Historians, take note: Kanye-victimazation goodwill lasts one year. West’s infamous VMA interruption of Taylor Swift’s Best Female Video in favor of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (which somehow still won “Best Video”) occurred in September 2009. Last month another Video Music Awards came and went with less incident. Now West is back with new tunes and an unbeatable Twitter account. Swift, though, after enjoying the world’s slightly patronizing sympathies, is on her own. So she covers Coldplay‘s “Viva La Vida.”
Bad start.
The tune was her entry into the BBC’s series on the “Great British Songbook.” Including “Viva La Vida” in that category is questionable enough, but we’ll let that slide. What’s less forgivable is…why is anyone still covering this song? Sure, it’s inspired many terrific performances, but that’s the problem. It’s inspired many terrific performances. It’s way too soon for more—particularly another heart-on-sleeve acoustic take. Not that there’s anything wrong with hers, but still. What’s next, “Use Somebody”?
Check out more Taylor Swift at her website or MySpace.
I think you’re being hard on her. Yes, this is the millionth Viva cover, but for the vast majority of those who will hear this (importantly, including Taylor Swift fans), it’s the first or second. Try to escape your cover-fiend bubble and evaluate it on its own merits. Wasn’t it you whose favorite cover is one of “Summertime”? (Might’ve been another cover blogger.)
On its own, I find her delivery somehow both anemic and shrill (as always for her, to my ear), but I like the instrumentation a lot. And her guitar is one of the best in the biz.