In My Forty-Plus Years As A Music Writer ...

[andy-hughes]

… I have seen more than my fair share of classic songs butchered beyond redemption - but I wonder if anything is going to eclipse this!

[andy-hughes]

jno - // a beautiful song, later butchered by the Righteous Brothers //

You don't need me to tell you I'm sure that you are seriously in the minority with that view.

Bill Medley's production (later claimed by Phil Spector once it was a hit) is classic, and the vocal solo is one of the finest ever recorded.

But if you don;t like it, that's fine, but that's not the same as saying it was 'butchered' - clearly that is simply not true.

[burlyshirley]

I liked Unchained Melody by Robson & Jerome (I was a fan at the time). I don't think for one minute that the Righteous Brothers butchered it.

[Apc2604]

Re. The Op.

Awful. I loved Marianne, and her voice. I shall always love Mick!

[douglas9401]

Paul Potts had to do something to try to redeem himself after the atrocities in Kampuchea.

[JimF]

Paul Potts is a wonderful example of the whole ethos behind Britain's Got Talent, as he clearly has spadefuls of the stuff. The fact that he has not had any "formal" training really is irrelevant - he simply didn't need it to win the show, and doesn't need it to pursue his singing career. It's all relative. Put him up against an unknown but properly trained operatic tenor and he wouldn't stand a chance. His "signature" aria is Nessun Dorma, which of course leads to comparison with other tenors who are famous for singing that, notably Luciano Pavarotti.

Comparing Potts with Pavarotti is pointless.

[LadyCG]

Doug, I nearly choked laughing.

[Ken4155]

^
I think that may have gone over a few heads :-)

[Bobbisox1]

Any classic song that is covered with Rap is awful, just my opinion

[andy-hughes]

JimF - // The fact that he has not had any "formal" training really is irrelevant - he simply didn't need it to win the show, and doesn't need it to pursue his singing career. It's all relative. //

My point exactly.

Mr Potts' audience probably know as much about opera as I know about cooking a soufflé - and that is the point I am making.

He doesn't need to be technically good, just good enough for the audience that don't care about the finer points, and that's what he does, so good luck to him.

He's a more subtle version of a tribute act - you can't afford to see opera in Covent Garden, so here's a guy who will sing the best bits that you might know, and finish off with a signature emotion-shaker, and everyone is happy.

[Theland]

Are the seats in Covent Garden subsidised?

[mushroom25]

// Any classic song that is covered with Rap is awful, just my opinion //

I bet you really went for this then, bobbi……..

[Mozz71]

Andy, funny you should mention Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. That's a great example of a cover surpassing the original. The John Cale cover (which the Jeff Buckley version is based upon) is a thing of absolute beauty. Shame Simon Cowell got his grubby mitts on it though.

[Mozz71]

// Any classic song that is covered with Rap is awful, just my opinion //

Except, of course, Walk This Way.

[Bobbisox1]

Mushroom and Mozz, Rap is talking not singing, I dislike it big time

[Arksided]

The best cover of a classic:

[Theland]

Rap is the result of immigrant culture.
I don't like it either.

[Mozz71]

//Rap is the result of immigrant culture.//

Black culture and immigrant culture are two differe t things Theland.

//I don't like it either.//

That really doesn't surprise me.

[jno]

I'm aware the Righteous Brothers version is a classic, andy. I'm also aware that the Fleetwoods' is better.

Arguably a matter of taste, but also perhaps of received opinion.

[burlyshirley]

Mozz - just listened to John Cale's version - superb.

[Mozz71]

//just listened to John Cale's version - superb.//

Glad you liked it Shirley. It's the one featured in Shrek (Although they couldn't clear it for the soundtrack album, Rufus Wainwright recorded a version for that)

You might like his debut album, Paris 1919. It's definitely his most accessible record. The title track is one of my all time favourite songs.