Songbird: Original and Cover-which is better?

[vivfox]

I found this on the web

---------
Songbird
The other night, we caught the tail end of a programme about Fleetwood Mac, which showed a clip of Christine McVie performing Songbird, her own composition. I was struck by how inferior her version was to the Eva Cassidy version that most people are familiar with. I wondered: what’s it like to compose a song that is then performed much better by someone else? Do you feel aggrieved that they've taken something that belongs to you and made it their own? Or do you feel thrilled that they’ve been able to do something with your composition that you couldn't?

It's not that there’s anything wrong with Christine McVie’s version, incidentally. It’s just that Eva Cassidy would have made The Wheels on the Bus sound sublime.

Anyway, judge for yourself:

Christine McVie: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3kHg3whm4dU&feature=related
and
Eva Cassidy: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AFFo1pu4q7Q

http://kimthomas.livejournal.com/7285.html

[vivfox]

Songbird by Christine is a song of hers that I never really cared for. Whenever I listen to the Rumours album I always skip over it. When I found this web article of this person listening to Songbird, I looked at it thru their perspective and listened to Eva Cassidy's version. I have never heard Eva sing before I watched this video, but I must tell you that Eva's version of Songbird blows the original one out of the water as far as I am concerned.
I am always searching for a cover that blows up the original and here my friends, I have found one.

[bucklind17]

"Songbird" is my absolute favorite of Christine's songs. Eva Cassidy's version is very pretty, and definitely does the song justice, but the simple fact that it isn't Christine singing is enough to make it inferior to me. Maybe it's knowing so much about the period in which this song was written and recorded, knowing about the recording session in the music hall with the grand piano and how after awhile, this became the song to close the live shows, but I couldn't think of any version of "Songbird" being better than Christine McVie's. And pretty as Eva Cassidy's voice is, and as gentle and pleasant as the instrumental on this version is, there's also no piano! I can see why this is a well-liked cover though, if I wasn't so attached to this song or so familiar with Christine's versions of it, I'd probably be much more open-minded to this version. It really is quite lovely.

[David]

Eva Cassidy sounds (or sounded) like a hundred other singers. In all that "purity" & "beauty," you'd be hard-pressed to locate anything that stamps Eva as an indivual style, one you could pick out at fifty paces. Furthermore, what's operating here is what I would call sonic redundancy: Why surround a syrupy, overtly "beautiful" singer with a syrupy, overtly "beautiful" arrangement & production? It's too conventional. It turned Christine's "little prayer" into a mawkish spectacle.

Christine, on the other hand (or foot), sings & phrases so individually as to be recognizable even in two-second snippets from unnamed sources. Chris developed one of the most singular, individual vocal styles of that era. It's like a Billie Holiday situation. Nobody sounds like Christine. Nobody sings just the way she does.

[Gailh]

for me Christine's version is the best.

It reminds me of FM concerts, Christine alone on the stage - just perfect (pun intended)

At the moment I really like the instrumental only version.

But NO other version can come close to the original.

Gail

[SortaSavageLike]

You know why so many people prefer Eva Cassidy's version more? Because she's a martyr. Yes - much like test pilots, the best career move a singer or musician can ever make is to die. :rolleyes:

[jbrownsjr]

I found this on the web

---------
Songbird
The other night, we caught the tail end of a programme about Fleetwood Mac, which showed a clip of Christine McVie performing Songbird, her own composition. I was struck by how inferior her version was to the Eva Cassidy version that most people are familiar with. I wondered: what’s it like to compose a song that is then performed much better by someone else? Do you feel aggrieved that they've taken something that belongs to you and made it their own? Or do you feel thrilled that they’ve been able to do something with your composition that you couldn't?

It's not that there’s anything wrong with Christine McVie’s version, incidentally. It’s just that Eva Cassidy would have made The Wheels on the Bus sound sublime.

Anyway, judge for yourself:

Christine McVie: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3kHg3whm4dU&feature=related
and
Eva Cassidy: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AFFo1pu4q7Q

http://kimthomas.livejournal.com/7285.html

I am guessing here that you assume everyone including Christine prefers Eva's version of the tune. I don't really think Christine got into the business of composing music to out do or be outdone by some other artist(s). I'm gonna guess she would be honored that someone loved the tune so much that they spent the time and money to record it.

Eva must have really loved this composition and it must have really meant a lot to her to cover it. To me, it's about the tribute and respect one artist has shown another. Not really about my BMW is better than your BMW!!! Eva can't do what Christine does and Christine can't do what Eva does... and thank God for that... cos it's hardly the point.

I respect both artists.

[macfan 57]

I like Eva's version, but I LOVE Christine's orginal version of Songbird. I generally don't care for covers of Christine McVie songs, but Eva's "Songbird" is an exception. As David said, no one sounds like Christine. She's totally unique. For what it's worth, a few years back Mick mentioned in an online chat that Chris liked Eva's "Songbird".

