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Word Up and Unchained Melody

starry_runestarry_rune Posts: 9,006
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in Music #1
Lots of people have covered them. Word Up is particularly interesting as its been done by

Cameo - soft Rock / synth
Korn - proper rock
Mel B - R & B
Little Mix - pop

If you ask me that's how it should be, each artist doing their own take and taking it into a new genre.
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  • AneechikAneechik Posts: 20,208
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    #2
    I like the Korn version best.
  • AdamDowdsAdamDowds Posts: 2,598
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    #3
    starry_rune wrote: »
    Lots of people have covered them. Word Up is particularly interesting as its been done by

    Cameo - soft Rock / synth
    Korn - proper rock
    Mel B - R & B
    Little Mix - pop

    If you ask me that's how it should be, each artist doing their own take and taking it into a new genre.

    Like Tainted Love, all three versions massively different. My favourite is the Soft Cell version.
  • thewaywardbusthewaywardbus Posts: 2,738
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    #4
    Was also covered by a band called Gun
  • misslibertinemisslibertine Posts: 14,306
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    #5
    AdamDowds wrote: »
    Like Tainted Love, all three versions massively different. My favourite is the Soft Cell version.

    Mine is Gloria Jones', but I did buy the Marilyn Manson version as a teenager.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    #6
    starry_rune wrote: »
    Lots of people have covered them. Word Up is particularly interesting as its been done by

    Cameo - soft Rock / synth
    Korn - proper rock
    Mel B - R & B
    Little Mix - pop

    If you ask me that's how it should be, each artist doing their own take and taking it into a new genre.

    for me, cameo nailed it. we often prefer the version we heard first, and 'word up' is no different. i dont rate mel b's version nor little mixes which are piss poor.
  • InkblotInkblot Posts: 26,889
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    #7
    starry_rune wrote: »
    Lots of people have covered them. Word Up is particularly interesting as its been done by

    Cameo - soft Rock / synth

    Surely Cameo was a funk band?
  • Kiko H FanKiko H Fan Posts: 6,546
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    #8
    starry_rune wrote: »
    Lots of people have covered them. Word Up is particularly interesting as its been done by

    Cameo - soft Rock / synth
    Korn - proper rock
    Mel B - R & B
    Little Mix - pop

    If you ask me that's how it should be, each artist doing their own take and taking it into a new genre.

    Gun did the 'proper rock' cover of Word Up.
  • jrajra Posts: 48,325
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    #9
    starry_rune wrote: »
    Lots of people have covered them. Word Up is particularly interesting as its been done by

    Cameo - soft Rock / synth
    Korn - proper rock
    Mel B - R & B
    Little Mix - pop

    If you ask me that's how it should be, each artist doing their own take and taking it into a new genre.

    Cameo - Word Up isn't a cover version. They came up with the original.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_Up!_%28song%29
    Inkblot wrote: »
    Surely Cameo was a funk band?

    Indeed.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_%28band%29

    =

    Cameo - Word Up (12" Version)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtYQvlCcuns
    mushymanrob wrote: »
    for me, cameo nailed it. we often prefer the version we heard first, and 'word up' is no different. i dont rate mel b's version nor little mixes which are piss poor.

    Cameo did some real classics, like She's Strange, Single Life, Candy, Back and Forth, Attack Me With Your Love.

    Attack Me With Your Love - Cameo (1985)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Dubymeyvw

    Cameo - Back and Forth [12 inch club mix]
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzJUmFqD-RA

    Cameo - Candy
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkOUCOIk_-o

    Cameo - She's Strange (12" Funk 1984)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuwv_U3fjnw

    And the lesser known.
    Urban Warrior - Cameo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WhzKsfKs9I

    etc.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_discography
  • grimtales1grimtales1 Posts: 46,695
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    #10
    Kiko H Fan wrote: »
    Gun did the 'proper rock' cover of Word Up.

    That was the version I heard first :) Whenever I think of the song I think of that version for some reason :D
  • mgvsmithmgvsmith Posts: 16,458
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    #11
    Inkblot wrote: »
    Surely Cameo was a funk band?

    Absolutely, Cameo are a funk band not a soft rock band.
    I had the album on cassette.
    Also, Korn went through a distinct Hip Hop phase as I recall. Not that that was bad thing.
    AC/DC would be more like a 'proper' rock band.
    And Little Mix are essentially an R n'B group based on their output so far.


    Best version is Cameo with it's sense of knowing humour and Morricone sample.
  • jrajra Posts: 48,325
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    #12
    Just for completeness.

    CAMEO. "Single Life". 1985. album version "Single Life".
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO0e5SjapJQ

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Life
  • gasheadgashead Posts: 13,818
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    #13
    starry_rune wrote: »
    Lots of people have covered them. Word Up is particularly interesting as its been done by

    Cameo - soft Rock / synth
    Korn - proper rock
    Mel B - R & B
    Little Mix - pop

    If you ask me that's how it should be, each artist doing their own take and taking it into a new genre.
    BIB - ooh, that's practically heresy round these parts. ;-)
  • Heston VestonHeston Veston Posts: 6,495
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    #14
    Didn't Red Box do a version? Oh wait - that was Cameo... :D
  • InkblotInkblot Posts: 26,889
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    #15
    Still on a Cameo tip...

    Love You Anyway - one of my favourite Cameo songs. Slap bass, EarthWind & Fire style horns, groovy sax solo and scat vocal/jazz guitar duet... they literally don't make 'em like that any more.
  • Kiko H FanKiko H Fan Posts: 6,546
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    #16
    grimtales1 wrote: »
    That was the version I heard first :) Whenever I think of the song I think of that version for some reason :D

    It's on their album "Swagger". It's a brilliant album, but people know it for this cover version!
  • cnbcwatchercnbcwatcher Posts: 56,681
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    #17
    I've only heard the Little Mix version :blush:
  • mimicolemimicole Posts: 50,998
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    #18
    I like Korn's version of Word Up.
  • jrajra Posts: 48,325
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    #19
    cnbcwatcher wrote: »
    I've only heard the Little Mix version :blush:

    Cameo were a great group in their time. I have a couple of their double 12" (very) limited vinyl releases. As far as I'm concerned they are priceless and worth a small fortune. I don't intend to sell them right now, but when or if the time comes, I wouldn't settle for less than £200 each as a minimum.
  • Steven88Steven88 Posts: 1,883
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    #20
    misslibertine wrote: »
    Mine is Gloria Jones', but I did buy the Marilyn Manson version as a teenager.

    Imelda May's version is my favourite, I think the Soft Cell version is one of the worst versions it just sounds so dated and weak to me and it's too slow.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMOgSdc8OAI&feature=kp
  • DumdedumdumDumdedumdum Posts: 1,639
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    #21
    Little Mix's version is quite R&B I thought.
  • jrajra Posts: 48,325
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    #22
    CAMEO- she´s mine
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePKJ-FwuuCU
  • 0...00...0 Posts: 21,111
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    #23
    Cameo and GUN versions pee all over the others.
  • MicrokorgMicrokorg Posts: 2,670
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    #24
    Cameo were awesome
    Alligator woman, secrets of time , keep it hot
    All top notch
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 631
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    #25
    Grew up with the Cameo version and its still good now. I know its for charity but Little Mix have done it no justice.
  • DRAGON LANCEDRAGON LANCE Posts: 1,424
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    #26
    Cameo were great fun! Shame a lot people forget about them now despite the seemingly timeless appeal of Word Up. Their own version of the track rules, but agree with the people bigging up the Gun version too, it just raaawks!

    Unchained Melody was a good song for artists to cover...and then the Robson and Jerome version happened...
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