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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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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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