BonosBaby12 said:I thought it was good but honestly I prefer when U2 when perform it alone.
After an impassioned "Vertigo," U2 teamed with Mary J.
Blige on "One." Unfortunately, the pitch-impaired soul singer sucked the
air out of the soaring song."
Utoo said:Thought it sucked.
And I'm kind of tired of people saying that those of us who don't like it are simply resistant to change. Give me a new version/arrangement/etc. and I'll decide if I like it or not based on my own personal tastes. I can think a new arrangement is good even if it's not the original---if I think the performance, etc., is actually good.
One is powerful because it's like Edge's music in general----it has this slow, dry, electric build in intensity that just barely gets you to the climax by the end, leaving your whole body energized & wanting more. You can change it a little....throw in some vocal acrobatics...sure...it can still be good. But when you simply belt a dozen extra notes and writhe your body and scrunch up your face-----that kills the power of One. Premature ejaculation, if you will.
Listen to Johnny Cash's version of One. Different genre. Different arrangement. Kick ass version. An understated yet emotional performance--matching the intended power of the song. Imagine an old, old Johnny Cash..in his final years...singing it. I'm not a country fan, just like I'm not an R&B fan....but Johnny Cash was able to recognize and keep the power in One. MJB jumped the gun in power and ended up stripping it all away.
Here's the Cash version: http://www.save file.com/files/8664334