Charice - not alone in singing covers

Years ago when there were the overlapping presence of two audio formats—CD and cassette tape—and the absence of the one-click-of-the-mouse technology, I had the need to transfer a personal selection of songs from CD’s to one cassette tape. It was a trend at that time and the sound system then was called ‘component’ which had the ability to play a CD and record any song from it on a blank cassette tape. While browsing through the CD’s at home, I noticed that “Beautiful” was included in three different albums by three different artists. I got curious and I wanted to find out if they were different songs with the same title or the same song sung by different artists. So, I played the one by Barbra Streisand, one of my favorite artists. Then, I listened to the two others—by Carole King and Richard Marx. They were all the same song and they were all great versions.

After that, I got curious and went on to check out if there were other songs that had more than one version in the available CD’s. I found several more.

At that time, I did not know the term cover, cover song, or cover version. Dictionaries define it as a version of a previously recorded song that is either performed or recorded by a different artist. I was more familiar with the term revival which, at that time in my own culture at least, referred to a song that had almost been forgotten and brought back to life with a more contemporary beat, usually a danceable one.

Fast forward

In 2011, Charice was invited as a guest performer at the 8^th Annual Woman’s Day Red Dress Awards in New York. Charice sang “The Bodyguard Medley”—“I Have Nothing” and “I Will Always Love You” medley—and “I Will Survive.” Yes, they were covers. Some who viewed her performance at the event on YouTube reacted negatively (with a hint of frustration) and wondered why she had to sing covers and not her own songs. It was not the first time that they reacted that way. It was not the last time either. No matter what explanation Charice shared, like she needed to sing their requested songs, those viewers would not stop firing their negative views on her singing covers.

Charice has not stopped singing covers. Last year, in her solo concerts in different countries in Asia and Hawaii, dubbed Infinity Tour (to promote her Infinity album), she sang her own songs from the new album and her international self-titled debut album. She also sang covers like Someone Like You, Saving All My Life For You, Faithfully, The One That Got Away, Moves Like Jagger, and Run The World.

This year, for the past two months, Charice has guested in a number of shows of different Philippine TV stations. Although she sang her singles Pyramid, Louder, and Before It Explodes in some shows, she also did covers. There were shows that she guested in for the main purpose of giving interviews, but she would be requested to sing, usually songs that had special meanings to her. She would then sing songs with messages that she treasured. Among them were Titanium and Perfect.

Charice covers an OPM song "Kisapmata" 

on a Philippine morning TV show - Unang Hirit

Other covers she did on TV were collaborations with other Filipino artists. They were Skyscraper with a successful comedian-singer Vice Ganda, It Will Rain with one of the coaches of The Voice of the Philippines Bamboo Manalac, and Defying Gravity with another The Voice of the Philppines coach and Tony awardee Lea Salonga. She has also recently recorded covers of two OPM (Original Pilipino Music) songs, "Yakap" and "Give Me A Chance," for use in two soaps of a Philippine TV station.

After two years of listening to Charice covers, I wonder if those who had negative views on her singing “The Bodyguard Medley” and “I Will Survive” back in 2011 Red Dress Awards ceremony still have the same views today. I wonder if their number has remained the same or increased or lessened. I wonder what they think about an album with mostly cover songs.

Chapter 10 is 90% cover songs

Charice will release her 3^rd Philippine album on September 10, 2013. Charice chose the title Chapter 10 for the album because she wanted it to be like a book of her life. She has revealed that the album includes one original song and nine covers.

Yes, it is 90% cover songs. For barely two months in the making, it is a welcome surprise that she has included an original song in it. Did you know that the self-titled debut album of Michael Buble is 100% cover songs? He started recording in 2001 and the album got released in 2003.

Just to name a few

Many great artists have included cover songs in their albums. Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself” has been covered by Celine Dion and Frank Sinatra. Carole King’s “You’ve Got A Friend” is considered as one of the most covered English songs. The most popular version is James Taylor’s which was released simultaneously with Carole King’s in 1971. The song was later covered by Michael Jackson and Barbra Streisand.

In her new millennium concert Timeless, Barbra Streisand shared a funny anecdote before singing her next song in the set list. She told the audience, “One day, a number of years ago, I was in a cab on my way to a recording studio and the radio was on. I heard this girl singing and I thought, ‘What a pretty song! Why haven't I recorded that?’ So, when I arrived at the studio, I called the station…I wanted to know who the girl was. And they said it was me! I actually forgot that I recorded that one. It's one of the most beautiful movie themes that I've ever heard.” Barbra was referring to the song “Alfie” which was originally sung by Cecilia Black, but the one used in the movie of the same title was Cher’s version.

Like many artists, Barbra wants to record songs she loves. Lea Salonga is one such artist. In an interview during the height of the movie Evita, she commented that she was envious of Madonna because the latter got to record “You Must Love Me.” In that interview, Lea insinuated that she wanted to record the song.

Mistaken as originals

One commonly mistaken as the original version is Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” It was used in her movie with Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard. Kevin successfully achieved his aim to make a movie with a song that would be a great hit and be at the top of the music charts.

The song was written and first sung by Dolly Parton almost 20 years before the 1992 screening of The Bodyguard. It was originally a country song and it topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs when Dolly released it in 1974. This country song was also used in a Dolly Parton-Burt Reynolds movie Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982. It was, however, became part of a soundtrack for the first time in Martin Scorsese's film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

Great songs are covered by many great artists. It is inevitable that some covers may be mistaken as the originals. This is evident in the many seasons of American Idol. In its Season 10, for example, finalist Thia Megia referred to Michael Jackson as the original singer of her contest piece "Smile." She was corrected by her coach who said that it was a Charlie Chaplin's. The AI coach, however, failed to explain that although Chaplin composed the music and made it the theme of his 1936 silent film Modern Times, it was Nat King Cole who first sang the song, the lyrics of which had not been written until 1954 by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.

Other artists have covered "Smile." Charice covered the song in 2009 for Operation Smile, an international charity for children that she has been supporting. Her relatively more upbeat cover was used in the Operation Smile 2009 Year in Review video. I knew that “Smile” was not her original. I did not know, however, that “Note To God” was first recorded by Jojo. I first heard the song on Oprah when Charice sang and promoted it as her first international single. Her undeniably great rendition of the song triggered my cravings for more of her music, be it original or cover.

Do I mind her singing cover songs?

I love Charice’s versions of songs by other singers. When she sings, I hear not only the notes and lyrics but also her feelings. It is the heart of the listener that she communicates with. Charice, like many great artists, adds the fitting emotions for the benefit of the soul.

In the earlier mentioned concert Timeless, Barbra Streisand, before singing “Something Wonderful” from the Broadway musical The King and I, said, “The test of a great song, in my opinion, is not whether it went to number one but... Did it touch people's lives? and... Did it stand the test of time?”

A great song touches people’s lives. A great song needs great singers to bring it forward to future generations. So, do I mind Charice singing cover songs? No, not at all.