My prediction for a unanimous victory for Johnny over Depeche Mode with his version of Personal Jesus very nearly came true. There was only one naysayer (you know who you are!) although many were at pains to say it was a close call with two terrific versions.
For the first time Johnny takes the lead with the score now being Cash 3 The Rest 2.
This week I am again predicting a rousing victory for Johnny. Although Bird on The Wire from his 1969 album Songs From a Room is considered as one of Leonard Cohen's signature tunes it is nowhere as good as the version by The Man in Black on American Recordings the first in the Rick Rubin produced series from 1994.and the one which set the bar pretty high. Johnny , like many, calls it Bird on A Wire.
Johnny totally bosses it. Other's of course, may choose to disagree.
Next week's offering will be on the Sunday for reasons that will become clearer nearer the time.
Johnny Cash - Bird On a Wire
Leonard Cohen - Bird On The Wire
Johnny Cash of course. But I have to admit that Joe Cocker's version is closer to me because it was one of first songs that lead me to the road of music.
ReplyDeleteI'm going for Leonard, the main reason being that the song had already been covered so many times by the time Johnny got round to doing it he wasn't really able to add anything new to it - unlike, say, 'Personal Jesus' last week
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ReplyDeleteJohnny Cash. But this is too easy, a cat farting makes a more pleasing sound than Leonard Cohen.
ReplyDeleteLen for sure. Although Johnny does it proud.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid it's Leonard for me too - I think with this series I seem to generally go with the original because they are great songs I am familiar with, but not yet "over-familiar" if you know what I mean. I love Johnny Cash but I think his covers need to grow on me. Should I abstain!?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteMuch as I like Leonard Cohen, I've never been a huge fan of this song, although Tim Hardin did virtually make it his own with a marvellous version.
ReplyDeleteJohnny today though.
Len. I agree with Ernie - hard to do much more with the song by the time Johnny got to it. Love his version, don't get me wrong, but it does sound exactly like you'd expect it to.
ReplyDeleteI echo the Swede’s comments.
ReplyDeleteI won't be echoing The Swede here, this is the son that introduced me as a teen to Leonard Cohen and it holds a special place in my heart (or psyche to be more realistic). Let's keep in mind that everyone from Judy Collins to The Neville Brothers, to kd lang to Joe Cocker have taken on Bird On A Wire. Cash and Hardin both work a certain level of magic with a magical song, but you can't touch Cohen here.
ReplyDeleteI find Leonard Cohen hard to listen to.
ReplyDeleteI don't find Johnny Cash hard to listen to.
So I knew the answer before I listened at all! (But listening confirmed it)
Len. Cash's is too obvious.
ReplyDeleteWell, against all my expectations (I usually side with the original) I'm with you on this so Johnny for me. LC's much much too thin in my headphones
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