The California Aggie, 2/14/2014 by Tyler Webb
http://www.theaggie.org/2014/02/14/t...in-feb-13-2014
Covers and Mash Ups
1. “Landslide” (Original by Fleetwood Mac; covers by Smashing Pumpkins and Dixie Chicks)
One of the reasons that the original Fleetwood version of this song is so good is its simplicity. It features nothing but Stevie Nicks’ voice and an acoustic guitar. I find it perfectly made the way it is. I suppose Smashing Pumpkins and The Dixie Chicks felt so too, because both of their covers retain the simplicity by excluding bass, electric guitar, drums or any other yip yap, just like Fleetwood Mac did.
The Dixie Chicks added their country twang by using a banjo, and Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan’s rough, whiny voice gives their version its own unique spin. These covers exemplify a case in which the coverers leave the song pretty much untouched, only altering it slightly. Paying homage to the artistic style of the original is certainly a respectable way to go about covering a song.