June 01, 2007
Gratuitous Friday Afternoon 80's Rock Question
This report about the Police drummer Stewart Copeland trashing the newly-reunited band's latest concert performance this week prompted me to float a question on which I've often pondered before:
Which version of "Don't Stand So Close To Me" do you prefer (and I mean the music, not necessarily the video)?
The original:
Or the '86 redo:
Personally, I've always enjoyed the latter more. The slower tempo and added effects give it a kind of nightmarish quality which I think goes well with the story line. Others say the faster tempo of the original makes it more "edgy" but to me it just sounds rushed.
(This post goes out to our old pal the Goldmonster.)
Yips! from Gary:
Oh yeah. The redo is much better. It's almost eerie sounding. The original sounds a little too tinny.
The second fits the subject better, but is too dated, with the synthesizers firmly entrenching it in the '80's. The first one is more timeless and just better music.
Either way, though, I could have gone without seeing a shirtless Sting...
Posted by: brainy435 at June 1, 2007 02:26 PMThe second version is, indeed, more haunting and truer to the sentiment of the song. The original, though, has a delightful irony in its chipper tone and upbeat tempo.
I like 'em both.
J.
Posted by: Jay Tea at June 1, 2007 04:15 PMWell, the Sleepys cast 2 votes for the original. In the oh-so-profound words of Tim, the second one is "weird." :) I have to say I agree that sums it up quite nicely.
Posted by: beth at June 1, 2007 06:37 PMI own and listen to both. The original is, well, the original. Like Star Trek (The original series), you just won't better it. That said, the remix rocks, and many a motorcycle attack upon dangerous curves has been accompainied by my i-Pee, Pie, Piddly, Pod blaring the remix into my ears.
To hell with decisions. I avoid 'em when possible.
Posted by: Hucbald at June 1, 2007 07:37 PMOriginal. Simpler and better.
Posted by: The Colossus at June 1, 2007 08:28 PMI'm a remix fan myself, and I was a Police fanatic while it happened (Still have a Synchronicity Tour Jacket). The wonderful 1995 CD called "Every Breath You Take: The Classics" has all of the essential Police on it. Not only does it have both versions of DSSCTM, but it has two versions of Message in a Bottle as well.
Oh yeah: All the cuts are digitally remastered and the engineer was a genius: Phil Nicolo.
Posted by: Hucbald at June 3, 2007 10:41 PMBut, I repeat myself.
Posted by: Hucbald at June 3, 2007 10:43 PMI like the "Cure"-influenced riffs in the remake, but the rotating video is rediculous. Overall, I much prefer the original music and video.
...people with a yahoo email account cant post here anymore?? DISCRIMINATION!
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 