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Having just recently yet again argued this point, I went back and listened to the source material for re-analysis. So, if you think the Indigo Girls version of Romeo and Juliet is better than the Dire Straits one, I understand that it's a purely subjective choice, and I now see why you think that. But you're still wrong.
The benefit that IG imparts is a much higher level of vocal passion, and it is a fair criticism that Mark Knopfler is not the most expressive of singers. However, the advantages offered by DS are as follows: first, Mr. Knopfler actually manages to hit the notes cleanly, which gets him points over IG in my book. Second, the musical accompaniment in the DS version is unquestionably better; Mark's a guitar god and he is in fine form here. Third, and perhaps most important, the non-wailing laconic style that DG employes captures the worn-out melancholy of the song vastly better than the emotional breakdown that IG offers.
Yes, it does seem pedantic to beat this to death here, but given how many people seem to disagree with me I thought I'd centralize.
The benefit that IG imparts is a much higher level of vocal passion, and it is a fair criticism that Mark Knopfler is not the most expressive of singers. However, the advantages offered by DS are as follows: first, Mr. Knopfler actually manages to hit the notes cleanly, which gets him points over IG in my book. Second, the musical accompaniment in the DS version is unquestionably better; Mark's a guitar god and he is in fine form here. Third, and perhaps most important, the non-wailing laconic style that DG employes captures the worn-out melancholy of the song vastly better than the emotional breakdown that IG offers.
Yes, it does seem pedantic to beat this to death here, but given how many people seem to disagree with me I thought I'd centralize.
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Okay, after checking out the Indigo Girls cover, I have to say that anyone who thinks it's in any way better than Dire Straits is smoking some kind of incredible foul tainted crack and needs to hit rehab right quick.
Good lord. Her voice isn't suited to it. The guitar isn't suited to it. Knopfler's guitar makes a song like that-- his playing is so fluid that it becomes a backup vocalist on its own. And he doesn't have that forced, stylized "hi we're folkies" singing voice that makes the Indigo Girls so good when they're doing forced, stylized folkie tunes. He's just a guy, singing. Dire Straits' "Romeo and Juliet" makes me weep. The Indigo Girls' version is so much less powerful it's almost a different song entirely. Shoot, the strumming alone makes it seem like some kind of remedial guitar textbook example.
Makr Knopfler is a very expressive singer-- people who say otherwise have mistaken histrionics for expressiveness.
So, I agree with you utterly, except for your assertion that the Indigo Girls' cover has any redeeming qualities whatsoever.
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The thing about the dinosaur rocker (http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1438575/01262001/knopfler_mark.jhtml)'s singing voice is that he tends to sing most of his songs in very much the same style. As I pointed out, though, this isn't a real problem because he's writing songs for which it's the exact right way to sing them.
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the song is so much better in the IG version!
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Both are good
I would argue that the IG version of "Wild Horses" is better than the original (and I love the Stones) since it suits their style, but this one doesn't touch the original.
(Urm, does the phrase "better or worse" include "Originals or Covers"?)
Re: Both are good
That said, I think the Stones are particularly hard to cover, because their raw-but-lazy style gives an edge to almost everything they do. This is my main problem with IG's Wild Horses, because it comes off a bit toothless to my ear. They should have covered Ruby Tuesday instead, because that actually would suit their style.
Re: Both are good
And for the general discussion, the IG version is very good. There could be far worse covers. Oh, Jon Secada for example. Cher, for instance.
Re: Both are good
Brrr... my mind instantly went to bad possibilities... a Nichael Feistein show rune version or Pearl Jam mumble-a-thon. But then I went to Marilon Manson and that might be all right. Same for Gath Brooks. This shows my bias; make it different enough and a cover is interestingly worthwhile
Re: Both are good
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As far as context - "The way you SUNG to me" was in perfect context, basically inferring that Juliet had sung a song to him at one time.
Don't forget - you are one who thinks 'campii', and 'octopi' are words (wink) so don't be picking on my lesbian singers just because your breeder brain can't make heads or tails of proper English!
In truth though, favoritism aside - I did listen to the knopfler version this morning before I commented, and I honestly and ernestly hated that song until it was remade. It sounds like a drugged out, Bob Dylan/Woodie Guthrie folk song to me, completley betraying the lyrics and what they should sound like. Amy Ray really hit the emotion and catharsis they way they needed to be for this song. They also redid Bob Dillons, "Tangled Up in Blue", and Gladys Knight's(?) Midnight Train to Georgia" and both artists gave them praise for taking their song to a new level. I agree completely. I have no knowledge of what Knophler thought of their rendition of his work.
Takes off wig and puts down gold
SUNG is what I can recall in this old brain of mine as what the LYRIC said - I don't think she used SANG.
Campi isn't a word either, nor is Octopi, or Platypi. After the conversation at Pennsic I indeed checked these out with a few dictionaries. It's greek and not latin for the latter two.
As for my own spelling - FEH! Deal with it!
So, in other news - Thanksgiving - if you two are stuck - there's room for you two at my table this year
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The line follows "I can't do the talk/like the talk on the TV", and originally refered to being unable to live up to a fairy tale vision of romance. The revisied line implies that the singer can't respond in kind to Juliet's love, which makes no sense given that she is rejecting and apathetic towards him.
Also, it's SANG, because SUNG would be the past perfect.
Also, campi (not campii, that would be the plural of campius) and octopi are proper latin plurals and widely accepted in English.
Also, the name of the band is Dire Straits, not Straights, the latter again not making any sense.
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The two renditions are delivered with distinctly different moods.
Knopfler's Romeo is in despair, still trying to understand why after all they had done together Juliet can just dump him without a backward glance. It's a wolf howl of anguish at the lady that lit his night. He'll recover--he's working through depression now and onto acceptance.
Ray's Romeo is ten decibels short of cutting himself. You can feel the knife that Juliet stuck into his ribs in her voice. This is a Romeo still in deep in anger. I don't know if a male singer could do that and not turn into Stanley Kowalski.
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i find it hard to believe people can debate this subject
i agree that with knopfler, it is all about the guitar. and the deep sexy voice. and the effortless way he just drops songs on us so we can feel them for ourselves, rather than having them felt for us by the singer.
for IG, its all about the earplugs.