IMHO, any attempted remakes of original hits are insults to the original artists and show me a lack of artistic ability to write their own songs.
Nonsense. Some people do better than the original. Although this one is Glen Campbell’s signature, so nobody does it better. I think of “Moon River” and Jerry Butler performed it better than Andy Williams.
I'm not sure I agree with that. There are a number of 'covers' of famous songs that are excellent (or at least that I like)
Some covers I thought were excellent:
Bobby Darin's version of 'Mack the Knife'
The Righteous Bro's version of 'Unchained Melody'
Van Halen's version of 'You Really Got Me" (no offense to the Kink's)
Louis Pima's version of "Just a Giggolo'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CodmlmxpZeQ&feature=related
You’re welcome to your opinions, but facts matter.
One fact is that the so-called “original artists” are frequently NOT the authors of “their” songs.
Another fact is that the idea of a song being the exclusive property of its author or “original artist” is entirely a XX Century innovation.
IMHO, the distinction between “original artist” and “cover version” is risible, and an artifact of the wide availability of electro-mechanical sound recording and playback apparatus.
IMHO, music is a performing art, and is truly experienced only by a live audience in the physical presence of a live artist. Anything else (recordings, transmissions, etc) is a poor substitute.
I would prefer to sit in a bar with a real, live musician singing eg. “Wichita Lineman”, than hear the recording of Glenn Campbell re-played and transmitted over radio.