Steve Songs That Ed Sings Better Than Steve Did

[AnotherHeartbreak]

Here post what songs that were originally sung by Steve that are now sung by Ed, who's version sounds better in your opinion.

For me they are:
Old Apartment (I get a whole new rocking experience with Ed's version)
TITNIFAATW (Steves version always made me emotional, but something about Ed's version brings a tear to my eye)
What a Good Boy

[Liam]

Wow.

After 21 years of Steve singing those songs, I for one am not prepared to jump ship and suddenly proclaim that Ed now "sings them better" after seeing a few Youtube recordings.

Just my opinion but I think that's a little hasty!!

[AnotherHeartbreak]

Wow.

After 21 years of Steve singing those songs, I for one am not prepared to jump ship and suddenly proclaim that Ed now "sings them better" after seeing a few Youtube recordings.

Just my opinion but I think that's a little hasty!!
It's all a matter of opinion.

[designerfox]

Here post what songs that were originally sung by Steve that are now sung by Ed, who's version sounds better in your opinion.

For me they are:
Old Apartment (I get a whole new rocking experience with Ed's version)
TITNIFAATW (Steves version always made me emotional, but something about Ed's version brings a tear to my eye)
What a Good Boy
I haven't heard What a Good Boy sung by Ed yet, but I agree on the other two.

[mistee84]

The thing is, it's a whole new voice, and a whole new experience. Of course, it's whatever you're comfortable with as well.

I love Steve's voice on What a Good Boy, but something about Ed singing it just makes it so raw and so different. I love it.

[tvfan721]

How about none?

[Belyha]

I think it comes down to different, not so much to better. Steve was such an integral part of the music pre-split, and the voice is undeniable. And he and Ed seemed to be like yin-yang-polar opposites that fit and made the other better.---But while Steve has the voice, Ed has the emotional accessability. Both have talent, wit, depth-but with Steve, it just seemed to me that the pain that created such great music also created a bit of a emotional barrier :((probably necessary) between him and the world, whereas Ed can sing an emotionally rich song with depth and true feeling, and still be open and connected and at ease with each person in the audience.- He is just good at everything- it would be incredibly annoying if he didn't come across as so open, genuine, and nice.:)

[garyrulez]

Well said, Belyah- different voices, different styles, different emotions delivered and received...

[JaneInANutshell]

I second that. Well-said, Belyha. That openness and emotion are what I enjoy most about Ed's singing. Steve has a terrific voice, unquestionably, but songs are always open to the singer's interpretation. In this case it's not better or worse, just different. (In a good way!)

[Hidden Sun]

Just because you have a pro-Ed, anti-Steve bias doesn't make everything that Ed does somehow "better". I'm glad that Ed has the confidence to sing Steve-lead songs, as he should. After all, they are continuing on as "Barenaked Ladies", not "Barenaked Ladies minus every Steven page lead song".

[Shardith]

I think Ed, Kevin, Jim, and Tyler decided these songs weren't going to be abandoned, but redesigned and redefined and kept in the BNL lineup. The new versions with Ed are very enjoyable as were the old versions with Steve. I'm not going to slap a label "better" on either one.

[Appleblossom28]

I think it comes down to different, not so much to better. Steve was such an integral part of the music pre-split, and the voice is undeniable. And he and Ed seemed to be like yin-yang-polar opposites that fit and made the other better.---But while Steve has the voice, Ed has the emotional accessability. Both have talent, wit, depth-but with Steve, it just seemed to me that the pain that created such great music also created a bit of a emotional barrier :((probably necessary) between him and the world, whereas Ed can sing an emotionally rich song with depth and true feeling, and still be open and connected and at ease with each person in the audience.- He is just good at everything- it would be incredibly annoying if he didn't come across as so open, genuine, and nice.:)

I agree with your post 100% they each had their own personally voice wise. Steve was always the emotional live wire of the band. I remember in the book Tyler saying that sometimes Ed can be annoying because he's so open and nice. Whatever Ty!

[cuddlemonkey]

I think it comes down to different, not so much to better. Steve was such an integral part of the music pre-split, and the voice is undeniable. And he and Ed seemed to be like yin-yang-polar opposites that fit and made the other better.---But while Steve has the voice, Ed has the emotional accessability. Both have talent, wit, depth-but with Steve, it just seemed to me that the pain that created such great music also created a bit of a emotional barrier :((probably necessary) between him and the world, whereas Ed can sing an emotionally rich song with depth and true feeling, and still be open and connected and at ease with each person in the audience.- He is just good at everything- it would be incredibly annoying if he didn't come across as so open, genuine, and nice.:)

To me, that's the joy of listening to Steve. When he's singing some of the more emotionally-draining songs, I always get the feeling that the world ceases to exist and all he wants/needs to do is get it out. To be witness to that is pretty powerful, to me.

That being said, Steve singing WAGB is very high on my list of musical loves, so I might be a little biased. :)

[Belyha]

To me, that's the joy of listening to Steve. When he's singing some of the more emotionally-draining songs, I always get the feeling that the world ceases to exist and all he wants/needs to do is get it out. To be witness to that is pretty powerful, to me.

