k.d. lang — Helpless
Album: Hymns of the 49th ParallelAvg rating:
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Length: 4:09
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There is a town in north Ontario,
With dream comfort memory to spare,
And in my mind
I still need a place to go,
All my changes were there.
Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
Yellow moon on the rise,
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows in our eyes.
Leaves us
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Baby can you hear me now?
The chains are locked
and tied around my door,
and baby, will you sing with me somehow.
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless
Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
Yellow moon on the rise,
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows in our eyes.
Leaves us
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
With dream comfort memory to spare,
And in my mind
I still need a place to go,
All my changes were there.
Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
Yellow moon on the rise,
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows in our eyes.
Leaves us
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Baby can you hear me now?
The chains are locked
and tied around my door,
and baby, will you sing with me somehow.
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless
Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
Yellow moon on the rise,
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows in our eyes.
Leaves us
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Comments (219)add comment
fraserji wrote:
Right, and from an album that was all about that. That CD spent a lot of time in my player back in the mid-aughties.
Double dose of CanCon. Yay.
Right, and from an album that was all about that. That CD spent a lot of time in my player back in the mid-aughties.
Every song seems to her, to be a ballad.
She should something bluesly. More punch. More rnr.
She should something bluesly. More punch. More rnr.
Wonderloaf wrote:
Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
This RP listener could care less about Sprout-A-Fry
Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
This RP listener could care less about Sprout-A-Fry
Neil just canceled tonight's show because of the weather. Bummed!!
On_The_Beach wrote:
Well I guess he might seem like a dick to those gullible enough to believe Rogan's lies about the Covid vaccine. Neil simply objected to the spreading of misinformation and the countless deaths that could result. What a dick!
and quietly Young has returned to Spotify. oops
Well I guess he might seem like a dick to those gullible enough to believe Rogan's lies about the Covid vaccine. Neil simply objected to the spreading of misinformation and the countless deaths that could result. What a dick!
and quietly Young has returned to Spotify. oops
Wonderloaf wrote:
Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
Hey genius... those of us that enjoy listening to him actually buy his music and can listen to it at any time without a turntable <eye roll>
Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
Hey genius... those of us that enjoy listening to him actually buy his music and can listen to it at any time without a turntable <eye roll>
I've been making fun of this stupid whiny song for decades - since it came out. KD finally turned it into a great song. FAR superior to the original! NY is a great artist but not everything he's done is great,
Not for me.
skip....
skip....
easmann wrote:
Thanks for your post. Totally agree with your view of covers.
I don't believe most covers are executed in the spirit of competition, rarely are they attempts at improvement. I believe most covers are attempted because an artist loves another artist's song and hopes to bring an interesting and alternate interpretation. I believe this is an example.
Comparisons are inevitable of course and folks may well prefer one or the other.
I greatly enjoy both, and yes, I do have a preference, depending on the day and my particular mood.
P.S. I just realized that C, S, N & Y's version utilizes their signature and largely unmatched harmonies on the chorus while k.d.'s version uses very subtle, almost minimal, harmonizing.
Thanks for your post. Totally agree with your view of covers.
jp33442 wrote:
Well I guess he might seem like a dick to those gullible enough to believe Rogan's lies about the Covid vaccine. Neil simply objected to the spreading of misinformation and the countless deaths that could result. What a dick!
Too bad neil turned into a real dick with spotify
Well I guess he might seem like a dick to those gullible enough to believe Rogan's lies about the Covid vaccine. Neil simply objected to the spreading of misinformation and the countless deaths that could result. What a dick!
Wonderloaf wrote:
Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
We agree on something fascinating
Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
We agree on something fascinating
Wish you would play Buffy Sainte-Marie's version, it's great too.
Double dose of CanCon. Yay.
Two rarities: 1) a k d lang performance that doesn't immediately give me goosebumps and 2) a song that I just downgraded from my original rating (9>8). I don't think the latter has ever happened.
Comments are really all over the board on this one.
