RE: BOYZ II MEN, TLC to Cover L’Arc-en-Ciel Songs on First Tribute Album!
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! =(
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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.
KNEEL BEFORE THE MARCHING TURKEYS
(This post was last modified: 06-02-2012, 05:36 PM by VAMPkito.)
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