Heart on Celine's "Alone" cover: 'It's cool, but it's not rock'

[marc-02]

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/04/m-american-idols-carrie-underwood-and-celine-dions-alone-covers-cool-but-not-rock-according-to-heart-sisters.html

 

Ann and Nancy Wilson, alias Heart, always are interested when TV music-competition entrants attempt their songs.

 

Being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Thursday, April 18 -- with HBO then televising the ceremony Saturday, May 18 -- the sibling music veterans are very aware of contestants on such shows as FOX's "American Idol" and NBC's "The Voice" often making use of classic Heart songs.

 

"'Alone' has been done by people like Carrie Underwood," Nancy Wilson tells Zap2it, "and it's a really interesting thing. Rock and roll has a way that it feels like rock and roll, but when Celine Dion did 'Alone,' it turned into something completely different. Whenever we've heard other people sing Heart songs, it's usually not rock. It's cool, but it's not rock."

 

Indeed, covers of Heart tunes aren't limited to amateur singers. "I've heard a lot of people do 'Barracuda' in different ways," Ann says, "and there have been a few 'Crazy on You's." Nancy adds such songs "are not easy to sing, The playing field is pretty narrow by the time somebody tries any of those, but there have been a few brave people."

 

Planning a cross-country summer "Heartbreaker" tour with Nancy as a tribute to Led Zeppelin, whom they saluted with "Stairway to Heaven" at last December's Kennedy Center Honors, Ann reasons talent-show rivals choose Heart songs because they "have a lot of physical challenges in them. And those competition shows really aren't about soul singing, they're about what you can achieve with your voice. It's more like a sporting event than an artistic competition."

 

Nancy confirms she and Ann typically aren't watching "American Idol" or "The Voice" whenever their songs come up: "Someone will say, 'Oh, they played your song again!' We usually hear about it after it happens, then we're like, 'Too bad we missed it again.'"

 

Ann says she and Nancy "occasionally" will go on YouTube afterward to look up such performances "if there's one that stands out in some way, but we're pretty busy. We're still out there doing it."

[wjd]

Celine Dion could sing a hymn, in a church, backed by a 100-piece Gospel choir and the reincarnation of Christ, and people would still declare it as cheesy pop.

 

Basically, Celine is so entrenched in pop music, that no matter what song she takes on - people will always think its pop music.

[LuisMa]

Celine Dion could sing a hymn, in a church, backed by a 100-piece Gospel choir and the reincarnation of Christ, and people would still declare it as cheesy pop.

 

Basically, Celine is so entrenched in pop music, that no matter what song she takes on - people will always think its pop music.

 

Exactly, same thing when she did the AC/DC live cover with Anastacia.

Edited April 23, 2013 at 08:04 PM by LuisMa

[Neddo]

Also Wikipedia lies in genres. I'm perfectly sure that IDAN is dance or QPVSA is rock. Not dance-pop or pop like on Wiki

[LuisMa]

I now wonder whether that "cool" is really "cool" or a bit shady.

[Hilda]

sounds to me that they're generalising how everyone tends to do hearts songs not as straight rock n roll which is quite interesting (which is probably what they mean by saying cool) as they are obviously foremost a pop rock group.

 

Either way nothing on this earth will make me like celine's version of alone - i think its strained, awful and soulless with a horrific arrangement which i think should have been more rock - the main thing i love about the original are those amazing harmonies on the chorus but there is something lacklustre in her version.

 

(wow...harsh haha sorry cel)

[CelinesDIVO5]

sounds to me that they're generalising how everyone tends to do hearts songs not as straight rock n roll which is quite interesting (which is probably what they mean by saying cool) as they are obviously foremost a pop rock group.

 

Either way nothing on this earth will make me like celine's version of alone - i think its strained, awful and soulless with a horrific arrangement which i think should have been more rock - the main thing i love about the original are those amazing harmonies on the chorus but there is something lacklustre in her version.

 

(wow...harsh haha sorry cel)

 

I agree...but I do very much like when Celine did it live on tour. Actually, I think it would work very well in the Vegas show being that they used all those strings in the arrangement.

[chrisannabanana]

sounds to me that they're generalising how everyone tends to do hearts songs not as straight rock n roll which is quite interesting (which is probably what they mean by saying cool) as they are obviously foremost a pop rock group.

 

Either way nothing on this earth will make me like celine's version of alone - i think its strained, awful and soulless with a horrific arrangement which i think should have been more rock - the main thing i love about the original are those amazing harmonies on the chorus but there is something lacklustre in her version.

 

(wow...harsh haha sorry cel)

 

Wow really? I feel the complete opposite. Alone is one of my favs off of TC album. I have several friends who are amazed that Celine covered that song and very much like it.

[DionFanAlways]

Does that mean they didn't like her cover? I couldn't really tell

[Si J'etais Quelqu'un]

I really liked Alone at the time it came out, and now I tend to skip it. It feels too pinched or something, or airless. The Heart one does have more room to breathe, but I think maybe I don't really like the composition that much. If I had my druthers, it wouldn't have been a single.