I spend a summer in north (west) Ontario. This song takes me back...
jp33442 wrote:
Too bad neil turned into a real dick with spotify
Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
Too bad neil turned into a real dick with spotify
Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
dray2009 wrote:
Too bad neil turned into a real dick with spotify
A tribute from one Canadian to another.
Too bad neil turned into a real dick with spotify
This is good, but I much prefer the Buffy St. Marie version.
I don't believe most covers are executed in the spirit of competition, rarely are they attempts at improvement. I believe most covers are attempted because an artist loves another artist's song and hopes to bring an interesting and alternate interpretation. I believe this is an example.
Comparisons are inevitable of course and folks may well prefer one or the other.
I greatly enjoy both, and yes, I do have a preference, depending on the day and my particular mood.
P.S. I just realized that C, S, N & Y's version utilizes their signature and largely unmatched harmonies on the chorus while k.d.'s version uses very subtle, almost minimal, harmonizing.
Comparisons are inevitable of course and folks may well prefer one or the other.
I greatly enjoy both, and yes, I do have a preference, depending on the day and my particular mood.
P.S. I just realized that C, S, N & Y's version utilizes their signature and largely unmatched harmonies on the chorus while k.d.'s version uses very subtle, almost minimal, harmonizing.
bachbeet wrote:
Works for me.
Not nearly as good as the original by Neil Young.
Works for me.
I heard her do this when I saw Lang, Case & Veirs a few years ago - that vocal made for some serious gooseflesh, in the best possible way.
A tribute from one Canadian to another.
Grammarcop wrote:
Yes...with pieces of ham in it please.
More k.d., please.
Yes...with pieces of ham in it please.
The version by Over the Rhine is my favorite, other than Neil's original.
This is good, but I like the Buffy St. Marie cover better.
More k.d., please.
I love K.D. Lang, mostly. Don't like Neil Young, Mostly. (talking vocalization). But this song was much better served by Neil's voice than hers. IMO.
For cripes' sake, whiners. Try harder to consider this without being biased by your love for the Neil Young original (which I love too). If you can listen to this on its own merits - which are led by k.d.'s soaring vocals (as on everything she does, covers or originals) - ya might just find that this song is quite fine. 
bachbeet wrote:
Personally, I don't ever want to hear Neil Young's whiny voice, so this is a great way to experience some of his music! All the critics can go pound sand, I'll take kd over Neil any day.
Not nearly as good as the original by Neil Young.
Personally, I don't ever want to hear Neil Young's whiny voice, so this is a great way to experience some of his music! All the critics can go pound sand, I'll take kd over Neil any day.
Lordy, this is a dreadful cover. Utterly dreadful.
Sorry; but once again I hear k.d. missing the mark and doing a terrible job on a cover!
Sounds like a lifeless cover by a Holiday Inn bar band with a good vocalist.
I like K.D., but this is not really working for me. I know she is pay her respects to Neil, but give me Neil on this one.
How to slay a song...
Trustocity wrote:
She comes across sounding very coy to me. "Ooooh, I'm just sooooo helpless over here all by my little self. Won't sooooomebody come rescue little ol' me?"
Here's a very simple observation to determine the relevence of this cover: When Neil sings it, he sounds helpless. When k.d. sings it, she sounds like she just got a request from someone in the audience to take a stab at an old standard. What she doesn't sound is angst-ridden in the least.
She comes across sounding very coy to me. "Ooooh, I'm just sooooo helpless over here all by my little self. Won't sooooomebody come rescue little ol' me?"
Contrary to popular opinion...I like this version. Also, I love the album. It has some really great stuff on it.
Patiently hoping this is the purgatory before the REAL version.....
Better than the original recording. Not as good as the live one off of Massey Hall.
Can't go higher than 5 on this one.
Not nearly as good as the original by Neil Young.
I love her voice in this song but the staccato beat of the rhythm doesn't do it for me. It's still a 5 though.
hate this version. she sounds whiney. ugh.
deadmessengers wrote:
Bob leans down and says, "My sentiments exactly."
