+- VAMPS International - L'Arc~en~Ciel International (http://vamps.baka-koneko.com)
+-- Forum: L'Arc~en~Ciel (http://vamps.baka-koneko.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=90)
+--- Forum: L'Arc~en~Ciel General (http://vamps.baka-koneko.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=91)
+--- Thread: BOYZ II MEN, TLC to Cover L’Arc-en-Ciel Songs on First Tribute Album! (/showthread.php?tid=3851)
RE: BOYZ II MEN, TLC to Cover L’Arc-en-Ciel Songs on First Tribute Album! - vegetapr69 - 06-02-2012
Here's TLC's version of Niji,
lost the strength of the original song...period. 
RE: BOYZ II MEN, TLC to Cover L’Arc-en-Ciel Songs on First Tribute Album! - Tokio - 06-02-2012
TLC - Rainbow
Don't really like it. Maybe if it were an original song by them it would be 'okay' but as a L'Arc cover it seems very weak and generic pop-y to me.
Vince Neil / Blurry Eyes
I think this one is a decent cover, at least it is still a rock song! I mean, I don't love it but it stays true to the song and sounds like an actual legitimate cover and I think I could grow to like it more and more
TOTALFAT / Driver's High
Eh, I don't really like it, it seems super fast. However, it does sound like the song so I'd accept it as a cover, just not one that I like
Hemenway / Caress of Venus
Meh, don't really like it, I don't like the singers voice. I don't really like the 'harder' sound either, just not my style
Orianthi / NEO UNIVERSE
Don't like, sounds like a country-pop song, and I'm not a huge fan of that style of music
----------
So far, out of the ones I have heard I think Vince has the best cover.
RE: BOYZ II MEN, TLC to Cover L’Arc-en-Ciel Songs on First Tribute Album! - Guest - 06-02-2012
Hemenway's--was the beginning in Korean? O_o
For me, it was interesting just to hear English versions of the songs.
Does anyone know who's credited for the translations?
RE: BOYZ II MEN, TLC to Cover L’Arc-en-Ciel Songs on First Tribute Album! - VAMPkito - 06-02-2012
So, got around to listening to them and I'm just going to say now that, as was to be expected, none of the songs are even half as good as the original. But as the community continues to remind me, I'm going to be the minority in this when I say that I haven't exactly hated any of the covers (well... except maybe one) I've heard and liked just about every one of them.
Rainbow/Niji (TLC)
If it weren't for the opening, I honestly wouldn't be able to tell it was a cover. It sort strays in its own direction for much of the way. That and from what I could make out from the lyrics, it doesn't seem to be true to the original at all. So as a cover, it doesn't do much justice, but as a song itself, I like it. I think it's soothing and kind of pretty.
Blurry Eyes (Vince Neil)
As Tokio said, it's a very loyal adaptation. A slightly heavier version of the original with lyrics that actually seem to coincide with the Japanese very well. They even left the bits of Engrish in there, where TLC changed them completely. As a cover, I think it's great, something that HYDE would probably find amazing. As a song itself, I think I'd stick to the original version. Vince's voice may be good, but HYDE's is just better in my opinion. I may re-listen to it from time to time, but... well, I don't listen to Motley Crue as much as it is, so yeah. Great cover, great song.
Driver's High (TOTALFAT)
This one I just tried to but simply couldn't find myself liking. We're all familiar with P'Unk~en~Ciel turning L'Arc songs into heavy metal, usually to some of the strangest results, and I'm pretty sure that was the direction TOTALFAT had planned with this cover. Granted, I've never heard of their other work so perhaps they're just a lackluster metal band. I don't know. Really, there's only one thing wrong with this cover, which would make it seem like such a minor complaint as the rest is okay, but it's one big thing that just ruins the entire thing: The rhythm section. Not one particular part of the rhythm section or anything, the whole section. The guitar solo is a decent rendition, the vocals are decent, but the rhythm guitar, bass, and drums are just obnoxiously repetitive. For context, imagine sitting next to your annoying childhood friend as you're trying to focus on something tedious and they're just screaming in your ear for four minutes-
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
BAM
It gets pretty annoying pretty quickly. If it weren't this, I might say I like the cover, (albeit, it would still be just a generic J-Rock cover at best) but the rhythm is just so obnoxious.
