Joan Osborne — Everybody Is A Star
Album: How Sweet it IsAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 155
Length: 2:41
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Everybody is a star
Who can rain and chase the dust away
Everybody wants to shine
Ooh, come out on a cloudy day
'Til the sun that loves you proud
When the system tries to bring you down
Every hand to shine tonight
You don't need darkness to do what you think is right
Everybody is a star
I can feel it when you shine on me
I love you for who you are
Not the one you feel you need to be
Ever catch a falling star
Ain't no stopping 'til it's in the ground
Everybody is a star
One big circle going round and round
Who can rain and chase the dust away
Everybody wants to shine
Ooh, come out on a cloudy day
'Til the sun that loves you proud
When the system tries to bring you down
Every hand to shine tonight
You don't need darkness to do what you think is right
Everybody is a star
I can feel it when you shine on me
I love you for who you are
Not the one you feel you need to be
Ever catch a falling star
Ain't no stopping 'til it's in the ground
Everybody is a star
One big circle going round and round
Comments (45)add comment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICRYG0lxTyU
"can't believe she has switched genres so much-does not sound like the same woman even-her voice sounds rustic and soulful here vs. contemporary"
etwilson wrote:
Because you might bring a new interpretation to the song? Are you saying that there should only ever be one version of a song by the person who wrote it? So Jimi's definitive version of "...Watchtower" was a bad idea? Or a thousand other examples I could think of. Covers have been around as long as music has, does every musician have to be a song writer? Just because you can sing or play a guitar doesn't mean that you can write good songs. Performance and song writing are two different disjoint skills, sometimes the same person has both but not always.
I agree with many of your points. "Watchtower" is a great example. The thing is, Jimi brought something new and completely unexpected to that song. Joan has not. In fact, she's wittled away what life was in the song to begin with. The Pumpkins did the same thing with "Never Let Me Down," and this horrible Ryan Adams version of "Wonderwall"... I could name a few covers that are far superior to their broken previous originals -- none come to mind -- but mostly we get The Wallflowers' "Heroes" and RHCP's "Higher Ground." It's an entire cottage industry devoted to unnecessary (I use that word very specifically) performances.
But since you brought it up, No, not every singer has to be a songwriter. But it would be nice to find, and I haven't yet, a vocalist who's willing to apply his or her considerable vocal talents to GREAT songs, soulful and meaningful songs, instead of bubblegum pop, Motown standards, or Frank Sinatra classics. I mean, we can all agree that Leonard Cohen isn't the best singer, so the MAJORITY of covers of his songs are instant improvements. So why can't Britney and Justin and Buble' and Connick and Elvis and the A-Teens cover the kinds of music that would elevate the industry instead of the kinds of music that sound great in Pepsi and car dealership commercials?
And why can't Joan sing more of the great stuff she did on "Relish" instead of... THIS? She doesn't know how to write a song any more than I do, but if someone put this in front of me to sing, I'd shrug and say, "What else you got?" That's my point.
catmaven wrote:
Absolutely hate Sly and the Family Stone and their genre. Why would Osborne cover it? I just heard the end of this so cannot evaluate her version. She should cover more Bob Dylan instead and quit trying to pretend black! I hate it when whites try to be fly. 
:verysorry: 
Music is for EVERYONE.
:verysorry: dwhayslett wrote:
Speaking only for myself, all I'd ever heard of Osborne's was that goofy "God on the bus" song, which did not inspire me to go search out more. I'm glad that RP has given me the opportunity to hear more of her catalog, as I've discovered I kind of like it. :)
This is a fine example of when people can keep an open mind, they might experience something from an artist they possibly didn't care for before.
justlistening wrote:
On another note, I sometimes wonder why Joan is not more popular. I wonder if it's because she might suffer a little from the "Hootie and the Blowfish" problem - a limited range. I'm not sure I've heard something by Joan Osborne where she's extended her vocal range.
I do like her music though - just sometimes leaves me wanting a little more.
