A couple of tracks from the Sony/BMG catalogue

[koganbot]

On June 25, 2002, regarding Shakira, I wrote "She's the only singer I can think of who could pull off convincing versions of both 'My Heart Will Go On' and 'Like A Rolling Stone.'"

Unbeknownst to TV-less me, American Idol had debuted exactly two weeks earlier, and would soon give us Kelly Clarkson.

Who, besides Shakira or Kelly, do you think could do it?

Comments

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

Axl Rose (in 1987-1988, anyway.)

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

Also Dan McCafferty of Nazareth (who did convincingly cover "Ballad Of Hollis Brown.)

[koganbot]

I'd trust 'em to do a good job of "Like A Rolling Stone"; not so sure on "My Heart Will Go On," since I don't think Axl did a very good version of "Live And Let Die." I think McCafferty could do a good version of "My Heart Will Go On" but that he wouldn't want to do the song; which is to say that I can see him believing in "Love Hurts" and "Morning Dew" but not "My Heart Will Go On," though I'll have to ponder a bit why I think this way.

But I think you're looking in the right area, though. Joe Elliott, Tom Keifer, though again they'd probably have to convince themselves that the heart was going on along a gypsy road or something.

[(Anonymous)]

Ellliot's actually a big Mariah fan (or was, when I interviewed him in the early '90s); wouldn't be suprised if he liked Celine, too. Actually, with him, I'd be more surprised if he liked Dylan.

What about Jon Bon Jovi, though??

And I feel like there has to be somebody in current country that could do them, too (Martina McBride? Joe Dee Messina?)

[(Anonymous)]

(This was Chuck, by the way, though I'm sure you figured that out -- too lazy to log in.)

[koganbot]

Taylor Swift, whose voice may well be totally unsuited for either song, but who could possibly penetrate to the opportunity that appears at the end of hopelessness and insanity that you get in "Like A Rolling Stone."

Kris "Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose" Kristofferson might convincingly maul "Like A Rolling Stone," but I wouldn't want him to go near "My Heart Will Go On."

[koganbot]

I think Boney M could pull off brilliantly listenable dance versions of both those songs, though whether they'd carry much of those song's original content or sensibility is open to question. I can imagine a heavily reverbed version of "Like A Rolling Stone" somewhere on their 10,000 Lightyears album.

I could imagine Donna Summer trying either but probably falling short on both.

I guess by "convincing" I don't just mean, "Make the song their own" but also "Carry the sensibility of the originals along with them." Which is to say I could imagine Kelly and Shakira delivering the strip-it-all-away-and-start-over desperation of "Like A Rolling Stone" and also giving a heartfelt reading of the full-blown platitudes of "My Heart Will Go On," Kelly even more than Shakira, I think.

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

What about bosh versions? Cascada and/or Scooter? Also, Kidz Bop.

[(Anonymous)]

Kanye. On autotune for "My Heart Will Go On" and autotuneless for "Like a Rolling Stone."

[(Anonymous)]

(This is not Chuck, by the way)