oh come on... :/
Why did Jahmene change the lyrics from 'him' to 'her'?
2 of 5
Originally Posted by callym1980:
“I don't care if he is gay or straight but changing the gender reference spoiled the song for me & stopped me tapping into it.
He also didn't add his own stamp to it at all, he might have 'the voice' but he sure as 'eck doesn't have 'the personality'.”
“I don't care if he is gay or straight but changing the gender reference spoiled the song for me & stopped me tapping into it.
He also didn't add his own stamp to it at all, he might have 'the voice' but he sure as 'eck doesn't have 'the personality'.”
I have to say I agree. I was saying to my other half, he has got a good voice, but there's no personality there. I then felt a little guilty saying that as he seems a nice enough bloke, but he just doesn't 'shine' for me!!
Originally Posted by jende:
“I have to say I agree. I was saying to my other half, he has got a good voice, but there's no personality there. I then felt a little guilty saying that as he seems a nice enough bloke, but he just doesn't 'shine' for me!!”
“I have to say I agree. I was saying to my other half, he has got a good voice, but there's no personality there. I then felt a little guilty saying that as he seems a nice enough bloke, but he just doesn't 'shine' for me!!”
too soft has no spine ,
Originally Posted by InsomniacParade:
“Read the lyrics to Killing Me Softly. All of you. It is not a song about a lover. The "him" that is "killing her softly" is a musician, not her lover. Had Jahmene stuck to the original lyrics, it would not have made it a gay version because it is not about a lover.
And that is why I am much more saddened that they changed his lyrics than I am about Jade's or anyone else's. It was not done to match Jahemene's heterosexuality. It was not done to hide Jahmene's homosexuality. It was done because otherwise some knuckle draggers might completely misinterpret the lyrics and decide he is gay and not vote for him as a result. I am saddened by the fact they catered to those people.”
“Read the lyrics to Killing Me Softly. All of you. It is not a song about a lover. The "him" that is "killing her softly" is a musician, not her lover. Had Jahmene stuck to the original lyrics, it would not have made it a gay version because it is not about a lover.
And that is why I am much more saddened that they changed his lyrics than I am about Jade's or anyone else's. It was not done to match Jahemene's heterosexuality. It was not done to hide Jahmene's homosexuality. It was done because otherwise some knuckle draggers might completely misinterpret the lyrics and decide he is gay and not vote for him as a result. I am saddened by the fact they catered to those people.”
Why did Johnny Mathis change it to "her" in his cover of the song? Why did Al B. Sure change it to "her" in his cover? Or Engelbert Humperdinck? Or Perry Como? Or Gene Pitney? Or John Holt?
Because for some people, a stronger connection is made when the singer is the gender that they are attracted to, especially when the singer is singing a ballad. If they are singing about love and the listener believes that all of the lyrics are directed at them, then they get "killed" in the sense that a "ladykiller" kills ladies - by sweeping them off of their feet. Since Jahmene is straight, it is perfectly plausible to think that he would be swept off his feet by a female singer singing about loving her man, and Jahmene thinking that he is the man in the lyrics.
Originally Posted by lightblues:
“Probably cos he's straight and wanted to lyrics to reflect his sexuality.
In my opinion he should have left this song alone as its best sung by a woman about a man”
“Probably cos he's straight and wanted to lyrics to reflect his sexuality.
In my opinion he should have left this song alone as its best sung by a woman about a man”
^^This
Originally Posted by InsomniacParade:
“Read the lyrics to Killing Me Softly. All of you. It is not a song about a lover. The "him" that is "killing her softly" is a musician, not her lover. Had Jahmene stuck to the original lyrics, it would not have made it a gay version because it is not about a lover.
And that is why I am much more saddened that they changed his lyrics than I am about Jade's or anyone else's. It was not done to match Jahemene's heterosexuality. It was not done to hide Jahmene's homosexuality. It was done because otherwise some knuckle draggers might completely misinterpret the lyrics and decide he is gay and not vote for him as a result. I am saddened by the fact they catered to those people.”
“Read the lyrics to Killing Me Softly. All of you. It is not a song about a lover. The "him" that is "killing her softly" is a musician, not her lover. Had Jahmene stuck to the original lyrics, it would not have made it a gay version because it is not about a lover.
And that is why I am much more saddened that they changed his lyrics than I am about Jade's or anyone else's. It was not done to match Jahemene's heterosexuality. It was not done to hide Jahmene's homosexuality. It was done because otherwise some knuckle draggers might completely misinterpret the lyrics and decide he is gay and not vote for him as a result. I am saddened by the fact they catered to those people.”