[trackaghost]

I like Eva's version, but I LOVE Christine's orginal version of Songbird. I generally don't care for covers of Christine McVie songs, but Eva's "Songbird" is an exception. As David said, no one sounds like Christine. She's totally unique. For what it's worth, a few years back Mick mentioned in an online chat that Chris liked Eva's "Songbird".

Did you ever read this Mary Anne?

http://www.fleetwoodmac-uk.com/articles/archive/FMart_arc008.html


But I agree with David, nothing matches Christine's version IMO, and I've never really understood the Eva Cassidy thing. I did however really enjoy Willie Nelson's take on the song, I thought at the very least he gave a different spin on it.

[Stew_Matthews]

I remember reading an interesting interview with Carole King and she described the first time she heard Aretha Franklin's version of her song - You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman. She said there was just no point singing it after that because Aretha's version was so much better and I think it took a while for Carole to start singing it again.

Not the case with Songbird. Christine's in the definitive version - a classic song.

[aleuzzi]

Well, if you are going to set the two songs up for comparison, use either two studio versions or two live versions. The links show Christine singing it live in 1984 with her solo band; and the other is a video homage to Eva Cassidy's great studio version.

IMO, both studio versions are equally great for different reasons. And Christine's 1984 performance of the tune is not one of her best. However, no matter how dazzling EC's remake is, I always feel a genuine emotional response when I hear Christine's studio version sung with honest humility. It's truly moving.

[macfan 57]

Did you ever read this Mary Anne?

http://www.fleetwoodmac-uk.com/articles/archive/FMart_arc008.html



Thanks, Sharon!:) I hadn't read that article before. I've always wondered why Mick didn't use Eva's version on that tribute CD. The version he did use on that album is horrible, in my opinion.

[nicepace]

Is this thread a joke? Which of these two versions is BETTER? A more realistic question would be: Which of these two recordings is one of the world's greatest songs, and which one is so overproduced and sterile it is actually unlistenable?

In my opinion, Eva Cassidy's version is overproduced, sappy, schmaltzy and polished so much that it is all shine, no substance. Her version is sterile. There's nothing sincere about it. I really hate it. Her version is lightyears away from the beautiful simplicity and sincerity of the Christine voice/piano recording. I'm actually quite disappointed that Chris herself likes it, though do we have any actual evidence that she does, more than a casual remark from Mick?

[bretonbanquet]

Eva Cassidy sounds (or sounded) like a hundred other singers. In all that "purity" & "beauty," you'd be hard-pressed to locate anything that stamps Eva as an indivual style, one you could pick out at fifty paces. Furthermore, what's operating here is what I would call sonic redundancy: Why surround a syrupy, overtly "beautiful" singer with a syrupy, overtly "beautiful" arrangement & production? It's too conventional. It turned Christine's "little prayer" into a mawkish spectacle.

Christine, on the other hand (or foot), sings & phrases so individually as to be recognizable even in two-second snippets from unnamed sources. Chris developed one of the most singular, individual vocal styles of that era. It's like a Billie Holiday situation. Nobody sounds like Christine. Nobody sings just the way she does.

You know why so many people prefer Eva Cassidy's version more? Because she's a martyr. Yes - much like test pilots, the best career move a singer or musician can ever make is to die. :rolleyes:


All true. Songbird is not a song I love, but Christine's version is not going to be bettered by anyone else who just picks it up and sings the words. Eva Cassidy is / was "OK". Really nothing special. Anyone who thinks her bland, syrupy version of this song beats the spot-on, heartfelt Rumours version needs their ears washed out.

[vivfox]

Anyone who thinks her bland, syrupy version of this song beats the spot-on, heartfelt Rumours version needs their ears washed out.

I post this only with a sense of humor

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/cielosharon/macaco1xl2ou0cv.gif

[Peestie]

I think the Chirstine version is much better. Her version actually moves me and get an emotional response. There's something magical about it. I wanted to like Eva's version since my dad raved about it but the first time I heard it I was left feeling bored of it by half way through and didn't feel anything much for it. I agree with David about the overproduction on it and I think it could have been much better had it been stripped down a lot more.

It always seems strange to me that it is a song off one of the biggest selling albums of all time and yet a lot of people think it's an Eva song.

[kathy1]

i think i like the original.

[SteveMacD]

I've heard both, and obviously like Christine's version better. But, Eva was a friend of Mick's, too, so I'm not shocked that he said something glowing about it. I have a hunch her recording the song in the first place was probably his idea. It's a different take.

And, it works both ways. I still think Christine's cover of "I'd Rather Go Blind" pales in comparison to the original Etta James version. (I bet Christine agrees.) I still love Christine's version, though.

[vivfox]

I had never heard the Eva cassidy version until I started this blog.