That being said, Steve singing WAGB is very high on my list of musical loves, so I might be a little biased. :)

I agree with you, and don't mean to imply that Steven lacks in the emotional department, but that it is so intense and personal with him, that he doesn't have the ease of connecting-I don't think it is that he doesn't want to connect, but that he feels very deeply and hurt makes you protect yourself. He is such a complex human being with such a clever quick mind and big, bruised heart, and I think it is powerful, like you said, but sometimes uncomfortable as well. I have been worried about him since the first time I listened to Gordon. His tweets sound happy these days, but I still fret and hope he really is doing better. Clinical depression is really tough, once it gets ahold of you, you have to fight against it always.:(

[Appleblossom28]

I agree with you, and don't mean to imply that Steven lacks in the emotional department, but that it is so intense and personal with him, that he doesn't have the ease of connecting-I don't think it is that he doesn't want to connect, but that he feels very deeply and hurt makes you protect yourself. He is such a complex human being with such a clever quick mind and big, bruised heart, and I think it is powerful, like you said, but sometimes uncomfortable as well. I have been worried about him since the first time I listened to Gordon. His tweets sound happy these days, but I still fret and hope he really is doing better. Clinical depression is really tough, once it gets ahold of you, you have to fight against it always.:(

The one think about Steve that I always admired. I love how he moves me with his voice. I listened to the live version of WAGB with my family yesterday and my mum says that song still hurts when she listens to it. Steve is a powerful singer, dispite all his other personal issues.

[McGerkey]

COULD'VE SWORN I'D ALREADY POSTED IN HERE.

Anyway, I think Ed pulls a lot of the "Steve" songs off well enough. Like has been said ONE HUNDRED BILLION TIMES in here, it's not so much better/worse than just different.

Except Brian Wilson. I've only seen one video of them playing it as a 4 piece with Ed singing, and it was really kind of not good. They should probably leave that song alone. Ed's voice just doesn't work at all and it seemed awkward as hell.

Or maybe that was just the 1 video and they've been getting better at it since. Maybe they'll play it when I see them in Boston and I will change my mind completely. Wouldn't be the first time this year the band has raped my expectations and proved that they are still gods among men.

Or some shit.

[tvfan721]

I agree with you, and don't mean to imply that Steven lacks in the emotional department, but that it is so intense and personal with him, that he doesn't have the ease of connecting-I don't think it is that he doesn't want to connect, but that he feels very deeply and hurt makes you protect yourself. He is such a complex human being with such a clever quick mind and big, bruised heart, and I think it is powerful, like you said, but sometimes uncomfortable as well. I have been worried about him since the first time I listened to Gordon. His tweets sound happy these days, but I still fret and hope he really is doing better. Clinical depression is really tough, once it gets ahold of you, you have to fight against it always.:(

I think your kinda blowing it out of proportion. What makes you think Steve has suffered from depression that badly and for so long? I know he was depressed in his early years and during Born On A Pirate Ship but when else?

[Belyha]

Well, in my experience, if you have true, clinical depression-you always struggle with it- but also obviously things were not all smooth sailing w/him circa 2007-2008? Just guessing.:rolleyes: Of course, it is "just my opinion":rolleyes:

[tvfan721]

Well, in my experience, if you have true, clinical depression-you always struggle with it- but also obviously things were not all smooth sailing w/him circa 2007-2008? Just guessing.:rolleyes: Of course, it is "just my opinion":rolleyes:

That's true, I forgot about 2007/2008. I don't know, his music overall from Stunt to E2E seemed pretty upbeat for the most part.

[Belyha]

That's true, I forgot about 2007/2008. I don't know, his music overall from Stunt to E2E seemed pretty upbeat for the most part.

Tvfan, are you for real?:p You "forgot" that? I'd like to ... Anyway, maybe I don't usually (read: pretty much NEVER) agree w/what you say here- it may be sometimes irritating, but it is never dull...I am going to go try that selecive memory thing.;)

[tvfan721]

Tvfan, are you for real?:p You "forgot" that? I'd like to ... Anyway, maybe I don't usually (read: pretty much NEVER) agree w/what you say here- it may be sometimes irritating, but it is never dull...I am going to go try that selecive memory thing.;)

The reason why I forgot is because although Steve may have been depressed during 2008, he looked happier and more charsimatic on stage in 2008 than any time I remember. Remember, I said before that I thought 2008 was Steve's best year live. I know no one agrees with me but Steve's 2008 performances were my favorite ever. So it's easy for me to forget that he was unhappy during that time because it wasn't obvious.

[Kawltie]

Wouldn't be the first time this year the band has raped my expectations and proved that they are still gods among men.

Or some shit.

:D ahahahah!!! Yeeessss....

[Anaria]

I like the songs both ways. I haven't spent a ton of time listening to them, just two concerts. My only dislike is Sound of Your Voice, which is done by Kevin, not Ed. I know he wrote it, but I feel like he just doesn't have a strong enough voice for it.

[Appleblossom28]

Steve hit rock bottom in 1994. Drinking and crap.

[garyrulez]

So....Steve hit rock bottom 14 years before he was arrested with a relatively large amount of cocaine?

Huh.

[Cynful1]

CUT cocaine. Crap really. Not enough to convict him, which made it a TAD bit embarrassing. I rock star with "cocaine" that wasn't even cut enough to convict them? Hmmm....:o

[Appleblossom28]

I think Steve got off easy. The man is complex but an amazing singing so I dunno depressed or not or whatever.

[McGerkey]

CUT cocaine. Crap really. Not enough to convict him, which made it a TAD bit embarrassing. I rock star with "cocaine" that wasn't even cut enough to convict them? Hmmm....:o

This is one of my favorite posts on this website.

[Amicustoall]

"that wasn't even cut enough to convict them"

What does that mean?

Cynful you must have some inside information

[McGerkey]

He was Steve's dealer.

[Sean]

It must feel weird having random people write about your personal life on a message board, god bless the internet.

Going back on topic, you can't compare the two of them singing steves songs in my opinion, i look forward to hearing how they all pull them off live later in the year.