Ok, not really, but honestly, this video of him doing an acoustic version of Leavin with a local morning radio show is very impressive.

Leavin- Jesse McCartney

I've run into very few acoustic versions of songs that I don't like way more than the original. Is it because I'm gay? An old fart? Or is there something to be said for the minimalistic approach of acoustic music?

Despite the thread title, I'm really not here to talk about Jess McCartney, or if IGOS, but more about acoustic versions of some of your favorite songs, and any one's you think that really fell short of the mark.

Here's a couple samples of other acoustics I downright love:

Shimmer by Fuel (kind of bleh recording, but all I could find)

Our Lady Peace - Clumsy ( Can't find a version on teh intraweb )

Both of those have a great acoustic version on a CD I have. I need to find a place to drop some mp3's so people can hear them..

A couple other I could find...

Ani DeFranco - Angry Anymore

DHT- Listen to Your Heart (man, this video is GOS, but I love her voice)

Obv the best acoustic cover ever made..

What sweet acoustic versions of songs do you know of? Any hidden gems?

Ray

Whenever I hear a Jesse McCartney song on the radio, I usually don't turn it. I occasionally sing along very loudly to Beautiful Soul or whatever it's called.

I'll brb with acoustic songs.

I think I prefer the Unplugged version of Layla, tbh.

Sort of a gimmicky idea, but I think this version is really . . . pretty. And it's been stuck in my head for the past week:

Jonathan Coulton -- Baby Got Back

I used to have an acoustic emo version of Baby Got Back on my iTunes that was sick awesome. I also had the same kid doing a couple of Lil John songs as well. I'll try to find it again, he was hella good.

Foo Fighters Everlong

Epic version of Black Eyed Peas My Humps

BTW, I do love that Listen to Your Heart Cover. That group also has a techno version that's nowhere near as good as the one you linked.

Swede

Was gonna be my first response as this is the first thought that comes to mind as "acoustic version is so much better."

Yeah Everlong acoustic is my favorite, just so much better.


Not sure if this is acoustic or not, but whatever.

fake plastic trees

i always thought the song was sung by a black guy when i first hard it tbh, like chris brown or something, then i found it was jesse mccartney and was pretty suprised. (don't think this is racist..)

qft, i thought this as well and then was like "whaaat" when i learned it was jesse mccartney of all people singing it. i actually dl'ed his new album as a result and they're actually a bunch of good songs on there and i came to find out he actually writes a lot of his songs as well as other hit songs for other people. so he seems pretty talented actually which i was surprised to learn

you mean compared to the Derek and the Dominoes version, or compared to the guy in OP's man-love-crush-post?

Really good acoustic cover of Hey Ya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS2PRP89eqM

Amy Winehouse - Valerie


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqSKVv6YO8g

Interesting fact about Jesse McCartney: He was born on April 9th 1987, the exact same day as me.

"California Sun" on Ukulele


edit: The same guys also do "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Rawhide", and "Tequila"

Ugh.. I dislike her so very much

Doesn't fit too well with the theme of the thread so far since it's about piano and not guitar, but I'm a huge Elton John fan. A lot of his (studio version) songs are pretty drum and electric guitar heavy etc, but his live piano solo versions are always better. I can only think of one or two exceptions to this. In my opinon of course. One of the best live performers ever in pop music, no doubt.

Here are a few links to live versions I've been listening to a lot lately.

Elton John - Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (1972)

Elton John - Ticking (1974)

Elton John - Tiny Dancer (1971)

And one of my favorites:

Elton John - Sixty Years On (1976)

Had no idea what would be in this thread.
We Are Scientists - Hoppipolla is awesome. Vid is for the Sigur Ros version which is a solid vid anyway.

Easily my favorite acoustic song...

Bill Withers - Hope She'll Be Happier

http://www.rhapsody.com/billwithers/...shellbehappier

only version I could find online

Ben Folds - Bitches ain't ****

Creep

Not necessarily better than the original, but awesome. Actually, that song would probably be awesome on the xylophone.

haha here's an old one

I have that on cassette somewhere in a shoebox.

BNL - Old Apartment

Bob Schneider - Big Blue Sea

Foo - Next Year
Foo - Times Like These

Godsmack - Touche

Incubus - Drive
Incubus - I Miss You

Tesla - Signs

STP - Wicked Garden <--- winner

Plush > Wicked Garden

I used to think this too until I saw this performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwoaonLDars


Now I don't think its better acoustic at all. The drums are amazing on this song imo.