Speaking only for myself, all I'd ever heard of Osborne's was that goofy "God on the bus" song, which did not inspire me to go search out more. I'm glad that RP has given me the opportunity to hear more of her catalog, as I've discovered I kind of like it. :)
Trustocity wrote:
Covers are a bad idea in general. Why cover a classic as your way of saying you appreciate the artists enough to put forward the effort to remake their work? Why not just sit down with Rolling Stone and say, "I really like this song," then play it during the interview?
Because you might bring a new interpretation to the song? Are you saying that there should only ever be one version of a song by the person who wrote it? So Jimi's definitive version of "...Watchtower" was a bad idea? Or a thousand other examples I could think of. Covers have been around as long as music has, does every musician have to be a song writer? Just because you can sing or play a guitar doesn't mean that you can write good songs. Performance and song writing are two different disjoint skills, sometimes the same person has both but not always.
On another note, I sometimes wonder why Joan is not more popular. I wonder if it's because she might suffer a little from the "Hootie and the Blowfish" problem - a limited range. I'm not sure I've heard something by Joan Osborne where she's extended her vocal range.
I do like her music though - just sometimes leaves me wanting a little more.
Trustocity wrote:
I'm human - I think. 
How refreshing. Black racism is the new White racism. Now if only the Mexicans could get off their brown asses and learn to hate other people...
(P.S. I'm Mexican.)
Can't we all just hate along?
I'm human - I think.
catmaven wrote:
Absolutely hate Sly and the Family Stone and their genre. Why would Osborne cover it? I just heard the end of this so cannot evaluate her version. She should cover more Bob Dylan instead and quit trying to pretend black! I hate it when whites try to be fly. :verysorry:
As to why she'd cover this song, presumably it's because either a) the song is important to her, or b) she simply likes it.
As to the rest of your post ... what the hell are you talking about?
:verysorry: second time I've heard it and I really like it.
girls got soul !
no need to get snarky, it is a very good interpretation...
catmaven wrote:
Absolutely hate Sly and the Family Stone and their genre. Why would Osborne cover it? I just heard the end of this so cannot evaluate her version. She should cover more Bob Dylan instead and quit trying to pretend black! I hate it when whites try to be fly. :verysorry:
How refreshing. Black racism is the new White racism. Now if only the Mexicans could get off their brown asses and learn to hate other people...
(P.S. I'm Mexican.)
:verysorry: catmaven wrote:
Absolutely hate Sly and the Family Stone and their genre. Why would Osborne cover it? I just heard the end of this so cannot evaluate her version. She should cover more Bob Dylan instead and quit trying to pretend black! I hate it when whites try to be fly. :verysorry:
And I guess the flies are all over you, brotha...
:verysorry: Covers are a bad idea in general. Why cover a classic as your way of saying you appreciate the artists enough to put forward the effort to remake their work? Why not just sit down with Rolling Stone and say, "I really like this song," then play it during the interview?
She was prominent in this movie, could be her version was gonna be in it...
https://www.standingintheshadowsofmotown.com/
great movie...
catmaven wrote:
Absolutely hate Sly and the Family Stone and their genre. Why would Osborne cover it? I just heard the end of this so cannot evaluate her version. She should cover more Bob Dylan instead and quit trying to pretend black! I hate it when whites try to be fly. :verysorry:
(This is sarcasm, gotta protect myself here) :iamwith:
Damn black people, if they didn't exist in the first place, White women wouldn't try to be like them! Preach on!! :verysorry:
If Joan turns one kid (of whatever age) onto Sly, I say job well done!
catmaven wrote:
Absolutely hate Sly and the Family Stone and their genre. Why would Osborne cover it? I just heard the end of this so cannot evaluate her version. She should cover more Bob Dylan instead and quit trying to pretend black! I hate it when whites try to be fly. :verysorry:
wow. :verysorry:
Absolutely hate Sly and the Family Stone and their genre. Why would Osborne cover it? I just heard the end of this so cannot evaluate her version. She should cover more Bob Dylan instead and quit trying to pretend black! I hate it when whites try to be fly. :verysorry:
:verysorry: steeler wrote:
The energy made Sly's version . . . lacking here.
