Violetta Zironi : Let Her Go

Now this is kinda an odd one. I came across this song when it was featured on an episode of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit and I was immediately struck by the haunting melody. I first thought the voice was British singer Ellie Goulding but then I decided to investigate further and I came across Italian singer Violetta Zironi.

Violetta Zironi is a country singer-songwriter who was one of the finalists in The X-Factor Italy where she finished the competition in third place. She was best known for playing her ukelele. Let Her Go was featured in her debut EP Dimmi Che Non Passa.

The song itself is a cover version of the hit by English singer-songwriter Passenger. While I'm not diminishing the significance of his version, I'm actually a huge fan of Violetta's version. I have to say more so than the original.

Check out Violetta's version of the song :-

And for the fans of Passenger's version here is the original :-

Battle Of The Covers - Nazareth v Cher : Love Hurts

Love Hurts rates as one of the best-loved rock anthems of all times but did you know that the song actually started life in the 1960s? 

In fact, Roy Orbison was one of the first to record Love Hurts in 1961 where it was a No.5 hit in Australia as a Double A-Side

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AX7azR2SaNE

Of course it's Nazareth's anthemic version which many rock enthusiasts will remember and love best. Formed in 1968 in Dumfermline in Scotland, the group was named after the town of Nazareth in Pennsylvania.

They had their first hit in 1973 with Broken Down Angel, a UK No. 9 hit, but I will wager that I'm not wrong to say that they will be best remembered and loved for their rendition of Love Hurts. Even though it was not their biggest UK hit (only reaching No. 15) but it was their biggest American hit, reaching No. 8 in the States and No. 1 in Canada and South Africa and certainly their most finest moment.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZhNW_jKrQY&feature=player_embedded

Pop Diva Cher re-recorded the song in 1991 and it became a minor hit in the UK (No. 43). It was a bigger hit in Norway where it reached No. 2. While not as big as the Nazareth, I feel that Cher managed to put her own spin on the song. Have a look at her version and see how that compares to Nazareth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKnePn-CbNA&feature=player_embedded

Aretha Franklin : I Say A Little Prayer

There have been many many versions of this song but for me the best and definitive version of this song is the one by that greatest of soul voices, Aretha Franklin. Released in 1968, it was actually a B-side to The House That Jack Built.Amazingly, House did not chart but this song went all the way to No. 4. Listening to it, one can quite clearly see why.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KtBbyglq37E

I know that most people are familiar with the Dionne Warwick version which was featured in the Julia Roberts / Cameron Diaz flick My Best Friend's Wedding (and apparently the song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Di)

But for me Dionne's version is too easy listening for me. Aretha's version is more ballsy, has more meat and more oooomph and for me it is the definitive version.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tLCRUWCETK4

Little Known Covers : Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Take Me Home

Back in 2001, Sophie Ellis Bextor, who had hitherto been better known as an indie chick singing with the group Theaudience, released Take Me Home. The single was a huge hit and went straight to No. 2 totally re-inventing Sophie as a dance diva.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6gLOmjP5GY&feature=player_embedded

However, what many people do not know is that the song is actually a cover version of a 1979 single by Cher. 

You can watch Cher's performance of that song here :-

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYA3ncoYIpI