This might be the only thing KD Lang has ever done that I didn't like. Her voice, her delivery, everything, is just flawless - which is exactly the kind of voice that this song didn't need. To be fair, she was trying to improve on something that was damn near perfect to begin with.
Bob leans down and says, "My sentiments exactly."
This cover is really growing on me.
deadmessengers wrote:
My first reaction was similar, it seems arrogant to try to improve or even approach the harmonies of the mighty Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
However, it is growing on me, quite a nice cover.
This might be the only thing KD Lang has ever done that I didn't like. Her voice, her delivery, everything, is just flawless - which is exactly the kind of voice that this song didn't need. To be fair, she was trying to improve on something that was damn near perfect to begin with.
My first reaction was similar, it seems arrogant to try to improve or even approach the harmonies of the mighty Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
However, it is growing on me, quite a nice cover.
deadmessengers wrote:
I had the same reaction. No, not much you can do to improve on the beautiful, haunting Neil Young original. So chalk it up to (perhaps) a self-indulgent "nice try" for what surely is one of her old school favs. Now, let's hear her version of "Hallelujah", which is every bit as good as the Jeff Buckley, version, both being covers of the Leonard Cohen classic.
This might be the only thing KD Lang has ever done that I didn't like. Her voice, her delivery, everything, is just flawless - which is exactly the kind of voice that this song didn't need. To be fair, she was trying to improve on something that was damn near perfect to begin with.
I had the same reaction. No, not much you can do to improve on the beautiful, haunting Neil Young original. So chalk it up to (perhaps) a self-indulgent "nice try" for what surely is one of her old school favs. Now, let's hear her version of "Hallelujah", which is every bit as good as the Jeff Buckley, version, both being covers of the Leonard Cohen classic.
I get a chuckle every time I hear her mention Big Bird.
All Canadians just sing along to this song no matter who does it. All together now, Helpless, Helpless, Helpless, Helpless. That's feels pretty good, eh?
This might be the only thing KD Lang has ever done that I didn't like. Her voice, her delivery, everything, is just flawless - which is exactly the kind of voice that this song didn't need. To be fair, she was trying to improve on something that was damn near perfect to begin with.
Thank the gods for youtube to get her voice singing these lyrics out of my head.
I've heard three or four covers of this song, and I have to admit that I like them all.
rtrudeau wrote:
fyt
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener me feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
fyt
Happy Birthday k.d.!!!!!!
KevinM wrote:
roger that...
suebee3 wrote:
Maybe so but she does a hell of a lot better than that gawd awful crooner Neil Young
She's such a whiner.
Maybe so but she does a hell of a lot better than that gawd awful crooner Neil Young
roger that...
Oh my god. This has to be the best way to completely ruin an absolute classic of a tune. This is mr youngs, get off!
Nice version of a truly classic song. But there can be only one impeccable rendition of this, and that's the dude who wrote it.
man, that's nice.
suebee3 wrote:
Maybe so but she does a hell of a lot better than that gawd awful crooner Neil Young
She's such a whiner.
Maybe so but she does a hell of a lot better than that gawd awful crooner Neil Young
michaelgmitchell wrote:
Yeah, I have to admit: as a huge fan of both k.d. and Orton, there are times when I wonder about their choices.
This cover of "Helpless" goes seriously astray from the very start, and there are times when Orton is obviously lost. But, that's OK, we all make mistakes and fortunately for the rest of us, we don't make mistakes on a recording heard by the world.
"Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllpless ..."
k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
Yeah, I have to admit: as a huge fan of both k.d. and Orton, there are times when I wonder about their choices.
This cover of "Helpless" goes seriously astray from the very start, and there are times when Orton is obviously lost. But, that's OK, we all make mistakes and fortunately for the rest of us, we don't make mistakes on a recording heard by the world.