Not to go to a larger point, but I like a remake that's a rethinking of the original rather than a 'tribute version'. That said, this is not one of Joan's best, but it caught my attention when I realized that it was a Sly cover. Not great, but not bad at all.
steeler wrote:
The energy made Sly's version . . . lacking here.
You might like Fishbone's version then. They definitely kept it funky.
The energy made Sly's version . . . lacking here.
Most likely she loved the song, but that's not always a good reason to cover it too. Especially not when a song is done in such a superb way originally. Luckily Sly and the Family Stone's version is added to RP's playlist in the meantime 
I didn't really like the original. This is worse. Ho Hum!
jpbergjr wrote:
There are some songs that are good for remakes, and then there are songs that should be left alone, this is one of them.
I agree. This song was lousy to begin with and the remake is even worse.
Like I have said so many times before...if you can't do it better or even different...don't do it. :P
Nice segue from Family Affair (by Sly), but I'd have rather heard the original. The rule is only do a cover if you can make it your own, and I don't think this comes close.
rp, play the original.
this version is redundant and inferior.
there are better joan osborne songs to play on rp.
just avoid "if god was one of us...."
Not bad.
"Everybody is a star."
"I'm not."
"Shut up!"
Yikes, some hiccups in there. Perhaps there should be a place on RP where people can specificially note defects in certain tracks so they can be handled. It's odd to me that I'm reading old posts about the same defect.
nice......Joan doesn't have an outstanding voice; but it's great for what she does, and very pleasing to listen to
robinesque wrote:
Great song. This copy has several glitches though...
I agree. This needs to be re-ripped.
Love the song! Going to buy the CD today.
Great song. This copy has several glitches though...
Pipes wrote:
She needs to sing more of her own songs and quit doing so many covers. Garage bands do covers.
How many of his own songs did Sinatra do? Sometimes singers are just singers.
cherylg4 wrote:
This whole CD is outstanding. She somehow manages to make you groove to the songs without constantly being reminded of the originals. It's like they're whole new songs, but then again, not. She is a goddess.
Clearly, you have much more respect for her than I do. I respect enjoying someone's music to a degree others cannot understand. I dig Radiohead, and most of my friends are like, "What? Is your stereo broken?".
Joan O. does A LOT of covers. If she's a "goddess" then she must be the Xerox goddess.
This is a pretty song, but what is the point of doing a cover if you use the same arrangement and instrumentation as the original? Make it your own, Joan.
She needs to sing more of her own songs and quit doing so many covers. Garage bands do covers.
This whole CD is outstanding. She somehow manages to make you groove to the songs without constantly being reminded of the originals. It\'s like they\'re whole new songs, but then again, not. She is a goddess.
Is there any song this woman won't cover?
I have to agree that the original is better, but I\'m really glad to have this alternative. Like I imagine many RP listeners, I have stretched Sly and Family Stone thin by so many listens (and it\'s not that I blame radio, it\'s just that I pull that CD out a LOT). This one gives me the chance to listen to BOTH more often since I\'m not wearing
the original out.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it. (pimp)
-ptah
-ptahVery nice indeed....But I think you track has a problem, either that or my PC is cutting up.... 
Originally Posted by ndanger666:
This is okay but I'd rather hear the original from Sly and the folks.
I have to agree. Bring on Sly!
This is okay but I\'d rather hear the original from Sly and the folks.
i\'m not quite sure why joan osborne hasn\'t become a big star. she\'s got a wonderful soulful voice that she shows to great advantage on this song and this album.
How Sweet It Is 1 by ~antisaint
©2002-2010 ~antisaint
I went to my fourth Joan Osborne concert on Sept. 24, at the BB King Blues Club in New York City.
They had "no flash photography" signs up all over the place. It's cool with me. Who needs flash in an environment like that?
This is on of Joan, just finishing up her great cover of "How Sweet It Is," which is also the title of her new CD that's out.