Tune du Jour: “I Hung My Head” – Sting
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Spoiler NYC vs. Bruce Springsteen vs. Johnny Cash
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
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Pretty solid tune by Sting, who I have never been all too impressed with.
The Original
Sting:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Spoiler NYC vs. Bruce Springsteen vs. Johnny Cash
Spoiler NYC:
Bruce Springsteen:
Johnny Cash:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 
I had never heard this from anyone other than Cash.
That’s probably the best thing I’ve heard from Sting. I never bought anything by him or The Police.
Great version by Springsteen. Covering a song that well will usually earn the vote, but I liked Cash’s version even more.
Never heard of Spoiler NYC, but they were up against a pair of heavyweights today.
Spoiler NYC offers a fun sped-up version.
Springsteen did what he consistently does, knock out an excellent, heartfelt cover.
Johnny was just amazing. Had the uncanny ability to take a great song, make it his own and improve upon on it.
When I started out I thought sure that I would vote for Cash but, in a surprise, Springsteen’s version won the day.
When I looked at the title I didn’t recognize it. After hearing the original I still didn’t know it or why we were focusing on this song. The spooky room percussion, feathers of steel reverb, horn arrangement and Danny Federici organ failed to illuminate the tale. Spoiler NYC let you know right off that doom is on the way. I would have liked it more with a different lead vocal but overall I enjoyed it and thought it would be even better to see it live but it doesn’t allow the song to be seen properly. When Bruce began singing I finally remembered the song but from where? When I saw that Cash was on deck I knew that was the answer. Springsteen made so many right choices here. Opening Nebraska style building to a guitar solo that seemed unlike him(Tom Morello influence?) then the choral group finish. Murdered it! And we get to see a happy Lily Tomlin. But I still voted Cash and ai think his version informed Bruce. The song is like a parable and Johnny’s delivery is straight out of the biblical reading. No frills, just truth. Few can impart the stark reality the way Cash, Cave, Waits, Townes and Nebraska Bruce.
Cash’s version holds a special memory. I was playing it while doing some work in my office at home & my son Erik, who was about 15 came in and asked a bunch of questions about it. We had a great discussion about it & he became a fan that day. He just takes over songs & makes them his own. His daughter, Rosanne, had a hit with Tennessee Flat Top Box, great song for her………until I heard Johnny do it. It’s just not fair.
Sting has made a lot of good songs both with the Police and solo. But this ain’t one of them. Cash’s rendition makes it sound like his song, not Sting’s. Johnny all the way.