She's such a whiner.
michaelgmitchell wrote:
Oh. my. gawd. I'm laughing so hard I think I dislocated my spine. You are SO dead-on. I think what I love most about Mr. Young's song is that aching, heart-breaking vocal. So much sorrow and yearning in it.... K.D. just didn't convey that in her version. And yep, Beth Orton's vo-ho-cals ca-han be-he a little bi-hit anno-hoy-ing...
"Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllpless ..."
k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
Oh. my. gawd. I'm laughing so hard I think I dislocated my spine. You are SO dead-on. I think what I love most about Mr. Young's song is that aching, heart-breaking vocal. So much sorrow and yearning in it.... K.D. just didn't convey that in her version. And yep, Beth Orton's vo-ho-cals ca-han be-he a little bi-hit anno-hoy-ing...
dctrpunda wrote:
same here - in my book, K.D. can do no wrong.
i got past my love of Neil's version and enjoyed this cover
same here - in my book, K.D. can do no wrong.
michaelgmitchell wrote:
Are you the only other person in the world irritated by Beth Orton?
On the other hand, I really like KD Lang's wonderful, honest voice.
And I like this song done by her.
"Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllpless ..."
k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
Are you the only other person in the world irritated by Beth Orton? On the other hand, I really like KD Lang's wonderful, honest voice.
And I like this song done by her.
Good. I like Nick Cave's version better.
tipper wrote:
Because she did this so well. KD lives up to the original, and also makes it her own. That's all one should ever ask of a cover. Love to hear more from this album. I haven't followed her in years.
How could she?
Because she did this so well. KD lives up to the original, and also makes it her own. That's all one should ever ask of a cover. Love to hear more from this album. I haven't followed her in years.
"Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllpless ..."
k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
Sorry, but Neil's version can't be topped...this one pale's.....
i got past my love of Neil's version and enjoyed this cover
osbyec wrote:
I love "Hallelujah" done by both Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright, and I hadn't heard her version until the Olympics. At first I thought it was going to be too pretty, but by the end I had chills.
Agree! It's not quite up there with Buckley's version, but IMHO kd's is the 2nd best version...
I love "Hallelujah" done by both Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright, and I hadn't heard her version until the Olympics. At first I thought it was going to be too pretty, but by the end I had chills.
Agree! It's not quite up there with Buckley's version, but IMHO kd's is the 2nd best version...
Kokoloco53 wrote:
Wow, I feel sorry for you that you've limited your horizons. Cover music is cover music, and it doesn't take away from Young original, but if you've never heard this album, you've missed one of the all time great collections from an awesome talent.
Detlaps wrote:
Well said (voice/song thing).
completely agree, this is an AWESOME collection of songs by a great singer... well worth a purchase, I wore this out.
Wow, I feel sorry for you that you've limited your horizons. Cover music is cover music, and it doesn't take away from Young original, but if you've never heard this album, you've missed one of the all time great collections from an awesome talent.
Detlaps wrote:
Well said (voice/song thing).
completely agree, this is an AWESOME collection of songs by a great singer... well worth a purchase, I wore this out.
rtrudeau wrote:
i don't know... emotion is a subjective thing. i do feel some angst and a certain amount of empathy when i listen to this version. But It seems that amongst the music elite, a singer needs to have a weak, crackly voice to be considered as having emotion
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
i don't know... emotion is a subjective thing. i do feel some angst and a certain amount of empathy when i listen to this version. But It seems that amongst the music elite, a singer needs to have a weak, crackly voice to be considered as having emotion
Wow, I feel sorry for you that you've limited your horizons. Cover music is cover music, and it doesn't take away from Young original, but if you've never heard this album, you've missed one of the all time great collections from an awesome talent.
Detlaps wrote:
Well said (voice/song thing).
Bill, please play The Valley off of this album — better rendition than the original by Jane Siberry (who is an amazing artist)!
sheeelaaa wrote:
Well said (voice/song thing).
Beautiful voice ... wrong song. Only Neil can be truly Helpless! lol
Well said (voice/song thing).
Beautiful voice ... wrong song. Only Neil can be truly Helpless! lol
Uhmmmm.. no. 