Caress of Venus (Hemenway)
Well, it's different for sure. It's interesting this would be the song this artist chooses. The original was a dancy and poppy tune, while this has some elements of harder rock. I like it though. For the most part, it's very true to the original and the tri-linguality is an interesting touch. It's just as catchy as the original, in my opinion. Just the original is composed better.
Neo Universe (Orianthi)
I also like this cover. Like the Vince Neil cover, it's true to the original only slightly heavier. You could argue that unlike HYDE's, her voice is a bunch of poppy autotuned garbage, but I'd have to disagree, especially since her voice isn't autotuned. (Albeit, it is digitally altered) I wouldn't compare her to, say, Joan Jett. But I like her music, okay?! @_@ - But seriously, it's a decent cover.
*UPDATE!* Ready Steady Go (ZEBRAHEAD)
... Not liking. It's not bad, but not my taste. As I do like P'Unk~en~Ciel and probably some other bands whose names I can't remember, I'm probably going to sound like a horrible hypocrite when I say I just don't like how fast it is. Fast songs are good... but I don't songs that are so sped up it sounds like you have them on fast forward. With that said, I'm sure there are others who may appreciate this, but not me. EDIT - Oh and they also performed the song His World on the Sonic the Hedgehog '06 soundtrack, so now not only am I a bad Sonic fan for not liking this, but I'm also a god awful L'Arc fan! Someone splash holy water on me I'm filthy! =(
---------
In conclusion, none of these covers are particularly amazing as standalone songs, but I wouldn't say any of them aside from perhaps TOTALFAT's Driver's High are horrible. I like them all and can't wait to hear more.
RE: BOYZ II MEN, TLC to Cover L’Arc-en-Ciel Songs on First Tribute Album! - cathb - 06-12-2012
My copy arrived today. Mao did not disappoint.
RE: BOYZ II MEN, TLC to Cover L’Arc-en-Ciel Songs on First Tribute Album! - VAMPkito - 06-13-2012
Continued opinions of what I've heard so far!
STAY AWAY (Daniel Pewter)
REALLY. GOOD. COVER. Like Vince Neil's cover of Blurry Eyes, it's very faithful to the original. Just as good, really. I can't say I have a single complaint. Seriously, go check it out.
Snow Drop (Boyz II Men)
Now I'll be honest, this was the one I was most skeptical about. Not being a fan of Boyz II Men, the fact that they would over-emphasize their cover over Vince Neil's or Eric Martin's or anyone who actually have a fitting voice to the song in question was a little annoying to me. Also, Snow Drop is one of my favorite songs, so naturally I was like "This is going to blow by default." But much to my shock... and I mean much to my AMAZEMENT, this is actually my favorite track on the album so far. I can see why they hyped it up now. A slower, more mellow version, but probably equally beautiful.
flower (Clémentine)
It's cool to see a French language version of a L'Arc song, isn't it?! That aside, I must say that as a cover it sort of falls flat. There's no trace in the original song in the vocal or instrumental melody. However, if one translation in the comments section is accurate, I respect them for not changing the meaning of the song too much like TLC did with Niji. Actually, though. Lyrically, this song is even sadder than the original! If you forget that it's a L'Arc song, though, it's beautiful. Very calming and pretty. It's not any better or worse than the L'Arc version, just very different.
Shout at the Devil (SID)
Well, I guess we all knew the SID cover would be good. I'll be honest, though, I haven't listened to as much SID as I've intended to. They're on my list of artists and bands I need to get into, but as of yet, I've been unable to do so. With that being said, I love this cover. Very faithful to the original... but I like the original better. Well, so far I like the originals for all of these songs better, but I'm just saying.
In conclusion, the only songs I haven't liked on this album so far remain TOTALFAT's and Zebrahead's rendition of "Driver's High" and "Ready Steady Go" respectively.