 

That being said, this is typical, to if not lambast, but give guarded, reserved acknowledgement to her. Begrudging, but with a hint of disdain anyway. A member of this forum recently turned me on to Here, There, & Everywhere, her Beatles cover, and it's just enchanting. So of course you have Beatles fans dissing her version, it's awful, etc. etc. etc., and you KNOW it's just because it's Celine Dion, and they walked in ready to dislike it, because they've been told by some subliminal rule book that they have to.

 

I always liked what Def Leppard said about Mariah's cover of their song Bringin' On The Heartbreak, where they actually DEFENDED her against their own fans who were tearing her version to shreds. They said the fans were wrong to do that and that Mariah was on their side and she was honoring them by covering their song. Which is entirely the point at the end of the day - this artist respects the previous one's work so much that they're paying homage and attempting to keep the song alive in the public, and that's a GOOD thing; you don't have to like their version, but don't act like it's raping your soul to acknowledge it.

Edited April 24, 2013 at 03:33 AM by Si J'etais Quelqu'un

[LVCeline]

Heart is one of my all-time favorites, but lately they are so cliche about being "rock." They constantly talk about it like it's all they do and just because they have loud guitars and drums, they think that makes them rock. Maybe someone should have reminded Nancy that the last time they had any electric guitar in their live version of Alone was in the early 90's. They have been performing that stupid acoustic version that just drags on and on for the better part of 20 years (and believe me, Ann struggles through every single note of that song these days).

 

She can say what she wants, but not even Heart makes Alone rock anymore, and hasn't for a long time. Their most recent album Fanatic is the worst one they've ever done. I don't like any song on it, and they have horrible cliche lyrics and guitars just for the sake of being "rock." (i.e., "half of 8, 2 of 4, nothing less, less is more...8 of 4, 1 of 5, eat it raw, now eat it alive...those are some of the most craptastic lyrics I've ever heard and I throw up just thinking about this song)

 

I am not trying to defend Celine's version, because Heart's version is infinitely better, but I think she's talking out of her butt here, and I don't like the attitude like people can try Heart songs, but nobody can make them as "rock" as Heart does. Something about this article just bugs me.

[zuv]

Thats the only thing they had to say abt Celine?!! Huhhh.... the best selling female artist of all time makes a tribute of your stupid song and thats all you got to say?!?!!

 

I say f*** them.

 

Celine's version of Alone is a 1000 times better than the original. Fact.

Edited April 24, 2013 at 04:00 AM by zuv

[c4n4d4]

I have heard Heart's original, Celine's version, and Carrie Underwood's and while the original is good I prefer Celine's over all of them. Obviously it may not be as rock as Heart's but for Celine it is fairly rock and I really enjoy the music and I think she does a really good job at singing the song too.

[c4n4d4]

Oh and when an artist covers a song it isn't supposed to be a carbon copy of the original it is supposed to be done in a style that suits the artist, in this case Celine.

[Bell]

Does that mean they didn't like her cover? I couldn't really tell

I think they like it, they just say it's not very rock. But it's normal for a cover, right? You can't just make a strictly identical version of a song and call it a cover. You should change something and do the song your own way if you don't want to be a copycat.

[québecflower]

I really liked Alone at the time it came out, and now I tend to skip it. It feels too pinched or something, or airless. The Heart one does have more room to breathe, but I think maybe I don't really like the composition that much. If I had my druthers, it wouldn't have been a single.

 

That being said, this is typical, to if not lambast, but give guarded, reserved acknowledgement to her. Begrudging, but with a hint of disdain anyway. A member of this forum recently turned me on to Here, There, & Everywhere, her Beatles cover, and it's just enchanting. So of course you have Beatles fans dissing her version, it's awful, etc. etc. etc., and you KNOW it's just because it's Celine Dion, and they walked in ready to dislike it, because they've been told by some subliminal rule book that they have to.

 

I always liked what Def Leppard said about Mariah's cover of their song Bringin' On The Heartbreak, where they actually DEFENDED her against their own fans who were tearing her version to shreds. They said the fans were wrong to do that and that Mariah was on their side and she was honoring them by covering their song. Which is entirely the point at the end of the day - this artist respects the previous one's work so much that they're paying homage and attempting to keep the song alive in the public, and that's a GOOD thing; you don't have to like their version, but don't act like it's raping your soul to acknowledge it.

 

very well put, it is some kind of sport, hating an other artist than the original performer of a song, even more so in Celine's case. Maybe this is because she is worthy challenge.

[Esty]

I like both Heart's and Celine's version. They cannot be compared. Heart's Alone is a rock classic and I think Celine gave a new life, a new wiev to the song. I adore the music box at the beginning, the strings. Celine made a totally different song. I agree that it shouldn't have been released as a single but IMHO it is a gem on Taking Chances.

[LuisMa]

This is one of the reasons why I adored the 90s, when you were a fan and had no idea about what others had to say (negatively of course) about Celine... Edited April 24, 2013 at 09:07 AM by LuisMa

[DionFanAlways]

This is one of the reasons why I adored the 90s, when you were a fan and had no idea about what others had to say (negatively of course) about Celine...

