While the gay internet collectively explodes over Lady Gaga’s alternate Country Road version of “Born This Way”, we thought we’d call attention to a whole other reinvention of a huge pop hit. Remember that Adele character and her song “Rolling In The Deep”? The one we recently retired from our Weekly Top Ten countdown?
Well, John Legend covered that shit, and it’s fucking incredible. We weren’t initially sold after the first listen. Frankly, it seemed like he was straining his voice too much. Yet with a few more spins, we were absolutely addicted to his soulful rendition of the track. Someone should start a petition for John Legend to cover every song in existence. Preferably while naked.
– Dewitt
To listen to John Legend’s cover of “Rolling In The Deep”, follow the JUMP:
Want to download John Legend’s version for free? Simply click the down arrow on the player above. There’s a chance that may have been totally self-explanatory, but we didn’t want any of you to miss out on it. PS: The track doesn’t sound half bad as a mash-up with the original!
Frankly, I’m not impressed. Adele’s cover is more soulful by FAR. She puts a lot more feeling into it. Legend’s voice is strained (and cracks slightly) in spots where the voice just barrels out full force on Adele’s original version (and you get the feeling she could belt it even more powerfully if she wanted to).
Right there with ya Javier… It’s like she has such control over her power… And he was trying to force it in spots…
I’m fine with his strained voice. I actually kind of like it. But I’m unimpressed with the musicality. I get that it’s a cappella, but it just seems pretty underwhelming. If his cover was backed by similar bass and percussion sensibilities, it would be pretty amazing.
I get what you’re saying. It’d be a good cover, but as far as my personal tastes go, Adele’s voice has a lot more texture and character to it than Legend’s does. He’s got a really smooth, soothing voice, but there’s not a lot of personality to it, in my eyes. Admittedly, though, I don’t listen to a lot of his stuff.
I like that he does it like an old “Negro spiritual,” but his voice isn’t strong enough to hit the notes in the chorus, which quite honestly surprised the hell out of me. “Kinda pitchy,” as Randy would say on American Idol.
I liked it, had a bit of gospel tinge to it in spots with the choir. A beat may have helped.
I LOVED IT….AMAZING …i know its not adele status BUT STILL AMAZING
Oh goodness, I never even began to compare it to Adele. It’d be hard to find ANYONE to match Adele. I was thinking of the song as a stand-alone/an entity that I kind of assumed that we all agreed couldn’t be as good as Adele’s. I guess what I was saying was that if Adele didn’t exist, John Legend’s song was pretty good.
I can agree with that. It shows a lot more personality than any of his records that I’ve heard. And he DOES have a nice voice.
OMG SO ORGASMIC”””’
Actually after listening to this version I don’t think that I can go back to listening to Adele’s. The straining and cracking is kind of his signature, and I think that the song is better for it. It kind of shows that he is putting his all into it, more than she did. I agree it would be better with a beat.
This guy is so overrated.
Hated it so much I had to turn it off!
Dewitt:
I know you hate Kesha, but are you going to be reviewing her new remix dance album? It is actually quite good, especially the remixes of Your Love is My Drug, Blow, Sleazy, and her new song Fuck Him He’s A Dj.
The album came out on Tuesday, and it’s called: I am the Dance Commander