Joan Osborne - 'Cathedrals'

[Cersey87]

without knowing the original song, I could like this...

[voltaman33]

I know this is a cover, but give her a break geez. I think she sings it like an angel.

[314aloneinthedark314]

i heard her do it live on npr; it was much better than this version

[sarahhalder]

what the hellll...ahhhhh. Jay, why?

[taolad]

terrible. ruined a great song. totally anemic.

[Cersey87]

@taolad word!

[zglobalnomad]

Not nearly as good as Jay.

[ianwilson2007]

good job.. but Jay sang it better in concert than his original recording (too fast)

[coconnel51]

Good. But, not Jay.

[seanreillyireland]

Real nice.

[mariasolarus66]

Oh god. I don't believe this is live!!!  If I could have any c.d. on a desert island it would be her "Relish." My band is finishing an EP right now and I would kill to sound like her.

[thatlibra]

As long as she dosn't try and take credit for writing this one like she she did with JLC's "Mexico" like I saw on an interview...... she claimed she wrote it.. she didn't I know JLC personally, What a terrible thing to do

[tishhead]

@thatlibra if you have a clip or a story about that interview, i'd be very interested in seeing/hearing it. it would be completely out of character for joan. first, she is a terrific songwriter who doesn't need to take credit for anything she hasn't written. second, i've seen her in concert many times and she goes out of her way to mention the writers of covers that she does. that doesn't mean you're wrong, but i'd like to see it for myself.

[collypink]

Ive always loved Joan osbourne, this is so beautiful, ive just downloaded this album.

She has such an amazing voice.

[danielexr]

the two most rated comments are so funny if red together... and this one should be the third most rated comment! ah ah!

[vackraste1]

inspired and wonderful

[michaelwilliam]

This is a brilliant version. Joan can do no wrong. Vocally Stunning as usual.

[kilran1]

Really bad version. She brings nothing to this song.

[derekific]

@kilran1 Neither does your worhtless comment.

[nycounterpoint]

Hmm. Definitely not nearly as great as the original.

[VernMLeon]

I really like this version, even after reading everyone's comments regarding the Jump, Little Children version. This version reaches is effective to me, at least.

[BSokolowski16]

I have to agree with stringofBinary. Although this isn't terrible, to me she turns it into an almost dance hall upbeat sound. The song was originally written about one of the darkest times in someone's life. I understand that the song has different meanings to everybody. I guess I just disagree with her interpretation of it.

[StringofBinary]

JLC is better. at least on the cd.

[SandrelliFrancesco]

amazing

francesco

[aaronrazz]

Amazing voice and beauty! I like her red shoes "...just go home" like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz? Nice...

[driveonshesaid]

Brilliant, perfect, beautiful. Like everything she sings.

[musicgeek525]

Yes, driveonshesaid...couldn't agree with you more. What an amazing talent!

[PauleQueenie]

Happy New Year 2010 to all

[rocketman1582]

Just a little thought about finding out just where home is. Notice the red shoes? There's no place like home, there's no place like home. Like it a lot.

[eucalyptus144]

we danced to this in dance class today. it was intensee if you put your emotions into it

[daveinprogress2]

not sure why others find her lacking in emotion or interest. Personally I think that Joan performs this song with her requisite intensity and skill. She is one amazing singer, interpreter and performer. The album Little Wild One one of her best. Go Joan!

[gagothesith]

DAVEINPROGRESS2

> why others find her lacking in emotion or interest

> ... performs this song with her requisite [sic]

> intensity and skill

The answer to the question in the first line above actually appears in the third line: there is vocal prowess and then there is ability to impart emotion--the two are not the same ... also, there is emoting and then there is emotion--the two are not the same.

. . .

[gagothesith]

Take Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey--two of the most powerful voices today. But they are more about vocal prowess-able to overwhelm and awe us when they display vocal calisthenics. But are we moved to tears as often, or as intensely as the force they put into the singing? No.

