Ah “Careless Whisper”. How can you resist that sexy saxophone, the sensual spanish guitar licks and George Michael’s crystal clear tones confessing his guilt for having some “careless whispers” with a “good friend” (could that “good friend” be a certain undercover cop he met in a public toilet some years back?). It is a track that rises above some of its more banal 1980′s pop brethren – pop music with wonderful presence and style unlike anything that Top 40 radio subjects us to today.
It turns out many musicians love this track as well (or at least covering this track). Some brilliant ones have been thrown up over the years, and so have some utter stinkers. Here is a just a small sample of the good, and the oh so bad…
The good….
Paul Dempsey/Kate Miller-Heidke
What an unlikely duo. What a brilliant cover. Thank you to SBS’ Rockwiz for making this happen (see Dan Kelly and Martha Wainwright do one of my favourite songs, “Slave to Love”, here for another example of a brilliant pairing we have this show to thank for). Dempsey’s smouldering tones and Miller-Heidke’s classical trained wails sensuously wrap their tentacles around each other throughout, egged on by the weirdly sexy sounds of Rockwiz’s excellent house band. I will go as far as saying that this version is even better than Mr Michael’s fantastic original. Something For Kate Miller-Heidke would have made for a much better band don’t you think?
Rufus Wainwright/Ben Folds
Ben Folds is an artist who I really don’t care for, and on this track his mediocrity as a vocalist is further exposed. But despite this minor speed-bump, the real star here, Rufus Wainwright, makes this version outstanding. A criminally underrated performer, Rufus gives this song emotional gravitas that although implied by the song’s lyrics, is never fully realised in George Michael’s original. Ben Folds does play some reasonable piano in this version, which suits Rufus’ Broadway-esque tonsils beautifully.
The bad…
Gossip
Gossip have produced some acceptable songs in the past, and that is about as good as this band have ever been or ever will be. This is another example of why people hate covers, and why Gossip will never really be a decent band to anyone who isn’t a girl with low self-esteem. I wouldn’t say its the worst cover I have ever heard (see below), however this version sucks out any of the weight the original has and makes it merely a track for the dance floor at Stonewall on a Saturday night. This is proof that Gossip need to give up on music (if they haven’t already).
Seether
Oh dear. Contender (and probably the favourite) for the worst cover (and band) in the history of the universe. The only morons I can see liking this are those dudes who wear 3/4 cargo pants and Evanescence t-shirts. This is a horrific song with no redeeming features whatsoever. Even George Michael at his lowest (and he has gone pretty low in the past), could not even come close to this abomination. Seether are a band that need to me made illegal. Putrid, putrid garbage.
And finally, here is the Sexy Sax Man ripping out his own version of “Careless Whisper” in various public places. I’m sure you have all seen it, but to me it never gets any less awesome.
Enjoyed reading this… despite being a huge Ben Folds fan.
By his own admission Ben’s not the best vocalist in the world and, while I fully recognise Rufus Wainright’s talent as a vocalist, to my ears at least his voice often sounds strained and affected. Good write-up though. Thanks.