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Post by Kevin2 on Jan 9, 2006 20:27:05 GMT
... or whatever.
To give some wiggle-room I've included "Cover Artist" - have you heard some artist other than Kate give the definitive version of this song? I'd be very interested in hearing it!
For me it's the original version - Why? Because it's - Wonderful, of course!
I love the high-pitched vocals as well as the sound of TKI as a whole. The newer vocals, the swirly-whirly atmospheric vocals, as appropriate as they are, distract from the experience of the song for me rather than enhance it.
Well ok - Original 1
Which will win I wonder...
and btw, I'm guessing that it's the distracting vocals (for many, I guess) of the original that prompted the remake - is this guess a correct one?
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Post by Xanadu on Jan 10, 2006 19:54:44 GMT
I voted for the version on The Whole Story, mainly because it was the first version I heard.
I love both versions, but this one edges out the original. I like being able to hear the depth in her voice and the control, and the new musical arrangement. It sounds more desperate and romantic. The end is really my favorite part and the deciding factor.
Another interesting version is the Pat Benatar. She was a fan, and really wanted to due justice to the original. She claims to have recorded two versions of it, but doesn't seem to be entirely pleased with the result. She says that in her enthusiasm, she may have missed the unusual feeling. I think she does a wonderful vocal on it, and the musical arrangement is similar, however, it does lack some of the wild and eerie romantic sensibility.
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Post by Kevin2 on Jan 11, 2006 15:29:13 GMT
I've never heard the Pat Benatar version - I'll be on the lookout for it!
I first heard Kate's original version of Wuthering - I wonder if it's that's the key. I'm also quite accustomed to TKIs opening chimes.
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Sheila
Moving
Life is a minestrone served up with parmesan cheese.
Posts: 701
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Post by Sheila on Jan 11, 2006 16:22:57 GMT
There's just something charming about the original. Maybe it is because it was the first one I heard or just that well--hey--it's THE original! To be honest I often forget that the remake exists. It's lovely, but lacks the haunting innocence that shot the song to #1. I've heard Pat Benatar's version. It's okay but you're not really missing anything.
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Post by simpleton on Jan 13, 2006 21:44:24 GMT
Definitely the original. I'll never understand why she bothered to make a new version.
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Post by CopyOfCpt (just say Cor) on Jan 16, 2006 13:38:05 GMT
I prefer the original one; every time I hear the new version I think She's standing in the bathroom. And as far as I can tell, nobody has been able to better Her with this (or any other) song.
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Post by Al Truest on Jan 16, 2006 21:53:53 GMT
I prefer the original one; every time I hear the new version I think She's standing in the bathroom. And as far as I can tell, nobody has been able to better Her with this (or any other) song. To each their own, 'cos I much prefer the new vocal version. Her voice is more mature - the crescendo is more powerful - and (if I'm not mistaken) it was recorded from her tour. If that last point is correct it is even more rare and special.
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Post by Adey on Jan 17, 2006 3:12:05 GMT
I'm with the radicals on this one. The new vocal version always won out for me, adding power to the notes that she merely reached on the original. I don't doubt that at the time, the queen of multi vocal takes did the very best that she was capable of doing and it was a great performance. But the later recording demonstrates the fact that Kate had matured considerably as a singer and her natural power was starting to come through. Let's not forget that the original recording of WH was made by an inexperienced older teenager, preparing only her first album.
Actually, given that Kate has a reputation for being unwilling to re-visit older material, I think we're lucky to have the later version at all. Perhaps she recognised that for many, it would always be the song that defined her, and on that basis she wanted to make it the best that she could.
What has always fascinated me, is the question of how she would interpret the song nearly 30 yrs later, if she ever decided to perform live again. It's inconceivable to me that she wouldn't perform it in such circumstances, but it's equally inconceivable that she would re-visit that high soprano style that she has now almost permanently abandoned. Perhaps she would do the unthinkable and leave it out of any set list..
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Post by Kevin2 on Jan 17, 2006 22:28:02 GMT
I prefer the original one; every time I hear the new version I think She's standing in the bathroom. And as far as I can tell, nobody has been able to better Her with this (or any other) song. To each their own, 'cos I much prefer the new vocal version. Her voice is more mature - the crescendo is more powerful - and (if I'm not mistaken) it was recorded from her tour. If that last point is correct it is even more rare and special. What tour?
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Post by Kevin2 on Jan 17, 2006 22:47:01 GMT
Part of the charm of TKI and Lionheart as well as of the original Wuthering Heights is that Kate is indeed an inexperienced teenager whose natural power had not yet reached its peak. There are many moments on the first two albums where the vocals come close to spirilling out of control, and beyond Kate's capabilities - examples of this, for me, are: the low "wow" of Wow which she can't really hit except that she does so in her own cute way. The vocals of the original Wuthering Heights are unlike anything I've ever heard - and when I'm unprepared for the song to this day I start out thinking how... odd, high pitched, out of place they are and yet by song's end I'm loving them - that was a kid with a vision (not that anyone here has implied otherwise.) Fullhouse with the "Remember yourself" chorus that is way too high for most normal ears - of course most of us here probably love it. Ah there's more but yeah in general I'll take overreaching overmaturity.
And yeah, of course to each their own.
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Post by Adey on Jan 18, 2006 3:14:42 GMT
Fair enough kevan..
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Post by Al Truest on Jan 18, 2006 17:20:28 GMT
To each their own, 'cos I much prefer the new vocal version. Her voice is more mature - the crescendo is more powerful - and (if I'm not mistaken) it was recorded from her tour. If that last point is correct it is even more rare and special. What tour? The tour (The Tour of Life) that was made into the "Live at Hammersmith Odean".....the one where Kate closes the show with "Wuthering Heights" I love her performance there because you can see her emotion and exuberance as she jumps up and down and waves to a throng of truly inspired fans. It was my belief that the new vocal version was recorded live from this tour. Someone please verify that (I will also do a bit of research 'cos I don't remember where, or even if, I read this)
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stev0
Moving
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Post by stev0 on Jan 18, 2006 18:36:31 GMT
I suspect it isn't. The tour was in 1979. The new vocal came out in 1985. I doubt if Kate would have sat on it for six years before releasing it (don't forget, she released three albums in this time - it's not like nowadays where there's a 12-year gap between albums!)
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Post by Kevin2 on Jan 18, 2006 19:55:42 GMT
The tour (The Tour of Life) that was made into the "Live at Hammersmith Odean".....
oh drat... I thought you were saying there was another tour. It sounds to these ears that Kate is considerably older on the revised vocals track.
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Post by Adey on Jan 19, 2006 3:03:48 GMT
..the one where Kate closes the show with "Wuthering Heights" I love her performance there because you can see her emotion and exuberance as she jumps up and down and waves to a throng of truly inspired fans. It was my belief that the new vocal version was recorded live from this tour. Someone please verify that (I will also do a bit of research 'cos I don't remember where, or even if, I read this) I love these moments from the video too. As well as bringing back some great memories from 2 incredible nights that literally changed what I wanted to do as a musician, it moves me to see her released from the cell of her performance concentration. And to see her finally acknowledging the crowd there supporting her. I see her literally jumping for joy.. As for the WH new vocal, I agree it would have been sometime after the tour. Possibly even as late as the time of EMI's and Kate's decision to release the greatest hits album. She did re-record Hammer Horror in a 'live' format for the tour, so that she could focus exclusively on the demanding dance routine that accompanied the song. Those who have the video or who read about these things, will know that KB did not sing during the number itself.
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