I am not a huge country music fan, but you don't accumulate a collection the size of mine without having some in there. It's mainly the guitar tuning-there is a lot of good songwriting in country music.
But one of my favorite songs on a country album came from the very tail end of Johnny Cash's career, and it was a cover song.
I am not sure if any past BOTB post ever featured Johnny Cash's Hurt, but if not, here it is, and if so....here it is again.
First, the haunting cover by Johnny Cash. Johnny is clearly nearing the end of the road-you can hear it in his voice-and it makes the version quite compelling.
Next, another cover version by Leona Lewis. Lewis is a British pop star, but her 2011 EP released to tide fans over between her second and third albums contained some pretty ambitious stuff, this song being an example of that.
You know the routine. Listen. Comment. Opine.
The Johnny Cash version of this song is unbeatable in my opinion. Lewis is fine--especially the instrumentation, but her delivery is not as convincing as the masterpiece by Cash. Johnny is downright powerful and achingly moving in his version.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes wholeheartedly to Johnny Cash.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I am doing this on an iPad mini so in the comment window it looked like you typed "unbearable!"
DeleteHa! Yeah, well, ironically "UNBEARABLE" pretty well hits that coffin's nail on the head.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
LC ~
ReplyDeleteOpine, Opine, don't you wish you were an oak?
I can't really say I'm a huge fan of this song in general. And as I'm sure you remember me saying in the past, I'm not a Johnny Cash fan, either. I'll never understand his popularity.
And this song, the way he does it... dang! OK, I guess it's "deep"... like a freshly dug grave. And that's exactly what it sounds like: a funeral dirge.
There was a lot more life to Leona's version, and the dynamic shifts made it much more interesting to listen to than just that steady, going-nowhere, downer monotone of Cash.
Vote: LEONA
~ D'plorable D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
Considering the lyric content and how close Cash was to meeting his maker, the mood does suit it, but just seeing you vote for a modern pop star makes this choice worthwhile!
DeleteIt's like listening to a eulogy, and I don't record eulogies to play back later for entertainment.
DeleteMusic can express a range of emotions but it's still s'posed to be entertainment.
Johnny Cash rarely "SPOKE" a song I ever liked. Only U2 is more overrated.
~ D-FensDogG
Johnny's version is an all time classic. Leona's was very good, but Johnny's voice to the song just freezes the blood. Man In Black.
ReplyDeleteInteresting...so far people either love Cash's cover or hate it.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Cash's version came out. His wife had recently passed on, and it was very clear that he was very near the end of his time here as well. I think that is perhaps what makes his delivery more believable and heartfelt. Leona did a good job, but she just doesn't have the life experience that Johnny has had to give it the full on believability factor.
ReplyDeleteMy vote: Johnny Cash
Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
I agree, Mary-his version oozes emotion
DeleteLL does good job with it, but Cash gets my vote. So much emoton in his version.
ReplyDeleteOne is a good song, but the other really feels "lived-in"
DeleteLeona's just didn't sound right. I'll go with The Man In Black.
ReplyDeleteOh I see-but if his clothes were white, you'd vote different, huh? That's thread-ism, man!
DeleteI like both versions quite a bit. Two different style which are equally appealing. Johnny Cash conveys the hurt in his voice strongly speaking to my heart. Leona Lewis uptempo and pretty vocals gives it the song a contemporary flavor and on any other day I'd probably go with but today The Man in Black gets my vote. Nice battle!
ReplyDeleteA lot of times, one's mood can really drive what appeals to them. There are times where I am just not in the mood to hear something as dark as Cash's version.
DeleteI have always loved Johnny Cash and he's getting my vote today. It's sad, his version, in light of knowing he was nearing the end.
ReplyDeleteLeona did an okay job with the song but I just didn't care for her version.
For me, it's Johnny.
Thanks for bring some Johnny Cash into my day!
Michele at Angels Bark
I was not much of a cash fan until this series of records he did with Rick RUbin producing. Rubin really gets a lot out of his artists (check out the disc he did with Neil Diamond).
DeleteI am actually surprised how much I like Leona's version. She sings strong and with heart but I still am giving it to Cash. I didn't watch the video but I know it well and it makes me cry each time. Regardless of the video, his style and the way he sang the words hits deeper for me. He really knows these words so he gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteI am a little surprised that Cash is running away with this, as Leona does do a good job.
DeleteLeona's version isn't bad, but come on, you can actually HEAR the hurt in Johnny's voice. He earned this one. One very enthusiastically sad (or sadly enthusiastic?) vote for him.
ReplyDeleteHis version is simply haunting.
Delete