through her version of Pete Townshend’s ‘Love Reign O’er Me,’ letting all the song’s emotion pour out in a way that its creators never conceived,” observed the New York Daily News. Townshend himself came up to Bettye after her performance, took her hands into his and said, “You made me weep.”"
Hey neigh-sayers, have you ever heard of Pete Townsend? He's the guy who wrote the original song — if it's good enough for Pete, it's good enough for me.
I'm guilty of not liking this version. But - all I've ever known was the Who original, so anything other than that has been, for me - the eternal purist - verbotten. It's difficult for me to hear a favorite song tackled by someone else - it's almost like (I was gonna write "rape," but I think "sacrilege" is a better fit.) While I just can't bring myself to love this version, I can at least now appreciate it - and also appreciate the guts it takes to attempt a different take on a classic.
I'll give this a few more listens, with my newly-opened mind. And I WON'T think of the Who - I'll take this as a new creation and rate it (or not rate it) accordingly. Did I ever mention that I love RadioParadise because of all this music? Oh. Never mind then...
I agree this is fantastic! The basis for all rock and roll, blues!
Well, I really enjoyed this version of the great rock classic, so I'm a little disappointed to see all the negative comments on this blog. Fortunately, for fans like us, we have 2 things going in our favor: 1) the internet, and 2) known and respected critics who also think well of it. Looky what I found on Bettye's Amazon page:
"Produced by BETTYE, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others, before concluding right where the very idea for INTERPRETATIONS started: BETTYE’s visceral show-stopping rendition of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” from the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which appears here as a bonus track.
That performance – which first brought BETTYE together with Stevens (the event’s producer) and Mathes (its musical director) – served notice that BETTYE is no mere singer. As an extraordinary interpreter of song, she doesn’t merely mold a piece of music to suit her tastes; she is a conjurer of deep, emotional truths:
“Bettye LaVette punched a hole right through her version of Pete Townshend’s ‘Love Reign O’er Me,’ letting all the song’s emotion pour out in a way that its creators never conceived,” observed the New York Daily News. Townshend himself came up to Bettye after her performance, took her hands into his and said, “You made me weep.”"
Hey neigh-sayers, have you ever heard of Pete Townsend? He's the guy who wrote the original song — if it's good enough for Pete, it's good enough for me.
ugh, her again...... Haven't heard her in awhile, thought (hoped) she went away. Voting this from a 2 down to a 1 now.
snowcat (Cold, Frozen, Rainy, Humid, Hot Minnesota)
Posted: Aug 09, 2010 - 17:50
Zigi wrote:
Not working for me at all, yearning for the Who original right now. In fact I may just have to put it one just to get this out of my head.
Agree...The tough thing for her is, the original is so powerful I don't think I would be happy with anyone's cover. If she had done it originally with no Who version it would be very nice actually. Very soulful.
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