There are a heck of a lot of covers to be found on YouTube of Damien Rice's spiritually bankrupt and hopeless, but nevertheless hauntingly beautiful song, '9 Crimes.' I think Damien Rice is pretty hella whiny and angsty, but I do like this song a lot--I like how it gives rise to a lot of different interpretations, on piano or guitar, by men and women, boys and girls, some terrible, some wonderful.
I originally wanted to post on all the homegrown talent on YouTube doing covers of popular songs in their bedrooms/living rooms, but it's practically old news, especially with the rise of Marie Digby and her debut album (I love how she's singing in front of a white pleather couch on one of her early videos, and a dog wanders into the room on another).
But then I realized many of my favorites did some version of '9 Crimes.' Interesting. So here are some of them:Sleeve
By far my favorite. Yes it looks like they're a couple of goofball ass-clowns (is that a towel on his head?), but the second they start playing you're hushed by the very masterful fingering and even the boys' voices. Awesome. Kiersten Holine
I love this girl's voice, even if it's a bit jazzy for this song. Fabulous control, just a sprinkling of vibrato, effortless and lovely. Her guitar isn't bad. I first found her through her rendition of Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I Am," which is just fantastic. Almond96
Ignore the skull cap and beer gut, and you'll find a really sensitive and nuanced rendition. Love it. Jennifer & John Yi
Super young twin sister and brother, as easy on the eyes as they are on the ears. Their interpretation is very deliberate, correct, almost choral. One might say it kind of strips the original meaning from the song, but it's still enjoyable. Check out Jennifer's rendition of U2's "With or Without You" also. Here's the original:
Definitely creepy. The Best of the Rest:1. Captain Burrito - They get props for adding "impromptu" tributes to Vanilla Ice, Salt n Pepa's "Shoop," and Bone Thugs n Harmony's "Crossroads" at the end.
2. Matteo Cocconcelli - I can't really take him srsly because he's so silly making love to the mic like that, plus he pronounces all his i's like ee's. But that's some lovely guitar-pickin'.
3. CSandman - Lovely piano, and she gets her voice to sound like she's about to cry, which is perfect for the song. Plus she's pretty. Timing's a bit off, but not bad!
By far my favorite. Yes it looks like they're a couple of goofball ass-clowns (is that a towel on his head?), but the second they start playing you're hushed by the very masterful fingering and even the boys' voices. Awesome. Kiersten Holine
I love this girl's voice, even if it's a bit jazzy for this song. Fabulous control, just a sprinkling of vibrato, effortless and lovely. Her guitar isn't bad. I first found her through her rendition of Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I Am," which is just fantastic. Almond96
Ignore the skull cap and beer gut, and you'll find a really sensitive and nuanced rendition. Love it. Jennifer & John Yi
Super young twin sister and brother, as easy on the eyes as they are on the ears. Their interpretation is very deliberate, correct, almost choral. One might say it kind of strips the original meaning from the song, but it's still enjoyable. Check out Jennifer's rendition of U2's "With or Without You" also. Here's the original:
Definitely creepy. The Best of the Rest:1. Captain Burrito - They get props for adding "impromptu" tributes to Vanilla Ice, Salt n Pepa's "Shoop," and Bone Thugs n Harmony's "Crossroads" at the end.
2. Matteo Cocconcelli - I can't really take him srsly because he's so silly making love to the mic like that, plus he pronounces all his i's like ee's. But that's some lovely guitar-pickin'.
3. CSandman - Lovely piano, and she gets her voice to sound like she's about to cry, which is perfect for the song. Plus she's pretty. Timing's a bit off, but not bad!