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One criticism I’ve never understood about song covers is when people complain that it’s not like the original. And they talk about how an identical sounding copy as “does justice” to the song. If I wanted to hear the exact same song, I’d listen to the original. If you’re going to re-do it, really reinvent it.
So with it known that I love a crazy cover, for some reason I wasn’t really psyched about hearing Susan Boyle’s first single, a cover of the Rolling Stones’ classic “Wild Horses.” As much as I like her and love her story, her musical style generally doesn’t do it for me. But I was totally and completely wrong. Susan’s version is so unique and so her own that it’s a completely different song. Different parts of the lyrics stand out and the feeling you come away with is unique to her version. The song is very clean; Susan’s vocals are great without being too showy or overpowering. It’s just a stunningly fabulous performance all the way around.
This one you might have to search YouTube a bit for, as it seems like the posted files are being yanked almost as soon as they are posted. However, the news is that Susan Boyle’s version of the Rolling Stones classic “Wild Horses” has been leaked, and, in one word, it is stunning. The song itself is well deserved of accolades as a classic. The choice of it as a song for Susan Boyle to sing is impressively inspired. Her delivery is flawless. If this is truly a sign of what we have to expect from her upcoming album I Dreamed a Dream, it will be a blockbuster. Susan Boyle is expected to appear this week on US television as part of the finale of America’s Got Talent.
[From Bill’s Top 40 Pop Blog]
I think “Wild Horses” must be one of the most covered songs (and requested songs) of all time. I have a friend who’s a singer who has a caption under a picture of her performing which says “No, I will not sing ‘Wild Horses’ for you.” I’ve heard other artists whom I really like cover the song, and it often just leaves a bland taste in my mouth compared to the original. Susan’s version is so her own, there’s no comparison. And it’s not trying to one-up the Stones or really be anything like the original. Everything about it is flawless if you take it for what it is instead of as a comparison.
Here’s Susan arriving in Los Angeles on Saturday. The Sun has a cute story about her visit to Disneyland. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.
Written by JayBird
Posted in Music, Susan Boyle
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30 Responses to “Susan Boyle’s first single: a cover of The Stones’ Wild Horses”
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I still like The Sundays version best, but I think this is pretty good.
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arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh! I’ve heard it and it is ALL WRONG IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE!! Maybe she should cover Sympathy for the Devil.
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Wow. That song gave me chills. She really has an amazing talent.
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i don’t think it is that unique since the Sundays already did it. her voice sounds good tho
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Oooo, I’m surprised! That is killer! Reminds me of Tori Amos’ covers.
please don’t hit me.
Also, Susan Boyle isn’t a songwriter, so she ain’t going to ‘do her own material’. Different type of artist, imo.
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Gave me the chills, too, although she could have kicked the tempo up a notch. The orchestration is superb.
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LOVE the piano!
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The arrangement is beautiful, but in my opinion, her voice just doesn’t fit the song.
gg: Tori’s version of “Angie” is still one of my favorite covers of all time.
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I loved this version.
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Well, maybe it’s an age thing, but, I like it….whatever you may say, her voice is exquisite….
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Fat Elvis - Thank you! That’s exactly what it reminded me of. I got chills on that too.
Also she was killer on that Nirvana song too, ‘Teen Spirit’. Way to take stupid lyrics and make them beautiful just from delicate treatment and gorgeous singing.
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I love it.
And I don’t mind singers covering songs at all as long as they do it well. infact I prefer it over them writing generic uninspired music. Jazz singers almost always sing covers AKA standards because they know singing is an art form in itself and that classic tunes are priceless.
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I really like this.
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She definitely has a strong voice. It would help her career if she couldn’t pass for Peter Boyle tho. Heard Taylor Swift will also be doing a version of this for Kanye, titled Wild Horse’s Ass.
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LOL@Kevin’s remark about Kanye.
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I’m still rooting for Susan Boyle. Her voice is amazing. Crazy Cat Ladies rock. I oughta know.
