St Etienne by a long, long way. The original (which I only heard for the first time about seven or eight years ago) sounds like it has fleas, but the St Etienne version is one of my favourite songs.
Everything except the actual vocal delivery, the connection with the words and meaning is better with the St Etienne version. The singer although nice seems to be sort of getting the song sung rather than putting much thought and nuance into it. maybe Young on vocals with St Etienne backing him up. On balance it is St Etienne just, mainly because the Neil Young arrangement is pretty dirge like to me.
Brilliant one Henry! Do I go with the version I have been familiar with for 47 years or the one I played for the first time last night? My natural instinct and prejudice would point me towards Neil, but I don't feel passionately enough about the song to remain so intransigent. As somebody mentioned, Neil's version does have a dirge like feel whereas the St. Etienne version is more vibrant and colourful. I can see how the dance beat would resonate with my younger self and if I were familiar with this one and then heard Neil for the first time it would probably jar. Having said that, I do think the dance stance is somewhat at odds with the sentiment of the song. Plus, I think I'd soon get bored silly with the last 2 extended minutes of the St. Etienne version (unless of course I was dancing to it) As I am more cerebral than dancer, narrow victory for Neil Young.
I think Young is a great musician and songwriter but I don't warm to his recordings or live performance. As others have said, his take on this is a dirge.
Tough one - love them both but I'll go with St Etienne. As a young indie kid I loved this band from day one - was in their fanclub and have all the fanclub only cds - the early ones of which used to & still do sell for hundreds of pounds. After recently seeing Loop, Slowdive, Teenage Fanclub & just this week JAMC in Vancouver - I was really hoping their upcoming North American tour would reach these parts - but alas no. Great band - one of my all time faves.
I think Young is a great musician and songwriter but I don't warm to his recordings or live performance. As others have said, his take on this is a dirge.
'His take on it? He only wrote the song that's all, so his take on it is how it should sound!!
Comments
St Etienne
maybe Young on vocals with St Etienne backing him up.
On balance it is St Etienne just, mainly because the Neil Young arrangement is pretty dirge like to me.
I'm sure I once heard that Bob Stanley supported us. I could be wrong..
Do I go with the version I have been familiar with for 47 years or the one I played for the first time last night?
My natural instinct and prejudice would point me towards Neil, but I don't feel passionately enough about the song to remain so intransigent.
As somebody mentioned, Neil's version does have a dirge like feel whereas the St. Etienne version is more vibrant and colourful.
I can see how the dance beat would resonate with my younger self and if I were familiar with this one and then heard Neil for the first time it would probably jar.
Having said that, I do think the dance stance is somewhat at odds with the sentiment of the song.
Plus, I think I'd soon get bored silly with the last 2 extended minutes of the St. Etienne version (unless of course I was dancing to it)
As I am more cerebral than dancer, narrow victory for Neil Young.
I think Young is a great musician and songwriter but I don't warm to his recordings or live performance. As others have said, his take on this is a dirge.