Tune du Jour: “I Won’t Back Down” – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Pearl Jam vs. Bootstraps vs. Reel Big Fish vs. Lucinda Williams
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
CoverMeImpressed.blog CoverMeImpressed.blog CoverMeImpressed.blog
Official Song of the Gators …
The Original
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers:
Exceptional Cover
As he did with so many songs late in his career, Johnny transforms this one into his own … you’d swear it was his and not a cover and, as such, it would have been unfair and ridiculous to include it in a competition with others. As many of you have echoed, Johnny was a flat out special talent and particularly remarkable late in his career.
Johnny Cash:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Pearl Jam vs. Bootstraps vs. Reel Big Fish vs. Lucinda Williams
Pearl Jam:
Bootstraps:
Reel Big Fish:
Lucinda Williams:
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 
Classic Tom tune and attitude that the Gators appropriated as their own …
Vedder’s voice is perfectly in tune for a song of this caliber although the delivery feels a bit subdued.
Bootstraps choose a more airy and ethereal take on the number, which, at times works but often does not.
Love Reel Big Fish. Always lots of fun. Would love to catch these guys live. Here they offer a competent cover but this song just does not seem to be in their wheelhouse … the material is too thoughtful for these goofballs …
Love Lucinda’s voice and, given her struggles with alcoholism, this song would appear to be heartfelt.
Eddie vs. Lucinda … both admirable efforts … going with the Pearl …
Well, I surprised myself with this one. I’m a big Pearl Jam fan and I love Eddie’s voice. I’m okay with an artist fiddling with the melody here and there, but I found his deviations uninspired.
Lucinda Williams is another artist who seems to do everything superbly, and I did like her version here. But…
I have no idea who Bootstraps is/are, but I was totally taken with their ethereal, jangly, moody version. Mellow, hypnotic… I really loved it. They got my vote.
I’m not the biggest Tom Petty fan on the site (don’t tell Frankie). I never paid much attention to this song until I heard the version by Cash.
Not crazy about the non-Cash versions, but voted Lucinda Williams for her vocals. Her candidacy was helped because I’ve enjoyed some of her previous material.