Permission to use the track is subject to writer clearance and would be relatively expensive. Considering the cost, it's important that the song works successfully as a cover version to audiences.
Heydon Hohaia, Message to My Girl (Acoustic Cover), 2010
Split Enz, Message to My Girl (Original), 1984
...is Heydon's interpretation of the song too different from the original to be effective as a cover? Or is that a good thing?
Does anyone out there in Internetland have any feedback for us?
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I liked it mate, I'd forgotten what a great song it is
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great rendition, but your fears for how different the cover is, should be forgotten if YOU think that an acoustic cover like that one would work in the particular scene.
ReplyDeleteWhich i'm sure you do!
PS he has a Jerome Conchord slash John Mayer thing going on!
Deano
i liked it
ReplyDeletejust beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLIKE!
ReplyDeleteOnly you (Writer/Director) know how important the song is in context of the scene/plot and if its worth the $... but I think this song sounds even better as an acoustic version, almost contemporary (which is great since Heydon may not have even been born when it was released) ;)
Really enjoyed it, thanks Heydon!
Probably a little closer to the project than most, I offer this small McNugget of brain flow...
ReplyDeleteThere is no question of the talent, HE IS AWESOME!!! but what cost is the rights to a cover? not so much a dollar value but in low budget film-making I think it is more like what percentage of the overall budget. This is key to think about as there is always a cost/benefit going on.
IF the original stuff is equally strong or stronger, (and he has the rights therefore it is somewhat free) run with original. I always like great original material over covers. Kind of like comparing the new Fame movie with Glee. Both are popular but I respect Fame more. Glee only pulls it off because it takes songs you know and places them in the realm of humour.
Pound for pound, original is stronger. Some out there might be thinking... "but what about John Mayers Message in a Bottle from his any given sunday tour, or Jason Mraz All Night Long on his beautiful mess DVD?'... and while these are great covers they hold more stock because these artists are pre qualified as great musicians before they performed the cover. They achieve this 'great musician' status from original material...
Which leads to the question... is this song placed after you have heard a lot of original stuff in the film or is it the first song he performs?
In terms of the cover being good or not... It is a brilliant rendition. The more different they are sometimes the better. Chris Cornell's Billie Jean... Great! Ryan Adams Wonderwall... awesome. Newton Faulkner's Teardrop... brilliant (and the original to that was huge due to House MD)... Jose Gonzales Heartbeats... Amazing (Infact way bigger than the original)... Heydon Hohaia's Message to my Girl... Wicked! A cover performed similar to it's original will always feel Karaoke, if you're gonna do a cover... OWN IT.
He definitely does that! :)
I agree with Dean man, in the context of the movie only you would really know if it would work and be worth the money.
ReplyDeleteBut seeing as your asking, I think the guy's a great singer, but sorry man, I really prefer the Split Enz version (other instruments notwithstanding that is...)
Cam
In respect of the original and the artist, I have to say this version does much more for the lyrics and sentiment of the song. I wouldn't even be surprised if originally saw it like this but when he got to rehearsal thought, "well I guess I gotta include the rest of the band"
ReplyDeleteYeah. I reckon you should get this guy to do it. Absolutely. Hes pretty awesome alright. Wheres he come from? defienly gotta bright future in music.
Do it.