John J. Hlavaty ([email protected])
Mon, 28 Sep 1998 22:15:41 +0000
Abe, I don't know what to say about this as you are clearly
not alone in this sentiment. However, I can't help but wonder,
if everyone is hearing a different version of this remake than I.
I downloaded the complete .mp3 file of this song from "Interference"
the other day (thank you!). Before that I had an abbreviated version of
the song.
After hearing it, I compared it to the original.
I never really cared for the original. Yes, it was a strong
b-side, but I guess it just seemed "out of place" when compared
to other JT-era songs. Also, I felt Bono's voice was VERY scratchy
in the original.
I first listened to the new version with hesitation. Would this remake
be better or worse? I was not impressed with the remake of "Tomorrow",
but I could appreciate the differences (the song being performed
from the point of view of a man 22 years after his mother's death,
as opposed to original which was sung just 6-7 years after Bono's
mother's passing). Still, the original version of "Tomorrow"
just seemed so passionate that the remake didn't impress me. Would
the remake for "The Sweetest Thing" be similar?
Surprisingly, I found the answer to be a resounding "no"! Yes,
Bono's voice is "deeper" (for lack of a better term), but it's
SO much richer and fuller when compared to the original. Gone
is this scratchiness of the original. And the way he hits
those falsettos is incredible.
Yet time after time I read people's posts complaining about
Bono's vocals on this track - many saying his voice is worse.
Worse??? This richer, fuller sounding voice is worse? What
version are you all hearing?
> Now I don't want to offend anybody , so let's make this clear - I
> still love Bono - I love his voice - but the truth of the matter is that you
> don't go back and re-record a song that had nothing wrong with it in the first
> place, then try and make it a big deal by slapping a '98 and a DO DO DO by
> Boyzone at the end.
Before we go any further, PLEASE NOTE THAT BOYZONE HAD NOTHING
TO DO IN THE ACTUAL RECORDING OF THIS REMAKE! They ONLY appear
in the video, that's it. So whatever "do dos" you think Boyzone
are doing are actually done by U2. This is not conjecture on my
part but fact.
It appears that those who complain about this song adore the original
too
much. Bono's vocal style has changed considerably since 1987. Some
could say it changed because of smoking, drinking or age. All are true.
However, I also contend that Bono has finally learned how to sing
this decade. In the early 80's he was SO off-key at times it was
hard on the ears. Even Bono admits to having difficulty listening to
his earlier work.
Come the mid-80's, Bono's vocals dramatically improved. This
was first evidenced on "The Unfor. Fire". However, Bono's
vocals also took on this pseudo-opera singer style. His need
to belt out every song also took its toll on his voice. By
R&H, Bono's voice dropped just a bit, but he was able to retain
that power. Vocally, I feel this is Bono at his best.
Come AB, it was clear Bono was experimenting with new vocal
styles. And it was here that we began to hear his more sultry
voice, his stratosphere falsetto and his raspy voice.
Bono has said that he will give up smoking since he wants
his vocals to really soar on the next album. Will this be a return
to the JT style of singing? If so, is this necessarily good or
bad? There have been a few bands with lead singers trying
to imitate Bono's operatic vocals - and while they have
great voices, the songs just don't work. Bono/U2 found that
rare combination - rock songs that were allowed a operatic
vocal styling. But can this combination be repeated?
> So in conclusion , this money making scheme failed. However,
> the money making scheme of Live music on those singles as B-sides is
> very appealing - so CHA CHING ! You got me boys !
??? Nothing has failed here. The album has yet to be released.
Just because YOU don't like this song Abe, it doesn't mean the
masses won't. And even you admitted that you are going
to buy the single for the b-sides. So as far as pecuniary profits go,
nothing has failed as of this writing.
> Chris was upset at the lack of a US single. Is that so bad ? No, I
> don't think so..
I too would have liked to seen a U.S. single for this song.
While some of the die-hards out there don't like the remake,
I think the masses would really love it. And, I could see
this single becoming a big hit. However, the lack of a U.S.
CD single release will prevent it from getting the air time
it should. What this will ultimately means is unknown.
> Nothing makes anyone less deserving , but the US should have the
> single too.