I so agree with you. It irritated the hell out of me that they changed the lyrics from 'his' to 'her'. He isn't singing about a lover but a musician ffs! Spoilt it and was completely unecessary imo!
Originally Posted by InsomniacParade:
“We all know what, just out of interest?
Because I get the feeling that the thing we are all supposed to know is not really relevant in this case.”
“We all know what, just out of interest?
Because I get the feeling that the thing we are all supposed to know is not really relevant in this case.”
It is, not to you, but it is.
Originally Posted by troyston:
“So pathetic. He's not gay.”
“So pathetic. He's not gay.”
How is it pathetic exactly!?
Also, has there been a confirmation from him anywhere!?
Originally Posted by moose82:
“why does jade sing about men?????? who cares really as long as they give a good performance”
“why does jade sing about men?????? who cares really as long as they give a good performance”
The singers are obviously aware of the words they're singing, so they should sing the words that suit them...
I wonder If Will Young has changed the words to "Ever Green" yet, hmm...
Originally Posted by InsomniacParade:
“Read the lyrics to Killing Me Softly. All of you. It is not a song about a lover. The "him" that is "killing her softly" is a musician, not her lover. Had Jahmene stuck to the original lyrics, it would not have made it a gay version because it is not about a lover.
And that is why I am much more saddened that they changed his lyrics than I am about Jade's or anyone else's. It was not done to match Jahemene's heterosexuality. It was not done to hide Jahmene's homosexuality. It was done because otherwise some knuckle draggers might completely misinterpret the lyrics and decide he is gay and not vote for him as a result. I am saddened by the fact they catered to those people.”
“Read the lyrics to Killing Me Softly. All of you. It is not a song about a lover. The "him" that is "killing her softly" is a musician, not her lover. Had Jahmene stuck to the original lyrics, it would not have made it a gay version because it is not about a lover.
And that is why I am much more saddened that they changed his lyrics than I am about Jade's or anyone else's. It was not done to match Jahemene's heterosexuality. It was not done to hide Jahmene's homosexuality. It was done because otherwise some knuckle draggers might completely misinterpret the lyrics and decide he is gay and not vote for him as a result. I am saddened by the fact they catered to those people.”
Do you really think homophobic people would watch the X-Factor...?
The song was supposedly originally about hearing Don McLean sing. Jahmene has said that Whitney Houston was very important to him, so maybe he's just fitting it to a singer that moves him in the same way as the writer was moved by McLean.
To the average listener it's probably just like a love song and it's sensible to make it gender appropriate for that reason too.
More importantly, who gives a...
To the average listener it's probably just like a love song and it's sensible to make it gender appropriate for that reason too.
More importantly, who gives a...
umm...I am missing something here - X fctor often get people to change lyrics so they are singing about theother sex... so a guy singing about "her" would make sense - why does this make him gay? Surely it would be the opposite?
Originally Posted by squillion:
“umm...I am missing something here - X fctor often get people to change lyrics so they are singing about theother sex... so a guy singing about "her" would make sense - why does this make him gay? Surely it would be the opposite?”
“umm...I am missing something here - X fctor often get people to change lyrics so they are singing about theother sex... so a guy singing about "her" would make sense - why does this make him gay? Surely it would be the opposite?”
It doesn't, the point is some people will think he changed the lyrics because he is trying to hide something and is not comfortable with his sexuality, be that gay or straight. If he was completely comfortable he would have left the lyrics alone as he would have nothing to fear in doing so.
The song is about Don McLean. Maybe he changed it to be about Roberta Flack. Clever move by the genius that is Jahmene.
Originally Posted by WoahOh:
“The song was supposedly originally about hearing Don McLean sing. Jahmene has said that Whitney Houston was very important to him, so maybe he's just fitting it to a singer that moves him in the same way as the writer was moved by McLean.
To the average listener it's probably just like a love song and it's sensible to make it gender appropriate for that reason too.
More importantly, who gives a...”
“The song was supposedly originally about hearing Don McLean sing. Jahmene has said that Whitney Houston was very important to him, so maybe he's just fitting it to a singer that moves him in the same way as the writer was moved by McLean.
To the average listener it's probably just like a love song and it's sensible to make it gender appropriate for that reason too.
More importantly, who gives a...”
Well put.
Originally Posted by *Jupiter*:
“Changing gender-related words ruins the rhyme-scheme and therefore cannot be sensible.”
“Changing gender-related words ruins the rhyme-scheme and therefore cannot be sensible.”
