Songs Remade by Singer of the Opposite Gender, But Gender Words Not Changed

[Brian556]

When this happens, it sounds strange. You wonder, why did they not alter the song to fit their gender? This is odd because not changing the gender words makes that artist sound as if they are gay. These songs are the only ones I've heard with lyrics that suggest homosexuality. Heck, even Elton John, whom is "out of the closet" does not make his orientation obvious in his music.

One example is when Joan Jett remade "Crimson And Clover" ; which was originally by Tommy James and the Shondells.
The lyrics say: " I don't hardly know her, but I think I could lover her".

A more recent example is when Victoria Justice, backed up by fellow castmates, sang the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back"
This performance was broadcast on Nickelodeon, which is geared towards a younger crowd, which makes this one more surprising)

Also, The Band Perry, sang "Fat Bottomed Girls". Their lead vocalist is female. (It wouldn't really work to change this song, though)

[jwolfer]

Its quite common for female singers to sing as a point if view as a male.. Like Joan Baez on  "the night the drive old Dixie down" or emmylou Harris  covering " the boxer" to name 2.. Many more examples.. I can't think of any males singing  in the point of view as  female.   Although I remember singing in church choir the Magnificat, which is the virgin Mary's song of praise about being chosen to bear the son of God, having bass and tenor parts

[Duke87]

Heck, even Elton John, whom is "out of the closet" does not make his orientation obvious in his music.

He's more open about it in his newer works. Listen to "Just Like Noah's Ark".


Anyways, for another example of the original point: "There She Goes" was originally sung by a male singer for The La's. When covered by Sixpence None The Richer the lyrics were unchanged despite the vocalist being female.

[spooky]

I think it's stranger to hear a cover where they do change the gender, since you become so accustomed to hearing it the original way.

[1995hoo]

You mean the opposite sex?

[roadman65]

I think it's stranger to hear a cover where they do change the gender, since you become so accustomed to hearing it the original way.

Its funny you mention that as at Christmas time (coming real fast) you will hear Faith Hill cover Burl Ive's song Holly Jolly Christmas and Miss Hill does change the famous line "Kiss her once for me" to "Kiss him once for me" and it sounds so strange to hear that.

Then in the song Gypsy Queen by The Who, which was written for the Rock Opera Tommy, it seems so weird to hear Townsend, who sang the song, say that he is the "Gypsy Queen."  Even Air Supply doing the song Power Of Love changes the words, despite the vocalist for Air Supply is believed to be like Elton John and George Michael in his sexual orientation.  Also in previous songs the same man used to sing the feminine roles of duet type of love songs as Air Supply's guitarist would sing the masculine parts.

[golden eagle]

Bananarama had a #1 hit with a remake of Shocking Blue's "Venus" in 1986.

George Michael remade Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me".

I don't know who it is, but a female vocalist remade "Captain Of Her Heart" from Double.

[Roadrunner75]

I believe Alanis Morrissette did a cover of the Police's "King of Pain".  I think I only heard her version once or twice at most, but I seem to recall her using both 'King' and 'Queen' in different parts.

[Pete from Boston]

Heck, even Elton John, whom is "out of the closet" does not make his orientation obvious in his music.

He's more open about it in his newer works. Listen to "Just Like Noah's Ark".


Anyways, for another example of the original point: "There She Goes" was originally sung by a male singer for The La's. When covered by Sixpence None The Richer the lyrics were unchanged despite the vocalist being female.

Isn't the "she" in "There She Goes" heroin anyway?  I know the denials came out decades later, but i thought those were understood to be an older, wiser attempt at legacy-scrubbing. 

[roadman]

Carole King and Gerry Goffin wrote "Hey Girl", which was performed by Freddie Scott.  In the late 1970s, Carole King performed it on her Pearls album, but didn't change any of the lyrics.

[SteveG1988]

[6a]

Its quite common for female singers to sing as a point if view as a male.. Like Joan Baez on  "the night the drive old Dixie down" or emmylou Harris  covering " the boxer" to name 2.. Many more examples.. I can't think of any males singing  in the point of view as  female.   Although I remember singing in church choir the Magnificat, which is the virgin Mary's song of praise about being chosen to bear the son of God, having bass and tenor parts

Be Good Tanyas did a version of Lakes of Ponchartrain in this manner.

[Duke87]

Heck, even Elton John, whom is "out of the closet" does not make his orientation obvious in his music.

He's more open about it in his newer works. Listen to "Just Like Noah's Ark".


Anyways, for another example of the original point: "There She Goes" was originally sung by a male singer for The La's. When covered by Sixpence None The Richer the lyrics were unchanged despite the vocalist being female.

Isn't the "she" in "There She Goes" heroin anyway?  I know the denials came out decades later, but i thought those were understood to be an older, wiser attempt at legacy-scrubbing.

Who knows. You will always have varying interpretations. It's even entirely possible that one artist intended it that way while the other did not.

Indeed, considering that Sixpence None The Richer is ostensibly a "Christian" group, for them to sing about drug abuse would be just as "out of character" as for them to sing about homosexuality.

[Pete from Boston]

Yes, all of this is clear. But my point is, if the rumors are true, there is no real gender reversal involved then there would be were it about a car.  It is my understanding that there are not multiple genders of heroin.

It is a pointless academic debate (as if anything on this board is anything else) to discuss whether when someone covers a song they're covering the original meaning for some new feeling they choose to take from it.  But I think if you're going to use a work that is written about something in particular, like it or not you inherit the intent behind it.


Appendix A:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/song-about-heroin-used-to-advertise-bank,1489/

[Pink Jazz]

I don't know who it is, but a female vocalist remade "Captain Of Her Heart" from Double.

That would be contemporary jazz singer Randy Crawford.  That version is played sometimes on Sirius XM's Watercolors channel.