For our second contest, we have the song "Raspberry Beret". Originally written and performed by Prince, the Hindu Love Gods (REM's side project with Warren Zevon) had a different take on it.
So Prince is the original:
And the Hindu Love Gods cover five years later, with less lyrics:
Which do you prefer? For me, it's the cover - by a hair. The REM rhythm section along with the Peter Buck guitar riff is one of the coolest cover interpretations I have heard. Gives it a different life to a different audience.
If the answer is neither, perhaps you'll like the Big Smith bluegrass version.
Check the audio on the Prince version -- there's something not right about it.
ReplyDeleteI always liked the Hindu Love Gods version of this song, too. But I think the original is so well-crafted that I prefer it to the cover version's more straight-ahead rock approach.
Both are excellent. I can listen to either of them equally. Did you listen to Big Smith?
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