Ditto Joan Osborne with this song--she has the voice and she emotes, but she does not feel the emptiness that the are supposed to be imparted not just by the lyrics but in the emotion in the singer's voice.

. . .

[gagothesith]

Other examples:

1 Declan Galbraith when singing "Love of My Life" with no sign of being heartbroken

2 Ruthie Henshall elegantly singing "I Dreamed a Dream"

[stifledbabsie]

I apologize, but this is not a good cover. She sings it without emotion, making it seem tedious and boring. If she likes this song so much, I wish she'd make that clear instead of making it seem like she was forced to sing it.I hope people listen to the original version to hear how it's supposed to sound.

I was listening to it in my room one day and my mom came in to tell me "that guy really knows how to sing!" She's never said that before or since about any other musician I listen to.

[eddiemcgregory]

yeah, this isn't much of a cover. It's got zero soul

[gagothesith]

STIFLEDBASIE and EDDIMCGREGORY are right. Whoever put a thumbs down on the former's comment was dumb.

[iceddante]

This is an interesting cover- Joan Osborne is capable of great emotion and subtlety but she completely skips all that and opts for an almost sterile rendition. The music video emphasizes that with cheezy editing and cinematography alongside the actors in the pew who seem to be bored out of their minds.

I think she's making a commentary on the church and how the ceremony and tradition has rendered the arts completely flat.

[brightmeadow1375]

Love the Jump, Little Children version better. Just fitting for the Everwood Season 1 finale.

[thesuntheneonlight]

borrrrrrrrrring. jump, little children(Y)

[moriarty1887]

Its just a song about churches and stuff, chill your boots kids.

[gagothesith]

MORIARTY1887

> Its [sic] just a song about churches and stuff

That makes as much sense as asserting that "faith and religion are just about kneeling, singing, bobbing while mumbling, and drinking wine".

[mrsthursday]

@gagothesith

don't like the song. love joan though. Gave up going to church when I noticed it was more like a social club. People comparing cars, clothes, etc. who needs that. i get that at work.

[alvisfolk]

Faith and religion? Why that's nothin gmore than kneeling, singing, bobbing etc etc...haha see what I did there? Moriarty is right, chill out little children. To be fair, both versions are shit.

[gagothesith]

Yes, we all saw what you did there, or tried to do--you tried to be cute, amused yourself, and failed on the former nonetheless.

[alvisfolk]

I certainly amused myself, I even laughed out loud at my wit. I feel both the former, and indeedy the latter part of my response won the day. This round to me I think...yesssss! 1-0

[gagothesith]

More ONANISM for your ego.

[alvisfolk]

Oh absolutely, you love it. This is too easy...

[gagothesith]

Re-learn the meaning of "onanism". Then try again.

[alvisfolk]

1 -O...your turn.

[kiiraeii]

what could you possibly mean by saying that the song was "subtly flawless." If you were trying to sound sophisticated, you might want to do that while making sense as well.

[lutiea3]

damn the Jump, Little Children version is the original. And it's a million times more incredible than this cover. The pain and turbulence of someone's life is actually felt in that version. This one is just emotionless and a sad attempt at commercializing a truly subtly flawless and ethereal original.

[engine22emt]

If JLC's version wasnt commercial as well you wouldnt know of it.

[lutiea3]

Actually, given that my family is from Charleston where the band originated, so don't worry, I definitely knew the song before it was "commercial" & please don't talk about my music taste & knowledge like you have a clue. Thanks so much!

[moriarty1887]

Oh so your family live near where they maybe once stood, wow you must have a pretty intense relationship with JLC.

[jackzipes]

I really like this song, this is the original. Have you heard of Jump Up You Little Children? They sing a good version too as wel

[delijdewolfe]

i think that was a typo jackzipes. Joan Osbornes version is the cover. Jump Little Childrens is the original.

