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there's thousands of "covers" by artists other than the original performers ...
and there's nothing unusual about hearing a different sound, different phrasing, different coloration, different emotional impact. We all hear music differently ... and even our own tastes change, our own emotional connection with the musicians and music changes, too.
A favorite group of mine did covers from many different genres ... Cowboy Junkies first few albums ... including country/western, various folk genres, jazz & blues origins. For my taste, they turned a number of unlistenable (for me) songs into music.
Similarly, Blackmore's Night. Although their later albums don't cut it for me anymore.
Loreena McKinnett also did many covers that simply work better for me than a lot of other groups with the same material.
Otis Redding observed that one of his best tunes was "stolen" by another artist who turned it into a smash hit (Respect, Aretha Franklin). Yet for me, the only listenable version was Otis's. YMMV.
As well, we have the same situation in "classical" music. I can listen to various soloists playing music written hundreds of years ago and hear entirely different phrasing ... sometimes, a performer speaks to me on a piece and on others, not. Compare Glenn Gould and other piano soloists on Bach's works, for example. The Gould style sometimes is awesome ... and sometimes, not. But that's my comparison to other performers on the same music.
The big issue here is really whether or not you enjoy what you're hearing. If so, support the artists you enjoy.
DMA's from Australia with an excellent version of "Believe". Never liked Cher's version, not a fan of auto-tune at all. This brought out the best in the song.....
Obviously, we seek very different things in music. I'm not even blaming Elton John for the lifelessness of his song; it's the anonymous late 80's/early 90's synth drenched production that kills it; it robs it of any of the life John (when he's on) can bring to a song. This recording could have been by any late 80's crooner; while his best work has always had his own distinctive handprints on it. And the O'Connor version is a pretty well-known cover, not "unknown" at all, and included on a platinum-selling album. Idiosyncratic and lush arrangement, convincing vocal not buried in studio gloss... even Elton John has called it one of the best covers of any of his songs. Not that I listen to anything Elton John says, but on this we agree.
Obviously.
There is good reason why I've never heard of O'Connor or her song, while Elton John has been an icon world-wide for over 40 years. His sacrifice is anything but lifeless and it's the "synth", as you put it, that puts the icing on the cake.
To each his own, of course. Preferring the unknown version is your prerogative, but it's disturbing to hear a such a great arrangement and moving piece of music trashed.
Earlier this morning, I was listening to saxophonist Eric Darius' If I Ain't Got You from his "Just Getting Started" album, which I've had for 11 years...
I thought that it was a groovin' original song written for that album.
However, I must have been asleep in the year... Well, hell. I couldn't even find out when this song came out. But I must have been asleep in that year because it wasn't until years after George Benson's Nuthin’ But a Party came out that I found out that it was a slightly differently spelled cover of an old Zapp song...
The Baseballs "Born This Way" (cover of Lady Gaga)
The Baseballs are a German band that does incredibly wonderful covers of recent pop songs. If you like 1950s rock (and even if you don't but just like really great music), you will appreciate this group's music. They can elevate any song to an entirely wonderful new level! Below is their cover of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way." They also did "Paparazzi" and a song called "Hello" which has a wonderful Beach Boys vibe. To see them perform live, check out The Baseballs "Hot N Cold" (Katy Perry's version pales in comparison).
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The Baseballs "Born This Way" (cover of Lady Gaga)
