Paving paradise with a bad cover
Am I the only one who finds the Counting Crows cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” to be far worse than the version Amy Grant did in 1994? I’d actually never heard the song before Amy Grant’s version (and didn’t even realize it was a Joni Mitchell song until just now), and now that the Counting Crows remake is getting radio time I wish they’d drop it and replace it with Grant’s.
Peter Solderitsch Said,
February 28, 2003 @ 8:42 pm
Actually, if you’re at all into the punk rock, bay area punk supergroup Pinhead Gunpowder (featuring billie joe from green day on lead vocals) did what I consider to be the definitive cover version of “big yellow taxi” - it can be found on their compilation disc “Jump Salty” (and probably on mp3 someplace).
Of course the Joni Mitchell original is also superb.
Nick Said,
March 1, 2003 @ 2:04 am
One of the versions of the Counting Crows’ version has Vanessa Carlton as a backup singer, which automatically makes it good.
–Nick
Nick Said,
March 1, 2003 @ 2:05 am
I should also mention that I rather like it, though I haven’t heard the Amy Grant version to compare it against.
–Nick
Laura Said,
March 1, 2003 @ 6:56 am
What I don’t get is why you’d want to play Amy Grant’s version in its place instead of just sticking with the original.
Nick Said,
March 1, 2003 @ 1:52 pm
I went out and found little 30 second preview clips of both Joni Mitchell’s and Amy Grant’s versions last night to see what all the fuss is about.
I don’t like either one. I prefer the Counting Crows version.
Perhaps it’s just about which one you hear first.
–Nick
Erik J. Barzeski Said,
March 1, 2003 @ 4:19 pm
My mom always hated remixed versions of songs, and I’m increasingly finding myself thinking likewise. The original version of songs have a meaning - they came along at a time in our life, and the way they were written impacted us. Anything “new” doesn’t have that, and it’s “different,” and thus “not as good.” As a kid, say, when Britney Spears does “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” you’re more inclined to like it if you’re born after 1980 than the original Joan Jett version, which older individuals may prefer.
I think.
Laura Said,
March 3, 2003 @ 11:41 am
I occasionally do enjoy it when someone remakes a song I already liked–if the cover is really something different, rather than just a copycat version with a popular name attached to it. (And, of course, provided it doesn’t suck.)
I haven’t heard the Counting Crows version of Big Yellow Taxi, but Amy Grant’s just seemed like a recasting in a different musical genre, which didn’t do much for me. I expect it probably worked well for people who particularly prefer light pop to folk music, though.
Laura's LiveJournal Said,
March 7, 2003 @ 10:56 am
First, second, third impressions…
Last week Eric roused my curiosity with a blurb in his weblog about a Counting Crows cover of “Big Yellow Taxi.”
Tim Said,
May 13, 2003 @ 9:42 pm
I like Counting Crows’ version of the song but much prefer Amy Grant’s version, which is just a much simpler straight-ahead folk-pop take on the song. The new Counting Crows song noodles around a bit too much and, though I like “A Thousand Miles”, I find Vanessa Carleton’s vocals on the Crows cover to be rather irritating. But Amy’s voice is so warm and smooth. Mmm, tasty.
'Sull Said,
August 5, 2003 @ 9:17 pm
But does anyone really know the meaning of the song? Is it just some finatic environmentalists sharing their soap box speech with the world or is it something deeper, having to do with the loss of a very close loved one? hmmm…