I listened to both studio versions of these songs several times late last week to try and get a sense of which one worked the best for me. I decided I liked the Rodgers one better, but I'm probably predisposed to preferring it in the male voice so perhaps Kerry never had much of a chance. Still, I think he hits the emotional points with a more compelling simplicity and to better effect, though the acoustic treatment has a particular charm too. Brian has recently said he wrote it with Kerry in mind. Plausible? Was it a good call? Does her particular talent justify the position she seems to hold as his muse? What was the purpose behind the title change? What is the song about? These are the things I wonder. :) Kerry's version Paul's version
I wasn't bored by Kerry's rendition. I thought it was luminous. To me this song is about dreams and ambitions we have for ourselves that "glitter" in our imagination - most will not act to make them come true perhaps thinking they are unreachable goals - it's only with age and maturity that we come to realize that those dreams were like gold, like gifts, and we should have gone for them. Because the song is wistful I like the acoustic treatment on this version with Kerry.
Sir GH wrote: Nah, you love him. You even had to say it twice .. it's the guilt ! =============================================================================================
Brilliant! Comedy gold!
Back on topic, I really love this song and both versions work for me - but it's Paul's version that just edges it.
In response to QueenUSA, couldn't have put it any better - spot on!
I totally agree with Zebonka.
As for Kelly being the "muse" of the song, I prefer to think he had her in mind as the singer he wrote the song for. He wrote some for Paul Rodgers, and I really don't think Paul was Brian's muse.
Cheers,
Ogre-
queenUSA wrote: I wasn't bored by Kerry's rendition. I thought it was luminous. To me this song is about dreams and ambitions we have for ourselves that "glitter" in our imagination - most will not act to make them come true perhaps thinking they are unreachable goals - it's only with age and maturity that we come to realize that those dreams were like gold, like gifts, and we should have gone for them. Because the song is wistful I like the acoustic treatment on this version with Kerry.
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@ Everybody: Thanks for your thoughts. :)
I found it notable that Kerry's version didn't change up gender specific lyrics as often happens when male and female vocalists cover the same song. So the "how can it be she has it all" and "her pride is headed for a fall" remain in both which for me somewhat transforms the feel of the individual versions as well as the lyrical scope of the song generally.
Paul's version can be interpreted as a simple love song, and that's what it feels like to me, though I can tend to be terribly literal in these things and often need other people to point out more abstract themes, at which point they become blindingly clear. I briefly flirted with the idea that it might have been in part inspired by the crossroads Brian was at when he left his first marriage, with Anita being the butterfly and the song eventually winding up to vindicate his resistance to pressure to honour obligations rather than following his heart. Either way in Paul's hands I read that song as someone who did follow the dream, whatever it was, and it's interesting that in describing it as wistful you seem to feel like it's somebody who perhaps let the dream go. That honestly had never occurred to me in either version, and what that says about me kind of interests me. Eternal optimist maybe, or hopeless romantic? LOL. Can't say.
With Kerry retaining the feminine references that feel self-referential the 'butterfly' more clearly becomes anything beautiful and perhaps potentially fragile and brief. I've struggled with "grew golden wings"...what does that mean? It could mean something like 'blossomed' or perhaps something still beautiful but never realized and thus forever frozen or still, locked as just a memory.
"So let us mind what's there to see before our hearts become to cold" is a great line. It recalls for me in some way another lyric from a much darker song that eventually speaks to the same need for clarity and courage. At the end of Bruce Springsteen's 'Brilliant Disguise' he says "God have mercy on the man who doubts what he's sure of". Love that line too, probably even a little more. Springsteen at his best is an absolutely brilliant lyricist.
A Word In Your Ear wrote: Q+PR every time!!! it's way better, but I do tend to love the acoustic guitar on Kerry's version, just that Paul sings it better.
Agree ! The Cosmos version is much better, I am not a fan of female vocalists.