Wasn't much of a fan until he got well toward the end with stuff like this.  Now I get to re-examine his work.

This just doesn't do it for me.......5..

Wasn't much of a fan until he got well toward the end with stuff like this.  Now I get to re-examine his work.

His recording of "Hurt" from this CD is haunting, even more so when you see the accompanying video.

A lot of words have been used to describe Cash's voice over the years, but "shaky" isn't one of them.

Note that when this song was recorded, he was about 4-5 years into a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and a list of related ailments, so his health was not very good, which weakened his voice.

I suppose this is the kind of thing that only a Johnny Cash fan could appreciate, but having grown to appreciate his bottomless baritone voice, the bit of shakiness in his voice in this recording and a few others on this album really add an edge to the song, as if you're hearing someone signing who has one foot in the grave.  Which, in a way, he did.  Add to that the subject of the song and the lyrics and you have something with a lot of punch to it IMHO.

Yes. I have noticed that songs with religious connotations seem to get marked down and it is interesting that some here do not mark any songs a 10. I believe this is something to do with those who are religious not being able to bring themselves to mark a track 'godlike'. 

I wonder if a hymn was played here they could only give it a 10.

Bill. . . could you run a test? ;) 

Oh God... I would rather listen to feral cats being eaten by hungry, wild dogs than listen to the unholy marriage of Johnny Cash and Depeche Mode. 

Did not expect to see anything less then 8.
Emotionally filled new age song about believing in your own powers.

Did not expect to see anything less then 8.
Emotionally filled new age song about believing in your own powers. And Johnny sounds much better then Depeche Mode or Marilyn Manson.
I guess most of the listeners are "real Jesus" believers. 

Smack, center, on the head of the nail.

A lot of words have been used to describe Cash's voice over the years, but "shaky" isn't one of them.

Note that when this song was recorded, he was about 4-5 years into a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and a list of related ailments, so his health was not very good, which weakened his voice.

I suppose this is the kind of thing that only a Johnny Cash fan could appreciate, but having grown to appreciate his bottomless baritone voice, the bit of shakiness in his voice in this recording and a few others on this album really add an edge to the song, as if you're hearing someone signing who has one foot in the grave.  Which, in a way, he did.  Add to that the subject of the song and the lyrics and you have something with a lot of punch to it IMHO.

  His shaky vocals add nothing to the originals

+1

His covers are terrible. His shaky vocals add nothing to the originals and lack any sort of emotion or subtleties.

I think people are more intrigued by the idea of Johnny Cash rather than his talent, at least here. He could recite a cereal box and some fans would think it's genius.

+1

His covers are terrible. His shaky vocals add nothing to the originals and lack any sort of emotion or subtleties.

I think people are more intrigued by the idea of Johnny Cash rather than his talent, at least here. He could recite a cereal box and some fans would think it's genius.

It's stunning and ads depth to the tune.  but i'm probably biased a little. I could listen to JC sing happy birthday and probably be brought to tears. there is no bigger american music icon in my opinion.

I honestly don't understand how this is appealing to anyone.  I don't like any songs by Johnny Cash, but the covers are even worse than his originals.  It just sounds like he's speaking the lyrics throughout the song.  It's so boring I could almost fall asleep, but it's so annoying it's keeping me awake.

To even mention Celine Dion in the same breath as Johnny Cash shows an ignorance of immeasurable proportions.

So who was first with this - Depeche Mode or Johnny Cash? Just curious, as to the Nottingham jury the DM version scores a 9 and this a 3.

YOu mean celine Dion gets violated - don't you?

How do I put this so that non-Americans can visualize the frame of reference? Mr. Cash’s point of view is of someone who truly believes in the efficacy of a “personal Jesus”. It is filled with pathos and a tragedy borne of desperation. The Depeche Mode version was indeed satirical, more educated, and sarcastic, and in comparison a bit trite. I don’t know enough about Germany to opine but I’ve never seen the kind of raw simple religious fervor in the UK that is demonstrated occasionally here in the USA. With all due respect, I suspect that it may be difficult for contemporary Europeans to understand the context from which Cash is coming. The performance is about simple and humble faith driven by deep desperation and as such is quite an insightful expression. Depeche Mode sees the subject of the song as an object of ridicule whereas Cash empathizes and exposes a rich sense of human tragedy through that empathy. This song might be about simple people who speak in tongues, are duped by TV preachers, and grasp their Bibles like shields to ward off the unknown; they are usually displayed as ignorant clowns buy mainstream culture but Cash is seeing the human nobility in their innocence and meekness.

Johnny Cash is not one of my favorite artists but this tune is truly great.