No it doesn't. How could swapping he for she change the "rhyme-scheme"?!
I thought he did well but for me the song will always be owned by Hugh Grant in About A Boy. I don't think there will ever be a better version
Originally Posted by GunterJPN:
“Why did Johnny Mathis change it to "her" in his cover of the song? Why did Al B. Sure change it to "her" in his cover? Or Engelbert Humperdinck? Or Perry Como? Or Gene Pitney? Or John Holt?”
“Why did Johnny Mathis change it to "her" in his cover of the song? Why did Al B. Sure change it to "her" in his cover? Or Engelbert Humperdinck? Or Perry Como? Or Gene Pitney? Or John Holt?”
Exactly. I've heard this song sung by many different artists over the years. Changing the gender reference is not an X Factor first!
Heavens - what a load of fuss about nothing. 
Singers have been changing the words of songs to suit their gender for ever!
Surely the most important thing is that Jahmene sang fabulously.
Singers have been changing the words of songs to suit their gender for ever!
Surely the most important thing is that Jahmene sang fabulously.
Changing the gender reference actually ruined it for me. It's not about a lover and it didn't need to be done.
They did it with Danyl and they did it with Craig too.
It wasn't needed and it sounded totally out of place. Jahmene is definitely the best vocalist in the competition but I thought he was awful last night- I really couldn't understand why the judges were praising it so much.
They did it with Danyl and they did it with Craig too.
It wasn't needed and it sounded totally out of place. Jahmene is definitely the best vocalist in the competition but I thought he was awful last night- I really couldn't understand why the judges were praising it so much.
Changing the original gender used in songs from masculine to feminine or vice-versa is pretty standard fayre in the history of pop/rock......
Countless artists have done it, including openly gay artists..
I happen to think that Jahmene is gay, but I'm not reading anything into the decision to change "his," to "her."
I happen to think it "sounds," better with "his," and some songs the masculine, or feminine doesn't have any sexual/love connotations, like "Rocket Man," for example..
If he'd sung "his," it wouldn't've worried me in the slightest, nor did it matter to me in the slightest that he changed it.
If he'd sung "his," no doubt a number of people would've been screaming.."there you go, that proves it...he IS gay."
Rich.
x
Countless artists have done it, including openly gay artists..
I happen to think that Jahmene is gay, but I'm not reading anything into the decision to change "his," to "her."
I happen to think it "sounds," better with "his," and some songs the masculine, or feminine doesn't have any sexual/love connotations, like "Rocket Man," for example..
If he'd sung "his," it wouldn't've worried me in the slightest, nor did it matter to me in the slightest that he changed it.
If he'd sung "his," no doubt a number of people would've been screaming.."there you go, that proves it...he IS gay."
Rich.
x
Originally Posted by InsomniacParade:
“And that is why I am much more saddened that they changed his lyrics than I am about Jade's or anyone else's. It was not done to match Jahemene's heterosexuality. It was not done to hide Jahmene's homosexuality. It was done because otherwise some knuckle draggers might completely misinterpret the lyrics and decide he is gay and not vote for him as a result. I am saddened by the fact they catered to those people.”
“And that is why I am much more saddened that they changed his lyrics than I am about Jade's or anyone else's. It was not done to match Jahemene's heterosexuality. It was not done to hide Jahmene's homosexuality. It was done because otherwise some knuckle draggers might completely misinterpret the lyrics and decide he is gay and not vote for him as a result. I am saddened by the fact they catered to those people.”
I agree with you
I couldn't give a flying one about Jahmene's preferences, what I do care about is his singing. I also couldn't give a flying one about the change of words from him to her, again I care about his singing.
I honestly think that this thread is a waste of space and I'm saddened that I had to enter it to comment.
I honestly think that this thread is a waste of space and I'm saddened that I had to enter it to comment.
Originally Posted by WoahOh:
“The song was supposedly originally about hearing Don McLean sing. Jahmene has said that Whitney Houston was very important to him, so maybe he's just fitting it to a singer that moves him in the same way as the writer was moved by McLean.
To the average listener it's probably just like a love song and it's sensible to make it gender appropriate for that reason too.
More importantly, who gives a...”
“The song was supposedly originally about hearing Don McLean sing. Jahmene has said that Whitney Houston was very important to him, so maybe he's just fitting it to a singer that moves him in the same way as the writer was moved by McLean.
To the average listener it's probably just like a love song and it's sensible to make it gender appropriate for that reason too.
More importantly, who gives a...”
Excellent post, totally agree.
2 of 5