How could she?
nice segue from guaranteed!
The thing that makes the CSNY original great is the amazing vocal harmony. K.D. sounds nice, but the backing vocals on the chorus are weak.
Not the best tune for her to exercise the beauty of her voice.
She should cover "For The Turnstiles"....ok maybe not.
rantnraver wrote:
I love "Hallelujah" done by both Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright, and I hadn't heard her version until the Olympics. At first I thought it was going to be too pretty, but by the end I had chills.
beautiful...just beautiful...the only cover of a neil young song i've heard that towers over the original. i love her voice and her ability to interpret songs. i want to hear it again immediately...which is how i feel when i hear "coming home" or "hallelujah"...beautiful.
I love "Hallelujah" done by both Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright, and I hadn't heard her version until the Olympics. At first I thought it was going to be too pretty, but by the end I had chills.
azdcryan wrote:
well said - exactelly
well said - exactelly
rtrudeau wrote:
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
rtrudeau wrote:
well said
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
well said
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KRVtjgMkM
"K. D. Lang sings Helpless standing in for Neil Young who was recovering in the hospital. Juno awards 2005. Please enjoy."
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
What can I say, this does the original justice.
Love this version of Helpless. Then again, I love anything kd lang sings. Check out kd's last album "watershed" and her new album "Recollection", to be released Feb., 2, 2010.
brewcity wrote:
One of the most clueless posts I have ever read on RP.
KD Lang and fingernails on a chalkboard
That's like Dick Cheney and peace and love
I'm not a fan of this version of what is a great song, and not just because I love the original. It's because KD is particularly whiney on this one. Her voice usually doesn't bother me, but I've got to say on the chorus she was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Paltry poultry for puppies.....
Paltry poultry for puppies.....
One of the most clueless posts I have ever read on RP.
KD Lang and fingernails on a chalkboard
That's like Dick Cheney and peace and love
Wow! This is a fantastic cover of the song.
She's taken the life and meaning out of the song. It adds nothing to the original but fluff and crooning vocals.
Every time I hear KD's amazing voice I tell myself I have to buy more of her music.
And as a huge Neil fan, I must say this is a fantastic reinterpretation of his classic.
Going to buy this cover album asap.
And as a huge Neil fan, I must say this is a fantastic reinterpretation of his classic.
Going to buy this cover album asap.
I can't argue with your opinion of this version, it's really nice. I'm not sure I agree with the "towers over the original" part. I can't think of a song that more perfectly captures a feeling through music, lyrics, and tempo than the original.
rantnraver wrote:
rantnraver wrote:
beautiful...just beautiful...the only cover of a neil young song i've heard that towers over the original. i love her voice and her ability to interpret songs. i want to hear it again immediately...which is how i feel when i hear "coming home" or "hallelujah"...beautiful.
beautiful...just beautiful...the only cover of a neil young song i've heard that towers over the original. i love her voice and her ability to interpret songs. i want to hear it again immediately...which is how i feel when i hear "coming home" or "hallelujah"...beautiful.
If you like this song, you'll LOVE the album. She covers some powerful songs and takes them to a new level. It's a must have!
The version of Joni Mitchell's Jericho on this album is just stunning. It's a really good album, but this track isn't one of the best.
My brain says 
but the goosebumps say
but the goosebumps say
The image on the cover takes me home. Days so cold that ice fog hangs in the air, you can smell it. Sounds travel for miles, muffled in an icy embrace. Cold eyeballs, frozen nose hairs, crunchy, squeaky footsteps as the Sorrels trudge through the brittle snow. Mittened hands jammed in the pockets of my 40C below-rated parka. Now all I need is a snowflake emoticon.
Did she say Big Bird's flying across the sky? 
Woah!
As a Canadian, I'm kinda embarassed I've never heard this!
One of the greatest songs ever written by a Canadian artist (Neil Young)
and sung by one of our finest Songstresses (KD)
This is beautiful!