[habershamdawg]

Miss Osborne has a beautiful voice, and she uses it well on this. However, this version seems way too electronic and overproduced. The JLC version, with all of the strings backing it, seems closer to the heart of song's message.

[Beatty003]

Okay....so she did a good job with the song and everything....but it's just empty and meaningless compared to JLC. I'm not the only one to think this. Elton John personally called JLC to tell them how amazed he was with it. If you can't understand it on youtube BUY THE CD. You can understand everything and is SO much deeper than this.

[engine22emt]

Elton John smokes poles

[ballstaedt23]

that was horrible compared to the original

[Forestski]

I LOVE this song - - such an amazing melody - - it could go on forever... Joan shines on this song!!

[seer29]

I like how she sings this.I was always a big fan of hers.

[Silverbugle2005]

I'm sorry, she completely misses the spirit of this song... For those of you bashing Jump Little Children because you can't understand the singer, listen to them doing it on their CD, Magazine. Jay Cliffords voice has SO much more depth and nuance than Youtube gives him credit for. Musically he far excedes Miss Ozborne

[engine22emt]

1st learn how to spell her name.

secondly I can understand both versions and like each for it's own reasons.

and 3rd, "musically" he is a child compaired to her.

[delijdewolfe]

No offense intended...If you understand and like both versions, then why are you calling Jay a child, musically? Isn't that a bit asinine or am I reading your reply wrong?

[engine22emt]

you are reading it wrong.

I like JLC a lot of the music is great, I just really like Joan

[Tigerlilly91]

I think JLC's version is a million times better..

[26110]

I found this song by accident and love it , I have also looked at JLC's version and think it's crap compared to this... sorry, but how can you say it's better, you can't understand any of it, it's rubbish! don't care if it's their song first, she does it better....

[marquito1]

I just saw her in Alexandria, VA and she was great! This is a great version too!

[Jessiekanncan]

This song plays all the time at my work and it just pisses me off. JLC does a much better job. I remember going to see them at the art center in NC in 2001 or 2002 and when he sang this song a handful of people had to leave because it was making them cry. Joan you ruined it.! You don't have the soul for this song.

[engine22emt]

Why would you be pissed, I like both but an a Joan fan. I think it is the song that move me.

[Jessiekanncan]

It pisses me off because it's annoying that it's always playing, and it pisses me off that her version gets radio play when it is their song and they did a better job.

You wouldn't be pissed because you like it. I do not.

Get it?

[engine22emt]

No....I don't get it. Why would you let a song get you so upset? that is just childish.

Just a note radios play popular tracks, so.... just maybe.....more people simply like her version.

[Jessiekanncan]

I'm sorry who's the one starting an argument over youtube? Please leave me alone.

[engine22emt]

What? dont post an opinion in public if you dont want people to respond

[gopjigga]

jump little children's version is way better. Considering they wrote it.

and there is much more feeling in the way jay clifford sings it. this is too cheesy.

[mistressone]

As much as I like Joan Osborne I much prefer Heidi Talbot's version of this. I saw her live last night and she has such an amazing voice, much softer than this. Check it out for yourself.

[26110]

MUCH prefer this version than JLC's... don't like that chap's voice, hers is nicer...but the words are lovely, well written.

[Cinemastique]

It'd be neat if Jay did a duet with her, much like Faith Hill did a televised duet with Angie Aparo when she covered his song "Cry."

Also, when she sings "Listening from a safe distance," She is clearly lip-synching "Watching from a safe distance." Hrm.

[jhill2704]

I love her new cd-but this is my favorite on it

[MickeyP1973]

I agree. Everyone keeps dissing her version of this song, but I like it. :)

[gipsyfrontera]

beautiful!!!Joan is a angel..

[kbellg]

not even as close to as good as the origional jump little children's cathedrals!

[derekific]

@kbellg Never would've heard this song if it weren't for Joan. I've listened to both versions and - bias w/standing - I'll continue to listen to Joan. And I was pleased to read that JLC sent Joan a note expressing their compliments to her.

