'Run' – Snow Patrol vs. Leona Lewis!

Considering Snow Patrol is a bit of U2-for-girls (and getting more and more so), I guess it’s very suitable for them to have a song covered by this talent-pagent girl. Would make two nicely complementing sides of a single release, if you’d ask me.

I wouldn’t necessarily change the radio stations the first time i’d hear it either. But I wouldn’t buy that single either.

I have to say, I really do think that’s quite unfair. However sterile the performance may be to some of us, do you honestly think you get a voice like Leona Lewis’ without working for it? From my personal point of view, it’s taken me thousands and thousands of hours of serious work over the last 16 or so years to get to where I am now as a sound engineer and as a musician, and because of that I’ve been able to mix and play some pretty serious shows in theatres, arenas, stadiums and festivals all over Europe in the last few years, but it’s taken a hell of a lot of effort, dedication and frustration to get me to a level where I can do so. People generally don’t walk off the streets into a show like X Factor, win it, then go into a studio and record a successful album without having put in one hell of a lot of work beforehand. I genuinely don’t intend this next line to come across as patronising in any way, but if you played an instrument or were involved in music production to any serious degree your opinions would probably be somewhat different.

Paul

No, I’m not saying that there’s not a lot of hard work done by these people before they try out for the X Factor. I was trying to make out that for the people who get onto the show (regardless of how far they get in the proceedings) it’s like a fast-track to stardom – why bother spending years doing what others have done, when a stint on a TV show will grant you some degree of fame?

What Paul says that I can never agree with, is that the amount of work one puts into anything, has nothing to with the end result.
Just because someone is spotted on a talent show, don’t let your own sour grapes control your thinking!

If that was the case, I for one would have been a musical star of the early sixties, both vocally and probably playing bass guitar with Procul Harum, but sadly I didn’t have the 50 quid needed to buy the bass guitar at the time.

My own sour grapes? Eh?! I’ve spent the last 4 years of my life flying around the place mixing and playing amazing concerts in some amazing places. Why on Earth would I have any sour grapes about anything?! It sounds to me from your last paragraph as though you’re the one who feels slightly bitter about certain things. 😉

Also, just out of interest, where did I say the amount of work you put in has no effect on the outcome? My point was actually the exact and total opposite of that!

Paul

In many ways I also agree with Paul, but singers are given songs to sing/record and their managers are to blame for not choosing the perfect songs for them to sing, probably because the perfect song for them hasn’t been written yet or wasn’t written at the time.

Timing is all important!

A good example was Elvis, an amazing voice, but a crappy manager choosing the wrong material in many cases.
_____________

What Paul says that I can never agree with, is that the amount of work one puts into anything, has nothing to with the end result.
Just because someone is spotted on a talent show, don’t let your own sour grapes control your thinking!

If that was the case, I for one would have been a musical star of the early sixties, both vocally and probably playing bass guitar with Procul Harum, but sadly I didn’t have the 50 quid needed to buy the bass guitar at the time.

I’m not saying these talent shows are the only way to get into the industry, but how do people do it otherwise? For example, people like KT Tunstall, Amy MacDonald, Adele etc and are they automatically ‘better’ because of they way they’ve done things? Would anyone be a fan of Leona if she had taken this approach instead?

They’re not automatically better by any means. There are various ways you can get into it, self promotion on the internet being one, but essentially it often comes down to luck and being spotted by the right person at the right time. As far as being a Leona fan had she come into it by other means is concerned, I wouldn’t be because I haven’t seen her in a single episode of whatever program she came from, so it makes no difference to me! 😀

However, I have much more respect for the people who have worked to get to where they are.

I have to say, I really do think that’s quite unfair. However sterile the performance may be to some of us, do you honestly think you get a voice like Leona Lewis’ without working for it? From my personal point of view, it’s taken me thousands and thousands of hours of serious work over the last 16 or so years to get to where I am now as a sound engineer and as a musician, and because of that I’ve been able to mix and play some pretty serious shows in theatres, arenas, stadiums and festivals all over Europe in the last few years, but it’s taken a hell of a lot of effort, dedication and frustration to get me to a level where I can do so. People generally don’t walk off the streets into a show like X Factor, win it, then go into a studio and record a successful album without having put in one hell of a lot of work beforehand. I genuinely don’t intend this next line to come across as patronising in any way, but if you played an instrument or were involved in music production to any serious degree your opinions would probably be somewhat different.

Paul

Not enough notes for you, eh? 😀 :diablo:

Paul

The number of notes is fine.

It’s the order they appear in that’s the problem. :p

I agree with you, Will Young and Lemar are probably exceptions to the rule.

However, I have much more respect for the people who have worked to get to where they are.