As a Canadian, I'm kinda embarassed I've never heard this!
One of the greatest songs ever written by a Canadian artist (Neil Young)
and sung by one of our finest Songstresses (KD)
This is beautiful!
ufamsm wrote:
I picked three tracks from this album to upload, and, not only did B&R accept all three, they play all three! But wait, there's more: They played her version of Hallelujah the very day I uploaded it! 
Great pick.
Good song, this entire album is actually one of those exceedingly rare finds where every single track is entirely listenable. 49th || is one of the better albums to throw into the shuffle for a dinner or wine party.
Good song, this entire album is actually one of those exceedingly rare finds where every single track is entirely listenable. 49th || is one of the better albums to throw into the shuffle for a dinner or wine party.
I picked three tracks from this album to upload, and, not only did B&R accept all three, they play all three! But wait, there's more: They played her version of Hallelujah the very day I uploaded it! trompetilla wrote:
full agree
nice, but too sing songy for me. I like the origial better. KD's voice is too rich&luxe for this I think. maybe it'll grow on me too.
full agree
Thanks for the dedication to Canada Day hangovers, Bill. Mine is in full bloom!
This cover is helpless.
Great pick.
Good song, this entire album is actually one of those exceedingly rare finds where every single track is entirely listenable. 49th || is one of the better albums to throw into the shuffle for a dinner or wine party.
Good song, this entire album is actually one of those exceedingly rare finds where every single track is entirely listenable. 49th || is one of the better albums to throw into the shuffle for a dinner or wine party.
Cynaera wrote:
Oh so sad to hear that! Neil can't sing, never could and he admits it freely. It is without a doubt a great song done by both neither detracting from the other. K.D. made me fall in love with this song again and to go back and listen to both. Far from "Doomed" she has done a fabulous enterpretation of a timeless classic. Happy Canada Day eh!
After having grooved to the original of this song, I'm ruined for any other version. Even if I wasn't, though, K.D. Lang should not attempt to cover something as heavyweight as "Helpless." She's doomed from the start.
Oh so sad to hear that! Neil can't sing, never could and he admits it freely. It is without a doubt a great song done by both neither detracting from the other. K.D. made me fall in love with this song again and to go back and listen to both. Far from "Doomed" she has done a fabulous enterpretation of a timeless classic. Happy Canada Day eh!
What a gorgeous version - well done KD - this is awesome
After having grooved to the original of this song, I'm ruined for any other version. Even if I wasn't, though, K.D. Lang should not attempt to cover something as heavyweight as "Helpless." She's doomed from the start.
nice, but too sing songy for me. I like the origial better. KD's voice is too rich&luxe for this I think. maybe it'll grow on me too.
I'm not a fan of this version of what is a great song, and not just because I love the original. It's because KD is particularly whiney on this one. Her voice usually doesn't bother me, but I've got to say on the chorus she was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Paltry poultry for puppies.....
:grumpy.gif:
You think Neil would agree his song is "perfect" and shouldn't be played by someone else?
Doubt it.
The album is called "hymns of the 49th parallel", which I think shows the respect she gives the songs.
Love the song. Love K.D. Lang's voice. But this song definitely lacks the heart and soul that this song requires to be truly awe inspiring. It could be so much more...
This version, musically, leaves me uninspired, but KD's vocals are so rich and expressive, that I can't help but enjoy it.
I don't believe most covers are executed in the spirit of competition, rarely are they attempts at improvement. I believe most covers are attempted because an artist loves another artist's song and hopes to bring an interesting and alternate interpretation. I believe this is an example.
Comparisons are inevitable of course and folks may well prefer one or the other.
I greatly enjoy both, and yes, I do have a preference, depending on the day and my particular mood.
P.S. I just realized that C, S, N & Y's version utilizes their signature and largely unmatched harmonies on the chorus while k.d.'s version uses very subtle, almost minimal, harmonizing.
You hit the nail, easymann, thanks. Couldn't have described the topic as well as you did.