I very seldom say a song is bad. I try to leave it to the ear of the beholder. Certainly there are songs I like that people would call trash, but I rarely return the favor. That’s part of the beauty of music. It suits people individually, and touches us all in a very specific and personal way.
That said, today I’m making an exception.
I give you exhibit A, Otis Redding. Legendary R&B soul singer, inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. All respect.
For exhibit B, take the song A Hard Days Night. Classic, right? Big hit for the Beatles. One of many number one hit songs.
Now, I dare you to Google these two examples together and listen to what you find. It is in my mind one of the worst exhibitions of a cover tune in the many decades of my existence.
Apologies to someone who may read this and think, “no, I think this is an excellent version of the song.“ I doubt that will happen. Absolutely terrible. It caused me angst, anger, and made me want to seek counseling. It was just that bad.
I will now move on with my life, and just like excessive fatty foods, TV and computer habits which would compromise my faith, and the devil himself, I shall avoid that song for the rest of my days.