Topic: Surpassing the Songwriter - or Not

[Nichi]

Discussion in "God Bless the Child" brought to mind various instances wherein the subsequent performances of a songwriter's song, by other artists, embrace the song and its meaning so clearly and dramatically, that it becomes difficult to remember the song's true origins.

Carole King - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. King is the songwriter.
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0hgfwjC8gJs/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0hgfwjC8gJs"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/0hgfwjC8gJs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/0hgfwjC8gJs</a>

Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEWuAcMWDLY/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dEWuAcMWDLY"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/dEWuAcMWDLY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/dEWuAcMWDLY</a>

This song was probably easy to 'steal', even by a lesser performer than Aretha, because Carole King, though a lovely, sweet woman, was into the formulaic method of songwriting. She wrote many songs which were performed by other artists, and if I'm not mistaken, that was her intent.

[Nichi]

All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan (songwriter)
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HyIlDPLDCP0/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HyIlDPLDCP0"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/HyIlDPLDCP0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/HyIlDPLDCP0</a>


The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TLV4_xaYynY/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TLV4_xaYynY"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/TLV4_xaYynY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/TLV4_xaYynY</a>

[Nichi]

Love Is The Answer - Todd Rundgren (songwriter)
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m8Et-q6CWZI/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m8Et-q6CWZI"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/m8Et-q6CWZI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/m8Et-q6CWZI</a>

England Dan & John Ford Coley...Love is the Answer
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_QZjJU-mtFU/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_QZjJU-mtFU"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/_QZjJU-mtFU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/_QZjJU-mtFU</a>


This is a hairline call: Todd didn't have the hit with the song. The arrangement is not that different between the two versions. England Dan and John Ford Coley had a monster hit with the song. Must have been a case of right-time-right-place -- unless the saxophone was what made the difference to the audience.

[Nichi]

~Or not surpassing the songwriter.

And When I Die - Laura Nyro (songwriter)
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XCvwDjgKPoc/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XCvwDjgKPoc"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/XCvwDjgKPoc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/XCvwDjgKPoc</a>

And When I Die - Laura Nyro - live demo
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GDX27aWnL88/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GDX27aWnL88"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/GDX27aWnL88" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/GDX27aWnL88</a>


And When I Die · Peter, Paul and Mary
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ry_gTS4tjqE/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ry_gTS4tjqE"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/ry_gTS4tjqE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/ry_gTS4tjqE</a>

Blood, Sweat & Tears - And When I Die
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8gxwutvlTw8/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8gxwutvlTw8"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/8gxwutvlTw8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/8gxwutvlTw8</a>

[Nichi]

Since I Fell for You - Buddy and Ella Johnson, 1946 (songwriter)
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BuEphXmJbGQ/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BuEphXmJbGQ"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/BuEphXmJbGQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/BuEphXmJbGQ</a>

Since I Fell for You - Lenny Welch, 1963. (He had the big hit with it.)
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U7xrQY_FLM4/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U7xrQY_FLM4"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/U7xrQY_FLM4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/U7xrQY_FLM4</a>

Since I Fell for You - Nina Simone
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eBGyOeVEFbM/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eBGyOeVEFbM"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/eBGyOeVEFbM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/eBGyOeVEFbM</a>

(cont)

[Nichi]

Since I Fell for You - Barbara Streisand
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/giKXKNqDaUM/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/giKXKNqDaUM"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/giKXKNqDaUM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/giKXKNqDaUM</a>
Barbara's version almost does the trick. It's my favorite song by her.

Dinah Washington
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7RhWkK0lODE/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7RhWkK0lODE"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/7RhWkK0lODE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/7RhWkK0lODE</a>
(I just don't like that muddled trumpet in there.)

Mavis Staples
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PhBC6ZZQBpI/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PhBC6ZZQBpI"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/PhBC6ZZQBpI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/PhBC6ZZQBpI</a>
Just some trivia here: Bob Dylan once proposed to Mavis.

[Nichi]

The original version of this is not so much lackluster as it is tortured-sounding.

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place - Barry Mann (songwriter)
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ojrsoyeLXAE/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ojrsoyeLXAE"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/ojrsoyeLXAE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/ojrsoyeLXAE</a>


We Gotta Get Out Of This Place - The Animals
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_0xyfybUeZM/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_0xyfybUeZM"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/_0xyfybUeZM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/_0xyfybUeZM</a>

[Nichi]

Speaking of the devil - here is Aretha singing Carole King's song for Carole King this past week (not to mention, Obama).
Aretha doesn't sound half-bad...    Wish Carole King hadn't been so flamboyant out there in the audience, though.


<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/It19kS4I5gU/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/It19kS4I5gU"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/It19kS4I5gU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/It19kS4I5gU</a>

[Nichi]

(This version isn't going to last for long on yt -- they keep taking the videos down. The performance was last weekend, I believe. Point being, if you wish to hear it, best play it sooner than later.)

[Michael]

That was great!

[Ke-ke wan]

This thread is cute Vicki.  I don't know any of these songs.  Thanks

[Nichi]

This thread is cute Vicki.  I don't know any of these songs.  Thanks

Even All Along the Watchtower? (I think of that one as Soma's theme song, heh.)

[Ke-ke wan]

Even All Along the Watchtower? (I think of that one as Soma's theme song, heh.)

Oh heck yeah I know that one. 

I mustve missed it