36 replies to this topic

[antceleb12]

Great concept, poor execution.

These covers really fall short of a tribute to her musical genius. Her music was more than words, it was the music and how it was arranged. They're not doing her music any justice by altering the style of her music.

"Addicted" remains the closest to the original.

"Monkey Man" and "Valerie" are just embarrassing.

[Cecilia]

Great concept, poor execution.

These covers really fall short of a tribute to her musical genius.

I agree with this...

They're not doing her music any justice by altering the style of her music.

I disagree with this. If these bands had done covers of Amy songs in the same style the danger would be that the covers just sound like inferior versions of her songs. Doing something different with them can showcase a band's creativity while paying tribute to the original by showing Amy was an inspiration to them. Often the best covers are those by bands that reinvent a song completely in my opinion. Just look at the covers Johnny Cash did of the Nine Inch Nails song Hurt or Nick Cave's The Mercy Seat. Totally different from the originals, but absolutely brilliant and more than doing the songs justice. Unfortunately from what I can hear of this preview I'm not overly impressed (hence my agreeing with your first statement), but maybe I'll change my mind once I hear the full tracks.

[Mrs. Jones]

Completely agree Cecilia, and those are great examples of covers you cited. I think covers should bring the song to a whole new level, make you experience it differently and surprise you...like what Amy did with Valerie. I like the original, but I like what Amy and Ronson did with it too.

I'm not impressed with these covers, and not half as open-minded as you though, as I don't even feel like giving the full tracks a listen...

[stranger]

they sound quite rubbish to me... I'm interested to hear Manic Street Preachers' version of Wake up alone because they are a good band, but the rest just sounds ... blah

[Tracii]

I'm not going to judge these covers right away since i've only heard small bits. But it will be an interesting listen for sure.

[antceleb12]

I agree with this...



I disagree with this. If these bands had done covers of Amy songs in the same style the danger would be that the covers just sound like inferior versions of her songs. Doing something different with them can showcase a band's creativity while paying tribute to the original by showing Amy was an inspiration to them. Often the best covers are those by bands that reinvent a song completely in my opinion. Just look at the covers Johnny Cash did of the Nine Inch Nails song Hurt or Nick Cave's The Mercy Seat. Totally different from the originals, but absolutely brilliant and more than doing the songs justice. Unfortunately from what I can hear of this preview I'm not overly impressed (hence my agreeing with your first statement), but maybe I'll change my mind once I hear the full tracks.

When it comes to the chords that Amy had in her music, I don't think those should be changed. Many of these covers don't use the same musical progressions, and that shouldn't be changed. If you want to make the song more of a rock-style, that's fine. But they shouldn't alter the musical progressions because that's what the artist wrote.

Changing a song from soul to rock, or pop to reggae is fine if it's done well. But when the music is changed (different chords and such), it doesn't work. Then it's not so much a tribute as it is using new music. As a musician, this drives me up a wall when people don't use the write musical progressions.

[gpozzo]

I love that pic covering this magazine. She looks gorgeous!

[LiamSullivan]

The picture during Me and Mr. Jones in the video is absolutely gorgeous. There was one or two covers I thought were okay. Definitely not great, but I'm just glad people care enough about her and her music to cover it.

[tselekoglu]

Only "Wake Up Alone", "He Can Only Hold Her" and "Addicted" are kinda cool. But they all haven't got the soul which Amy used to have in her songs actually. And Some Unholy War cover's singer.. She cannot spell some words, I think. That's why that cover is worst. And Valerie was really bad too.

[Cecilia]

Has anyone got the magazine yet?

Here's some stuff Mark Ronson said in the article:

Mark Ronson claims Amy Winehouse was "too smart and too talented" not to get bored when she was performing.

Amy Winehouse would often "get bored" in the middle of performances.

The 'Back to Black' singer - who died of accidental alcohol poisoning a year ago - was "too smart" to enjoy playing the same songs over and over again, according to her collaborator and friend Mark Ronson.
He said: "She would have moments of f**king brilliance on stage where everybody knew what they were watching.
"Then she'd get a little bored and go into a Lauryn Hill song in the middle of the set. She was too smart and too talented not to get bored."

Mark admits the pair made a lot of the songs for her second album 'Back to Black' in two weeks, but it was only when he listened back that he realised how dark the lyrics were.
Upon playing the songs, he told Q magazine: "That was the first time it sank in. Holy s**t, all those lyrics. It's real emotion. Pain. And she had to live that. All I had to do was make it sound good."

http://www.list.co.u...n-performances/

[Tiny Penny]

I got my copy of the magazine yesterday. Forget the CD, the article on Amy is more interesting. Lovely pictures and a really nice and detailed write up about her (over 9 pages). Makes me proud to be a fan and miss her even more.

There are some lovely quotes from Salaam and Nick Godwyn, her first manager as well as Mitch and Ronson and it chronicles her success really well.

I salute Q and hope others will follow with tributes to Amy, tributes she more than deserves.

Not sure about the advert for Jack Daniels which sits opposite the last page though!

[Mrs. Jones]

Shame I can't get it over here, would've loved to read the 9 pages about her!...

[TBR]

The Tears Dry On Their Own cover by Karima Francis has surfaced on YouTube:

[Mrs. Jones]

Here's some stuff Mark Ronson said in the article:

Mark Ronson claims Amy Winehouse was "too smart and too talented" not to get bored when she was performing.

Amy Winehouse would often "get bored" in the middle of performances.

The 'Back to Black' singer - who died of accidental alcohol poisoning a year ago - was "too smart" to enjoy playing the same songs over and over again, according to her collaborator and friend Mark Ronson.
He said: "She would have moments of f**king brilliance on stage where everybody knew what they were watching.
"Then she'd get a little bored and go into a Lauryn Hill song in the middle of the set. She was too smart and too talented not to get bored."

When I read what Mark said about her launching into Lauren Hill out of boredom, I couldn't help but think : "He doesn't get it. Or more importantly he doesn't get HER". Yes, I think Amy may have been bored during concerts, singing the same songs over and over...but I always thought her going into Doo Wop was a nod to Lauren who Amy admired and, and the beat of which is very similar (or sampled) on He Can Only Hold Her...

That's not boredom Ronson, that's fucking genious!!

[Elsie]

When I read what Mark said about her launching into Lauren Hill out of boredom, I couldn't help but think : "He doesn't get it. Or more importantly he doesn't get HER". Yes, I think Amy may have been bored during concerts, singing the same songs over and over...but I always thought her going into Doo Wop was a nod to Lauren who Amy admired and, and the beat of which is very similar (or sampled) on He Can Only Hold Her...

That's not boredom Ronson, that's fucking genious!!

Yeah, it's not like the Lauryn thing was spontaneous, she did on every rendition of He Can Only Hold Her. And it worked perfectly. I always thought Amy's music was often very reminiscent of Lauryn's and if there's one person whose voice and sound hers was similar to, it was definitely Lauryn, not Adele or Duffy.