Celine Dion’s AC/DC Cover Deemed Worst Ever

CELINE DION’S AC/DC COVER DEEMED WORST EVER:

June 23, 2008

Celine Dion has a dubious distinction to add to her myriad awards and achievements: world’s worst song cover, according to a popular European guitar magazine.

British-based Total Guitar conducted a poll that named the French-Canadian singer’s rendition of You Shook Me All Night Long the No. 1 “worst cover song,” editor Stephen Lawson said, according to Agence France-Presse.

Performed about six years ago during her hit Las Vegas run, the diva’s version of the classic AC/DC anthem was sung as a duet with U.S. pop singer Anastacia. The magazine dubbed the cover “sacrilege” and an “offence.”

Other cover songs the magazine scoffed at include:

– British girl groups Sugababes and Girls Aloud performing Walk This Way, made famous by Aerosmith and Run DMC.
– British boy band Westlife’s rendition of rock ballad More Than Words by Extreme.
– Pop Idol winner Will Young’s version of Light My Fire by The Doors.
– Oasis hit Wonderwall as performed by easy-listening lounge act The Mike Flowers Pops.

Flops aside, the poll also highlighted a handful of the most successful song tributes.

“The best covers are unlikely choices and they do something radical,” Lawson said.

Electric-guitar legend Jimi Hendrix’s version of Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower came in first, followed by the Beatles version of Twist and Shout — originally recorded by U.S. R&B group The Top Notes.

Rounding out the best five were:

– The Guns N’ Roses cover of Live and Let Die, by Paul McCartney and Wings.
– Nirvana’s rendition of David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World.
– British rock band Muse’s version of Feeling Good, written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint — the Smell of the Crowd.

Total Guitar, touted as the bestselling guitar magazine in Europe, is known for regularly carrying tablatures (guitar-music notations) of popular music, reviews of guitar equipment and interviews with prominent guitarists.

Courtesy of www.cbc.ca