On the subject of Leona Lewis' cover of "Run"
Leona Lewis - Run (Snow Patrol cover)
First, listen to the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83ITQsLv8Es.
Consider these lines: “Even if you cannot hear my voice/I’ll be right beside you dear” and “to think I might not see those eyes/Makes it so hard not to cry.” It implies that the singer of the song is attempting to be the brave one in this parting of ways, despite the fact that they are just as upset and torn up about it as the person they are trying to comfort.
Listen to the way Gary sings those lines in the original and the way the music changes accordingly. It becomes clear that he’s finding it hard to get these words out because he’s really fucking sad and scared, but god damn, he’s gonna do his best to be brave for them.
When I start listening to Leona’s version, my first impulse is to find the nearest trashcan because I’d rather keep my sick off the bed. Not because it’s a disgusting cover, but more because she gives the song this utterly morose quality that is nausea-inducing. Instead of getting the feeling of bravery, you get a feeling beyond melancholy. It’s the kind of feeling that seizes you and shakes you until you’re wretching your grief and terror all over the place.
This, in and of itself, would be wholly amazing if she was able to convince me that she meant it.
However, …check out 3:24 and onwards. The back-up choir kicks in (which I’m not particularly a fan of, but will admit that it adds a element of grandeur to it). She starts to actually use her voice. It’s like when Mariah sings “Hero” or when Whitney sings “I Will Always Love You.” In no time at all it’s obvious that these women have great voices. But it’s not until Mariah tells you to hold on cos “there will be a tomorrow” and Whitney tells you for the third time that she’s always gonna love you that you realize you are in the presence of true greatness.
The last third of Leona’s version of “Run” does things for the song that Gary Lightbody could never do, but I’m always gonna go for the original on this one because while she may be able to walk the walk, she can’t talk the talk. There are just some songs where I want the whole package.