[capaburro]

Wow, she is such a piece of crap, always taking other people's great music and turning into steaming piles of crap. what a tool

[brandtlorne]

There's something mesmerizing about Jay's voice as it relates to the strings. The textures complement each other in a way that is just missing in Osborne's. The piano and metallic sounds just don't do it justice. It sounds too commercial. Of course Osborne is awesome-- no doubt. However, the drive in the original is just too infectious to overcome. Let's put a check in the original column on this one. Hopefully this isn't offensive to Osborne-- she's got plenty of great originals.

[thatlibra]

@brandtlorne

Agreed, she is great, but no Jay..... I have B-13 Lyrics tattooed across my chest b/c of how awesome he is, even though it was a song written by Evan

[michaelwilliam]

Simply Stunning.

[bousti999]

Jump did it better.  sorry.

[valkay9603]

Love, Love this beautiful,brillliant song..

[horacehog]

Joan sings this song beautifully.

[kingofsmiles]

I agree totally and I like the original version... so the big question is...

can I like both versions? is that okay with everybody because they are 2 different kinds of experiences, depends on what you need.

[kingofsmiles]

I think Joan Osbourne does sing it beautifully and I am ever so grateful that Jump, Little Children wrote this song and their version is beautiful also. But whatever we pick as a our favorite, I think we would all agree that this a gorgeous song but I would prefer that we all start talking about what this song means to us personally.

[ljcheer0600]

jumps is SO much better. this kind of makes me want to throw up..a bit. she made it sound like she wrote it in her interview

[jackzipes]

I think this is just a beautiful song. If you sing it with passion, and keep the simple, then it's faultless, timeless almost.

[virga1]

i miss jay's voice :(

[hmd1977]

I hate to stir up emotions here, but I agree, Joan didn't do this song Justice. Jump should keep this song. We should thank Joan for her efforts though:-)

HD

[top5lynn9]

I love JLC's as well. The celtic folk singer, Heidi Talbot, also does a cover. Joan's cover is pretty good, but I think I prefer Heidi's. You can see a performance on youtube.

[jackzipes]

good mention of heidi she does it fantastically, I saw her do it live and it was beautiful.

To be honest i hadnt heard the song till heidi sang it.

[BartolinoCat]

I thought she wrote that. Too bad she didn't but I love it nonetheless!!

[OokamiKun1]

What? This is nothing like her album "Relish". This is so slow soft and clean! What happened to the fun crazy Joan?

[thetempest1977]

Beautiful voice!

Thank you, Joan.

[rebeld0ll]

sorry I'm forever misspelling her last name...you all know what I meant though...haha

[rebeld0ll]

having been a jump fan for 13 years, I suppose I was preparing myself to hate it. But now that I listen to it, it really isn't that bad...I mean, come ON, it's Joan Osbourne!! Covers are never perfect(except for Jeff Buckley's version of "hallelujah"), Jump Little Children's version of this song will ALWAYS AND FOREVER be number 1 in my heart, but it's nice to be pleasantly surprised by another well-known artist singing it well :)

[cutigermer]

true...this song can never be done nearly as well as jay

[wonderfilly0709]

Saw her last night at the Highline Ballroom in NYC - when she sang this song, the heavens opened and her voice touched God. Absolutely amazing, a gift from God.

[leebohlen]

This is a beautiful version of a wonderful song. Joan is such an amazing singer, really gives me chills. I like both versions and it's sad that some of you are stuck with one way of feeling. Too bad, there's a million ways to interpret the world around you. Just let it be.

[Treadted2]

gross. This needs to be sung by Jay Clifford, and only Jay Clifford... ever.

[fusfus2]

hey I was also last night in Chicago and the due with Matt was great. I must admit that I always loved her since the relish album but watch her live for the very first time was such an incredible experience. her voice souns really powerfull. keep on singing girl!

[michaelwilliam]

I just saw her last night in Chicago...she was amazing. She dueted on this song with her opening act Matt Morris. It was beyond words. Thanks Joan for sharing your talent with the world.