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Blargh. This sounds like every single Britain’s Got Talent has ever excreted. Sappy orchestration and dragging, simpering vocalization. And perhaps this is just my opinion, but her vibrato sounds like someone on a jackhammer. And all in all it sounds cheap, very cheap, like she made it in her garage.
Having said that, I would love, LOVE, to hear Celine Dion cover this song in this exact method, because not only would it actually be listenable, but she would BLAST it and it would be sublime and hilarious.
@Firestarter: do you need an education in music history? This “singer/songwriter” concept is new, very new.
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It’s nice, but it’s really a cover of Charlotte Martin’s version of the song — I actually like Charlotte’s version better I think.
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I believe my point is, you do not have to write your own songs, as many artists do not write their own material, but at least find writers and lyricists so you can have new material and not continually belt out songs made famous by someone else. If you have an amazing voice, don’t sell yourself short and not do something that is new to the world.
No, I do not need an education in music history, but thank you for suggesting it. Like WTF!?
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She is a cutie. This is one of my favourite RS songs, but I like her version. I think Disney needs to hire this woman to do some singing in their next animated feature. She’s got the “princess voice” down.
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I’m all about the Sundays’ version. That Harriet is something else, and though I did like the Susan version…it’s not entirely original.
The Sundays covered this song like that, and Harriet’s clear voice, totally without vibrato or strain, does more justice to it, in my opinion.
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I have never heard such rubbish around as from some of the people in this comment room.It’s not as good as so and so’s ,she doesn’t write her own songs. These dodo brains have no clue whatsoever. You think when the beatles,elvis,the stones and a zillion other artists recorded there first album the songs were all written by them,What a bunch of losers you are. The reason people do covers is to make it different from the original, and they become either garbage or unique in there own way.some of you have have a lot to learn about musical
knowledge,what you know you could write on a flees ear.you wouldn’t recognise the difference between a class singer and a cheeseburger. If your going to give a view at least have some idea what your talking about.celbitchy comment could not have said it better:Susan’s version is so unique and so her own that it’s a completely different song. Different parts of the lyrics stand out and the feeling you come away with is unique to her version. The song is very clean; Susan’s vocals are great without being too showy or overpowering. It’s just a stunningly fabulous performance all the way around.
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Sorry, I know I’m the minority here, but I’m not digging her.
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Her version is stunning. I would actually buy a CD of hers if all of the songs were this good.
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A Burns: Spare us the histrionics, please. Everyone is entitled to their own feelings, and you don’t need a degree in music to have a valid opinion about whether or not you like a damn song. Seriously, take a few deep breaths before you choke on all that rage.
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After hearing the Sundays’ version I think waaay too many times on the radio, I prefer Susan’s version because the Sundays singer sounds like that hippie whiney thing with no strength - just my personal opinion. I like strong voices, not breathy or wimpy ones. And yeah, it’s a copy of another covered version, but Susan’s just starting out here and I’m cutting her some originality slack. I think she’s a sweetheart and it does my heart good to see her moving forward with her dream solo career.
Btw, Kevin, she’s had a massive makeover and looks very feminine now. Check it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3SaIvxS2WA
Now, having said that, CELINE DION! haha you’re kiddn me right? OY I’d rather poke sharp pencils into my ears than hear her bleat anything beyond what I’ve been forced to listen to.
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This is one of my favorite songs. I like her voice, she’s very talented. I do think I prefer the Sundays version, and Charlotte Martin’s as well. I just got Charlotte’s albums, I really like them all. But Susan is very talented and if she chooses good songs to cover, she’ll do very well.
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i really like susan. but susan should have done something original. she said she writes music, why didnt they release something original?
i like this version but…it sounds almost exactly like Charlotte Martin’s version of ‘wild horses’ from her album ‘on your shore’ (2004). i love that version so much…take a look and listen:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoMqEGI79MI
http://www.charlottemartin.com/ -
I’m cutting her some originality slack. I think she’s a sweetheart and it does my heart good to see her moving forward with her dream solo career.
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There are no words!
Uh, and whatever happened to doing your OWN material? If you are a singer, make a name for yourself with your own music and don’t do cheap covers of classics!
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