See the results of last week’s battle here:
It’s a metal battle on today’s show, with Guns ‘N’ Roses (Amazon link) going against music’s ‘Prince of Darkness’ himself, Ozzy Osborne (Amazon link) and versions of The Rolling Stones multi-referencial hit, “Sympathy For The Devil”.
Which one has some sympathy, and some taste?
Listen to the podcast featuring both songs:
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Wow… OK, I'm going to come off as a snob, but both of these were incredibly repulsive… Guns'n'Roses for just being over-the-top bombastic and Ozzy, well, I initially thought I liked what I was hearing, but it became wayyyy too overproduced. If I was going for the guitar glitz version of this one, I'd look to the version by Jane's Addiction, or go completely the other direction with the Residents and their brief take on the song on the "Third Reich and Roll" album. Have you started queueing ideas for show 777?
Show 777? It would have to be a "Live in Las Vegas" show. Not a concert, but a live show with me playing music to local fans…
The best version is by Jane's Addiction (IMO) on their Live album. Also a great cover of Lou Reed's Rock & Roll on the track previous to Sympathy.
I hate to have to critique both of the selections, but since the only justification for their inclusion was #2 and #3 on iTunes, then I feel justified.
GnR's version is just boring. It's not fundamentally different from The 'Stones version, just more deliberate.
Ozzy's is different, but very, very bad. It lacks all the good things about the original and add nothing in replacement.
And Mick Jagger adds some melody to the words, why can't Axl or Ozzy?
I agree that the Jane's Addiction version is smokin', but my ultimate choice is a Natalie Merchant version that is either a solo effort or 10,000 Maniacs (I'm not sure). Her voice adds something that even Mick can't bring to the table.
This is just about the best version of Sympathy, or at least the most creepy. It's Jonathan Round from sometime in the early '70s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6mDwFOq9MA
I dig the Blood, Sweat & Tears version – just for mindless craziness value. It's a bit pretentious, but it's worth having heard at least once in your life.
Also, didn't Laibach do a whole album of themselves covering Sympathy for the Devil is various styles?
Azman – I FORGOT about the BS&T version, and I OWN it on vinyl. You're right about pretentious. Yet better than EITHER of these versions.
The Sandra Bernhart version of this song tops them all. It is slow and melodic and the female voice gives it many more layers.
Both are truly troubling. They just serve as reminders that two of the great frontmen in the history of hard rock have completely lost their minds. At least Ozzy has the excuse of drugs. Axl is just a bombastic, arrogant madman who continues to parade around a bunch of imposters as Guns 'n' Roses.
Well I suppose I'm in the minority here, but I've always absolutely loved the GNR version. I like it more than the original. But I'll also admit that my tastes are completely different from Brian and his probable listener. I'm often wondering why I stick with this podcast when it has so few heavy metal songs. But I love it, and is the longest lasting podcast in my rotation. Love ya anyway coverville.