Two of the biggest artists in the game and I am an avid listener of neither. Now don’t get me wrong; I don’t hate either of them. I actually rather enjoy Fiona Apple and I haven’t heard enough of Elvis Costello to really form an opinion (I know, and I call myself a music blogger. Leave me alone, we’re all still young enough to discover great shit!). I just really haven’t had a chance to really get into their entire catalogs. All of you people shaking your fists right now won’t have to worry anymore, though. For these two individuals have performed one song in such a way that makes me wish I wasn’t such a lame for not giving them enough of my ears.
“I Want You” is a very powerful song that Costello perfects by almost sobbing the lines “I want you” several times throughout the song. The more the song goes on, the more intense and crazy he gets for this person he’s longing for. The church organs definitely send a creepy vibe that adds to the crazy in Costello’s voice. It reminds me of The Phantom of the Opera because the song conjures up images in my head of an obsessively screwy shadow at an organ.
My favorite line in the song is “I want you/He tossed some tattered compliment your way/I want you/And you were fool enough to love it/When he said ‘I want you.'” It’s such an amazing line that pretty much encompasses all his bitter feelings into a few lines (with a little irony, too!).
What makes this song so great is that it starts off soft and sweet with, “Oh, my baby, baby/I love you more than I can tell/I don’t think I can live without you/And I know that I never will” which is placed over an acoustic melody. But once you get past the few sweet lines Costello sings, the song takes a turn with the few quick presses of a whammy bar. The piano organs kick in and so does Costello’s stalker personality. The song is overall kinda creepy but flippin’ amazing because of all the emotions he is able to convey with his lyrics and his voice.
Fiona Apple’s version of the song starts off the same way only instead of an acoustic guitar, she uses her ever-present piano. Apple is known for her piano work and she sticks with what she knows in this cover, but the live version actually features her singing with someone else on piano with Elvis Costello accompanying her on the guitar.
When it comes to her voice, she conveys her emotions very powerfully as she is known to do. Her voice becomes increasingly powerful and gravelly as the song continues, letting her emotions take over just as Costello’s did in his version. My only gripe is that I’m not sure about the voice itself. I’ve never heard her live before this version of the song but it can be very shaky at some points, which I am not a fan of at all (think Brandon Flowers in the past couple of albums by The Killers). Other than that though, the piano playing coupled with Costello’s guitar work is fantastic and she definitely matches the emotions expressed thoughout the song.
Both Elvis Costello and Fiona Apple do an amazing job of performing this song. The heartache is actually felt through your headphones, no matter who is singing. Since Costello and Apple are known for their heart-felt and powerful songs, both versions of “I Want You” are incredible! I can’t decide which I like better … Well, I’ll just say this: I’m a sucker for keys so I’m leaning towards Fiona Apple. But it’s not by a lot! Seriously, listen to both versions and I’m sure you’ll want to add both to your collection!
Elvis Costello (Nevermind the tacky video. It was either that or something some random person made. Just close your eyes and listen!)
Fiona Apple feat. Elvis Costello
Ok, here we go. I hope you know that when Mr. Costello wrote Blood and Chocolate (the album “I Want You” is on), he had recently been divorced. In the write-up you say that he’s “stalkerish,” which I wouldn’t agree wit…h. It’s not him stalking her, it’s what he visualizes. The mind can be more powerful than fact. He doesn’t see or hear of the actions that transpires between the woman and this other S.O.B. figure. What he sees and hears is in his mind’s eye. Bitter, damaged, hurt, angry and full of pain and possibly near psychosis is the route I’d go. As far as Fiona is concerned, I’m going to say that she doesn’t compare to Mr. Costello’s version. Also, that’s the album where he referred to himself as “Napoleon Dynamite,” so suck it, Napoleon Dynamite movie fans!