Just want to be clear, when I was talking about emotion and the Leona version in my first post, I was meaning I could picture it being the backing song to an ’emotional’ video montage showing something like a love/death sequence etc. Where as the Snow Patrol version I could imagine backing something a little more dramatic. Just so save everyone thinking I’m a dafty since you’re all going on about how Leona’s has no emotion 😮

I’m not having a go Daz, I just have a question as I’m not clear on it myself – maybe Paul would know also. I’m not saying these talent shows are the only way to get into the industry, but how do people do it otherwise? For example, people like KT Tunstall, Amy MacDonald, Adele etc and are they automatically ‘better’ because of they way they’ve done things? Would anyone be a fan of Leona if she had taken this approach instead?

The one person I do like and admire who has came out of these talent shows is Will Young. Not for everyone of course, but I think he has done really well for himself seeing as he was the ‘original’ back in the day and is still producing songs that I enjoy listening to. Lemar is still going as well which I find pretty good as he didn’t even win the thing.

I don’t like either version, to be honest.

Not enough notes for you, eh? 😀 :diablo:

Paul

exactly thats what i was trying to say :p thanks daz

I think that’s the main reason why I hate all these “singers” – they’re manufactured, and as such haven’t really worked that hard at becoming noticed. They auditioned to be put on a second-rate TV talent show, and were guaranteed, one way or another, a bit of exposure.

I Agree with Paul.. i think all these bands/artists that come from competition type tv shows dont really have the emotional imput that bands like Snow Patrol, One Republic or One Night Only do (too name a few bands) they put everything into their music,

where as Leona lewis etc try to just show off that they can hold a note for a few moments at different pitches.

Personally..i wasnt too impressed when i heard she had done a cover of the song…she may well have a good voice but i just dont think she does the song all that well

IMHO

I don’t like either version, to be honest.

I do agree with Paul’s point, though. Music is meant to be an art, not a science or an athletic discipline.

Cynical professional musician/production persons opinion coming up here… Not that that means I actually know what I’m talking about, because I don’t, as anyone who knows me is well aware! 😀

I think Allen has taken a huge, giant hammer and hit that nail very squarely indeed on the head. Emotion! Where is it in the Leona version?! There are so many aspects to music, and whether we like something personally or not simply depends on whether the combination of things we like is right or not. Something I see in so many X Factor/Pop Stars-type people is wonderful vocal control and tone, but absolutely zero emotion. Many can soar from the comfortable middle range of their voice right up into falsetto and back with amazing control and perfect pitch, which is a wonderful skill and ability that not many people possess, but for me personally, as far as ‘pop’ music is concerned that generally isn’t enough to hold my attention.

Snow Patrol’s version has that emotion. The vocals are put across in a genuine and believable way. It’s simple. There’s no over-emphasis on anything. No warbling for the sake of it, no vibrato that simply has no need to be there. It’s an entirely honest song and comes across to me very much in the same way as Onerepublic’s Stop And Stare, which I consider to be one of the best written tracks I‘ve heard recently. (Incidentally, Onerepublic’s vocalist and writer Ryan Tedder was the one responsible for Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis). The Leona Lewis version of Run has a great vocal performance, but that’s all it is. The emotion simply isn’t there and I don’t feel like she’s trying to say anything; more singing meaningless words.

I have to admit, I liked the Leona version the first time I heard it, but hearing it again it has the same over-produced and exaggerated sound I hear in so many similar tracks from similar artists. There’s no denying she has a wonderful voice, but there’s a depth that’s missing. For me as a musician, I never play the same thing in the same way twice (yeah yeah… I‘m just rubbish all the time!) If I’m feeling down I’ll play differently to if I’m on a high, because it’s driven by emotion and how I feel at the time. People like Leona Lewis generally give exactly the same performance day in, day out with no variation whatsoever. A degree of consistency is good, sure, but to use that word again, personally I’d rather see a more ’human’ performance with all its variations and imperfections than something which is technically perfect yet somewhat sterile.

Paul

Sorry, another vote for Snow Patrol.

Apology accepted.:D

Sorry, another vote for Snow Patrol.

Leona Lewis makes me want to chunder.

No contest. Leona. Heard each song once, not a particularly memorable song on hearing it only once, but Leona gives it everything.

Is there a contest, two guys playing with a motorbike, not wearing crash helmets, or a scantily clad chick wandering about in the woods?:diablo:

Leona’s voice gives me goose bumps, but that maybe simply because it’s cold here just now.

Not all that struck on the song, but for me, Leona’s version is better.

It’s horses for courses.

Snow Patrol, for the very simple reason that the song works perfectly within the context provided the album Final Straw. It is one of the finest albums of its timeframe and the most underrated of the 3 snow patrol albums (not including their earlier unsuccessful efforts as Polar Bear). It is a lyrical and musical masterpiece that Snow Patrol have yet been able to match and are unlikely to be able to do so following the departure of the a key member following Final Straw.