When the Seal song “If You Don‘t Know Me By Now” came on the radio the other day, my 4 year old daughter Sweet Pea said: “Mommy, I don’t like this song.”
You know why you don’t like it, Sweet Pea? BECAUSE IT BLOWS.
Why did Seal do a remake of that song? I don’t get it. Was his label pushing him with a release date for the album and he ran out of time? Maybe he was just too busy with his hot wife and 20 kids to do another song, so he fell back on a cover tune. Whatever his reasons, it made me sad when I heard it. Seal was good. He is good. I expected more from him. The song doesn’t make him stand out all (at least not in a good way) and what‘s more, his version didn’t seem to be any different (or as good) as the original.
Artists have been doing covers for as long as I can remember. Madonna took a stab at American Pie (you blew that one, Madge), Brittany tried I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll (poor, misguided, raised-by-Hollywood Brittany), and the song Landslide has been done by pretty much everyone.
There is one song out right now that is really bugging the crap out of me though. Even more than Seal’s song: Daughtry (he is no longer Chris Daughtry in case you didn’t know–he is just Daughtry) and Santana have come out with a remake of the classic Def Leppard song Photograph.
My first issue with the song is kind of stupid, but I have to get it out: Santana is listed as the artist. I don’t get that. He is not the artist. He didn’t write the song and he’s not singing it. He’s playing an instrument, yes, but I don’t understand how that makes him the artist. Stop it, Santana!
My second issue is this: Photograph? Why, Daughtry? Why’d you do it? The original was perfect. Was it Santana’s idea? Is that it? He hasn’t done much lately, maybe he talked you into it. Do you just love that song? Is that why you did it? It is a good song, I agree. Was there a real need for a new version though? I don‘t think so. I never heard anyone say “Don’t you think it’s time for a remake of Photograph?” And do know why I have never heard anyone say that? Because no one ever has. You must have a Donald Trump size ego if you think you can do Photograph better than Def Leppard.
But besides questioning Daughtry‘s reasons for singing Photograph, the other question I find myself asking is this: Why is it being played? What does that say about the radio stations choosing to play the song, and what does it say about current music that is being released?
I’m all about taking a song and doing something completely different with it. I haven’t watched American Idol this season, but there have been contestants in the past who have done remakes that have rocked the house. Or, once in awhile a cover comes along that is crazy good. Jimi Hendrix’s All Along The Watchtower and Jeff Buckly’s Hallelujah are both awesome, but let’s face it– in most cases, original songs are usually better.
I love that Sweet Pea, of all people, busted Seal’s cover wide open. She has never heard Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes sing it, or Simply Red (that’s who I originally thought sang it) but she knows what’s up. She knows originality reigns supreme.
Sweet Pea comes up with crazy outfits and fun hair styles and she rocks them all with confidence and attitude. One day she will probably want to dress and talk and act like her friends because at a certain age, most kids just want to blend in. But I hope she maintains her originality and continues to do her own thing, at least on some level, because to me, she is the best and she is the original.
Thanks for being here!
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This is SO TRUE even though i have never head that song! I love the pictures of Sweet Pea.
Great post! Love it!!!!!!
YES YES YES! except I love Madonna.
Funny post and I am horrified to hear that Daughtry is covering "Photograph". It's an iconic song and he's misguided, to say the least. He must be trying to buy out his indenture to American Idol. By the way, I am sorry to tell you but Simply Red was covering the song, "If You Don't Know Me by Now". It was originally done by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in the 1960s.
I swore that I would never comment on a comment but I had to jump on here because I am laughing really hard right now. The fact that Simply Red didn't do the original version of "IYDKMBN" drives my point home even more! How many versions of one song do we need??? I don't know who you are, Anonymous, but you are awesome. Good catch. Not nit picky or annoying at all. A legitimately good catch. Thank you.
Late to the party (as usual) but I totally agree with the "Santana-as-artist" comment and get really (really, really!) irritated when I hear some dumb artist trying to sing a Supertramp song. Supertramp did it awesomely, thankyouverymuch, and no one is going to come even a teeny bit close to matching their awesomeness, so why even bother? Leave Supertramp songs alone. To all of the "artists" who sing: Come up with your own material!
"Hallelujah" was originally written and performed by Canadian national treasure Leonard Cohen. Buckley's was a cover version.
I think she said Buckley's was a cover? And a dam fine cover it is!!!!!
She did say that Buckley's was a cover. She said it was a good cover. On that "note" (get it), this post was hilarious and true. I like how it all came together.