MUSIC: "If No One Will Listen"

It's taken me a little while but I finally figured out why I love the song "If No One Will Listen" from Kelly Clarkson's fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted, so much. Two related reasons, actually. The first is that I've actually heard the song before Clarkson recorded and the second is that it was written by the incredibly talented and virtually unknown singer-songwriter Keri Noble, who's 2004 Fearless album is the location of the original recording of the tune.

"If you find your fists are raw and red from beating yourself down
If your legs have given out under the weight
If you find you've been settling for a world of gray
So you wouldn't have to face down your own hate"

The delicate piano-driven song about finding confidence is a masterpiece in Noble's hands, as she composed it inspired by personal struggles. Clarkson does it justice as well, with her slightly trembling and vulnerable lightly-accompanied voice. It's exciting that Noble's song has been recorded by such well-known artist; despite the fact that this will not be one of Clarkson's singles, it is still a high-profile stage for Noble's work. If you don't already have this track, download it from either (or both) of these fine lady's CD's and look for more of Noble's work in the future!

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: "Need You Now" cover

A great song is a great song, no matter the genre. About a month ago, Sergio ZONINO!ed the Lady Antebellum hit single "Need You Now". Not being a huge fan or follower of country music, it took me a second to figure out why the version I heard recently by R&B group, Ahmir, sounded so familiar.

The cover, done in four-part harmony with standard R&B stylings, holds true to all the pain, longing, and angst of the original version. Though not a duet this time around, the lyrics and message are just as powerful. The new single is available on iTunes so go download it now!

Buzzy

MUSIC: "The Way You Look Tonight" Maroon 5 cover

So the much-hyped romantic comedy, unoriginally titled "Valentine's Day", starring pretty much everyone, opened last weekend and basically got slammed by every film critic with a means of communication*. Too bad...

At least the sound track has some shining points. Namely, the Maroon 5 cover of the 1936 Fred Astaire song "The Way You Look Tonight". Now, this song has been covered by many an artist in the last 70 some years by the likes of Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett to Olivia Newton-John, Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé with varying degrees of success. What I love about the Maroon 5 version is that it doesn't try too hard. The band stays faithful to the swinging elated vibe of the tune but don't sacrifice a thing when it comes to lead singer Adam Levine's soaring and slightly nasal tenor. A good cover should be different and interesting but recognizable and respectful; Maroon 5 succeeds on all accounts.

Buzzy

*I have not actually seen "Valentine's Day" so this is in no way an endorsement or damning of the film...I'm just here to do the tunes today!

MUSIC: "Stay" cover

One of my all-time favorite country songs of all time is the beautifully tragic and powerful "Stay" written by Jennifer Nettles and performed by her band Sugarland. The song is sung from the point of view of "the other woman" in a cheating relationship, begging the man to stay with her instead of going back to his wife. It is sad and heartbreaking and, in the end, the mistress gets up the strength to get back on her feet and walk away, effectively telling her lover to stay where he is.

I heard recently that a cover of the song was being released by British ex-boybander Ronan Keating. Keating clearly is a fan of country music as he has recorded the bluegrass staple "When You Say Nothing At All" as well as dueted with LeAnn Rimes on the moving "Last Thing On My Mind."

Keating's version of "Stay," off his recently released Winter Songs, while not quite capturing the angst and quivering sadness that only Nettles could muster, is still a decent effort. The song is ambiguous enough that, with a few noun changes, easily suits a male's perspective just as well as the original does a female's. ZONINO! to covering a great song well!