Ah you mean the stone age before the www?

[isurrender]

TBH, I didn't know Heart and the original version before ( shame on me : seems that the song was very famous).

 

I listened to their version when I read comments that the original was better. And I found this :

 

Is that rock? I mean to me - in 2013 - their attitude is just a cliché of rock. To jumb on the stage strumming guitars ...omg! Looks like a parody. Sorry but I find it very laughable.

 

That was for the outlook. Concerning the singing part : Heart's version is more soulful because she sings it hopelessly , in a very sad way (but again : the video doesn't show that AT ALL). That's the way I see it. Céline took it quite differently : angrier , more powerful. I guess that's the way for her to sound "edgier". That's why I don't agree at all when people say that Céline didn't understand the song. She just brings new feelings to the song, completely different and thay's maybe the way she felt the song : she is self-confident but quite bitter as well (and she sounds so sexy the way she sings the second verse.OMG!). You might not like it but I think she is convincing singing those emotions.

 

I really don't know how to understand Heart's statement but well, Céline didn't turn their song into a pop ballad ( like Mariah's I want to know what love is or Against all odds). That might be not rock but it's definitely not pop either. I would say orchestral powerful ballad. lol

[DionFanAlways]

I don't agree at all when people say that Céline didn't understand the song. She just brings new feelings to the song, completely different and thay's maybe the way she felt the song : she is self-confident but quite bitter as well (and she sounds so sexy the way she sings the second verse.OMG!). You might not like it but I think she is convincing singing those emotions.

 

I really don't know how to understand Heart's statement but well, Céline didn't turn their song into a pop ballad ( like Mariah's I want to know what love is or Against all odds). That might be not rock but it's definitely not pop either. I would say orchestral powerful ballad. lol

Yes I agree. I never doubted that Celine didn't understand the meaning of this song. To me, I think, she is specifically speaking to Rene! You can tell by the emotion she sings it with.

[LuisMa]

I love the Heart song, but the instruments on Celine's version make it more haunting and, as some as you said, edgier. I'd love for someone to put Celine's voice on Heart's instrumentation and viceversa.

 

And Sherri, yes! At the next Celine concert, when people see someone looking like Captain Caveman, that's me!!!

[GoldenLeaf]

Ann and Nancy Wilson need to stop acting like they're the original singers of ''Alone'' when they're NOT.

 

This is the original version :

 

I-Ten - Alone (released in 1983)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQcYbm5pKvE

Edited April 24, 2013 at 07:42 PM by GoldenLeaf

[CelinesDIVO5]

Ann and Nancy Wilson need to stop acting like they're the original singers of ''Alone'' when they're NOT.

 

This is the original version :

 

I-Ten - Alone (released in 1983)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQcYbm5pKvE

 

 

not many really knew this version until well after Heart's version was released though. Heart's version is the definitive version.

[c4n4d4]

not many really knew this version until well after Heart's version was released though. Heart's version is the definitive version.

Kinda of the same thing with "The Power of Love" not many people really know the original artist, everyone know's it as a "Celine Dion song"

[isurrender]

Ann and Nancy Wilson need to stop acting like they're the original singers of ''Alone'' when they're NOT.

 

This is the original version :

 

I-Ten - Alone (released in 1983)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQcYbm5pKvE

 

That's so ironical !

 

Nobody knows that , it's mentioned anywhere. Even medias refered to Heart's original version when they reviewed Céline's version.

 

not many really knew this version until well after Heart's version was released though. Heart's version is the definitive version.

 

When I think people sometimes make a fuss about how 'Taking Chances" was a cover while it was released only in 1 country.... what applies to Céline applies for others. Heart's version is a cover as well then.

Edited April 27, 2013 at 08:29 AM by isurrender

[dj4celine]

I've always hated Celine's version of 'Alone' and I totally agree with what Heart said about it. She turned into something completely different, and in my opinion, in a very bad way. Her live performance was good but the studio version was very underwhelming.

 

Now go on and bash people who don't like the song

[Prima_Donna1]

I don't think they disliked it either. They said it was cool but not rock. They weren't just referring to Celineline neither. I like there version the best but Celine did what she could. Just sick of the music media tearing her down everytime she does something good. They never give her credit for doing something that they wouldnt think she do. Edited April 27, 2013 at 09:39 PM by Prima_Donna1

[CroonerDFW]

I really don't see anything insulting in what Ann and Nancy Wilson said. They were talking in general about how people cover their songs and do them differently than Heart did. They don't link Celine specifically to the "it's cool, but it's not rock" quote. They just say she turned Alone into something completely different (which I agree with), and that's not an insult or putdown. It would have been disappointing and out of character if Celine had just re-recorded it as a carbon copy metal ballad.

 

The Wilsons also include remakes of Barracuda and Crazy On You in the discussion so I'm confident it's not a putdown of Celine or anyone else.

 

Just my opinion on an old topic.