I agree. I think the single would sell very well here
in the U.S. Older fans who already have the "Best Of" songs
might just like the single. Kids who could care less about
the older songs might also just want the single. It should
have been released here. I think it's a mistake that it
won't be.
> 5.) <<"The job of rock 'n roll is to blow people's heads. Everyone
> else is into nostalgia." - Bono
>
> looks like U2 has become everyone else for a moment :)>>
>
> Amen , my brother !!
??? It's nostalgic to record a song the way U2 wanted to?
U2 "gave" us the b-side back in '87 as a "gift". They didn't have
to put that song on the single (they already had several other tracks
on the CD single as it was). It's only because of that
b-side release we can compare the versions. But if it hadn't
come out, we might think this was a brand new song.
So is it nostalgia to go back and record the song the way
they felt it should have been done? Most people rarely
have the chance to go back and "fix" something. U2 are most
fortunate they can.
If this "nostalgia" comment is with regards to the "Best Of" release,
then I reiterate a statement I made in a previous post. This
"Best Of" is not so much diving into the past, but rather a
reflection of the volume and quality of the work U2 has done
over 20 years.
If U2 were going on tour ONLY doing these songs, then I'd agree - this
is a blast to the past. But as it stands, I see no real nostalgia here.
> 6.)hey can I tell ya a little secret?? secret is ....the sweetest
> thing 98 version IS availabe in the US....on the full length Best Of cd
> ya dope.....thats the whole point ya see..to get U to buy the Best Of
> album and NOT the single.>>
>
> Hey bonehead - what about the b-sides to the single ? Are THOSE on the
> Greatest Sellouts album ?? No - Ya DOPE. And furthermore anyone who
> says the word 'ya' is a fucking illiterate Buttmunch. Learn to speak or move to
> Australia or some other 3rd world country.
But none of you talked about the b-sides. So the first person is
correct - the song itself *is* available in the U.S. Now, had you
mentioned the b-sides first, then your comments, as acrimonious as
they are, would stand (although Australia is hardly a 3rd world
country).
> Well - here's a lesson little girl - LIFE IS BITTER HELL !!! There
> will always be conflict on WIRE because we all think differently.
True, but we don't need to be utter asses in our disagreements.
There are plenty of ways to write effectively without acerbic, profane
insults.
> There should be no mad rush to get U2 popular again -
> let's face it, they are OUR band, the older fans band, and they should
> keep singing DEEP, meaningful songs for ours and their enjoyment and young
> kids cant handle that, so they like the Spice Girls....
For the love of God, if this isn't the biggest load of BS I have ever
read on WIRE, I don't know what is. "Our band"? "Deep songs"?
Give me a break. Knowing you Abe, I'm sure you are writing
VERY tongue-in-cheek here, but if there is any seriousness to
these comments, you are WAY off.
> And in conclusion - Kudos to 99X here in Atlanta for blasting U2 to
> hell every time they have to play ' Sweetest Thing 98 ' . I believe Barnes said '
> Oh boy its the Greatest Hits of U2 - now you can buy those songs you already
> own - for more money- Whoopie !!! ' . I'm glad that although there are
> stupid brainless fans who think this is a great idea and are about to pass
> out with joy at the thought of re-buying a 25 cent piece of cover art, people
> who DO have brains see this for what it is...
Only ones without brains are insulting the concept of
this "Best Of" release. Who says you have to buy it? Only
1.3 million people bought "POP" in the U.S., so it's not obvious
that the "Best Of" is going to be a big seller. And that DJ
is obviously missing a few brain cells if he feels U2
are "selling out" by releasing this, while COUNTLESS other
bands have released "Greatest Hits" albums as well.
If you don't want it, don't buy it. I like the idea of the
album because I have encountered PLENTY of people - even some
"U2 fans" - who do NOT own all of the albums or have these
songs. A DJ clearly has access to the original albums so
his comments are meaningless (as are most DJs).
> PS - Gee, I just can't wait for the NEW album to come out... too bad
> they pushed it back to next year or whenever for this old garbage...
Yes, they pushed back an album they have yet to record just
to promote this "Best Of". Why, if it weren't for this
"Best Of", we'd have, oh, one song from the new album
to hear now.
C'mon Abe, you are smarter than this.
Ciao,
John
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Mon Sep 28 1998 - 19:13:44 PDT