[discorsage]

This isn't such a great cover.. but what's worse is that there's no credit to Jay Clifford or JLC.

[michaelwilliam]

I love this version...her voice lends so well to the lyrics. Her vocal/songwriting talent cannot be denied...she is one of the greats.

[AJMWriter]

Follow-up. Okay, okay. I've listened to Jump Little Children's version and...AAH! Not sure which one I like better. Guess it depends on my mood at the moment. Both are absolutely stunning in their interpretation of ther lyrics and add an element to them. Lovely. =)

[AJMWriter]

I just heard this this morning on my way to work and, taking cues from others, also listened to the JLC version as well. My sincere apologies to those who swear by the JLC version but, I think I prefer this one. Maybe it's the female voice or the piano or something...not quite sure, but something about this version just brings on the chills for me even deeper than the original. However, complete and total props to JLC for, without them, there would be no gorgeous song to speak of!

[talismangirl]

Saw Joan perform this last night as a duet with her opening act, Matt Morris at the Bellyup in Solana Beach. Amazing and Moving. I like the Jump Little Children's version, but Joan's voice really adds a richness and melancholy to this lovely piece.

[Huggy1959]

Personally, I like this version...but I also like Enya and Shaina Noll.

The Jump Little Children version is OK, but I do like this version better.

[ebaldwin]

This is a tragic rendition of a beautiful song by Jump Little Children. Honestly, there should be credit given to the original creators of this song in the description section of this video, but they were probably afraid people would hear the original and never listen to Joan Osborne's two-bit version again. This is awful!

[Legendhouse]

I like her voice better in this song.

[lololovin24]

Ok so please do not tell me that she is trying to copy a Jump Little Children song. This is horrible and people, please listen to the original. This sounds horrible.

[joncooke83]

Is this for real? Wow...I'm truly speechless. I think the only good part about this video were her red pumps *sarcasm*. Horrid video and a complete disgraceful rendition of JUMP LITTLE CHILDREN'S beautiful song. Look them up, you won't be disappointed.

[jodimastro]

why did she change the lyric from "someone is watching from a safe distance" to "someone is LISTENING from a safe distance"?!?!

[bousti999]

no, those are the lyrics in Jump's version as well.

[arkey82]

Love you Joan Osborne!

[koowley]

Dear Joan Osborne, I don't know if you'll ever read these words but just in case you do, I forgot to mention that I think I just might be your biggest fan! The beauty of this music .. has no means for human discription. It a launguage of it's own. Maybe it is the laungage of Angels and somehow you know it and we hear it.

[alexhesemann]

Actually it's the language of Jay Clifford. Do yourself a favor and listen to the original. Ponce.

[onelasssttime]

The original is better

This is nice though

[SamfrickinRaimi]

Check Joan out - she's on tour with her new disc now!

[jayscott444]

Heard this haunting song last week on the 9-11 anniversary.

Beautiful voice and melody.

Very moving...

[flooker5]

God is one of us!

[jarbucky]

:'(

[YoungTubersUnited2]

I love Joan, she was awesome in the Dead and when she sang with Blues Traveler

[DebraHatle]

It is so good to see and hear you again. I met you years ago at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA. You are still wonderful. My favorite is still "Spider Web". I can't wait to hear your new album. I agree with the comment about having other people in your video - except when the musicians were playing. Having them sit next to you in the pew - looking bored out of their minds didn't add anything. But, again it was so good to hear and see you!

[QueenQuill]

Such a beautiful song!  I'm really glad to hear more of Joan Osborne...she's so very talented.

[theanalogfuture]

massacre.

[tpauth]

Very nice version of the Jump, Little Children song.

[steelmagnolia52]

MORE JOAN!!!!!!!

She has a voice that melts hearts.

[archpoppy]

Nice work by Ms. Osborne, but not much point in seeing anyone else in this video.