Higher Love
/In keeping with the topic of a previous blog entry, where I compared two versions of the same song, today I want to talk about another way you can have two versions of the same song. Namely, a cover.
I myself have been known to do a cover or two like here and here, and I have many more on my wish list. It's so cool and not to mention fun to take a song that somebody else wrote and put your own spin on it. (Not to be confused with a re-mix.)
It's also a great way to find out more about your own writing style.
I googled the difference between a cover and a re-mix. Here's what wikipedia had to say:
A remix is a song that has been edited or completely recreated to sound different from the original version. For example, the pitch of the singers' voice or the tempo might be changed, it might be made shorter or longer, or it might have the voice duplicated to create a duet. (what we heard last week with Feed Me Diamonds was a remix)
cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a previously recorded, commercially released (or unreleased) song, by someone other than the original artist or composer.
Let's get on to today's song. A cover of an old 80's song, Higher Love, by Steve Winwood. The song was written in 1986, and earned Steve 2 Grammy Awards. I might be late to the game with the cover by James Vincent McMorrow, but it doesn't make it any less beautiful.
I heard this song during yoga class, and I was mesmerized. It brought me so much in the present moment that I couldn't concentrate on where I was. The voice and the piano....captivating. Aaaah the power of music.
It's amazing to think that Steve wrote this in 1986. The words are still so relevant today. If not more so.
The awesome thing about covers and specifically this cover is that although they're the same song, individually they emote completely different feelings. The intention behind them is different.
The way James Vincent sings it and slows it down, gives it a melancholy feel. Steve's version is upbeat and poppy. The words follow suit. They sound hopeful in Steve's and pleading, desperate in James's. The way James phrases it adds a hopelessness element to the feeling as well. It's the beauty of covering someone else's song and making it your own.
When you read the words, you see that they are quite sad. I can't get over how relevant the words still are 30 years later. I wonder what Steve was referring to specifically in 1986.
Here are the two version of Higher Love. Weigh in in the comments below.
Think about it, there must be higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is a wasted time
Look inside your heart, I'll look inside mine
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Where's that higher love I keep thinking of?
Worlds are turning and we're just hanging on
Facing our fear and standing out there alone
A yearning, and it's real to me
There must be someone who's feeling for me
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Where's that higher love I keep thinking of?
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring be a higher love
I could rise above on a higher love
I will wait for it
I'm not too late for it
Until then, I'll sing my song
To cheer the night along
Bring it... Oh bring it...
I could light the night up with my soul on fire
I could make the sun shine from pure desire
Let me feel that love come over me
Let me feel how strong it could be
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Where's that higher love
I keep thinking of?
DO THIS NOW: Comment below in 2 parts. First, tell me what you think about Steve vs. James's cover. What did you like or not like about each?
Second: Give me an example of a cover YOU like! and tell me why. How does it compare to the original. Come #geekoutwithme ;)
Songwriters, for extra credit, do your OWN cover and post a link to it here either on Soundcloud or Youtube. Tell us why you chose it and what you liked about the original.
That does it for me. TTFN
In music and love always,
Dana
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