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Aimee Mann — The Scientist (Live)
Album: Lost In Space (Special Edition)
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3457









Released: 2003
Length: 4:10
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Come up to meet you
Tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are

I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets
And ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start

Running in circles
Coming up tails
Heads are a science apart

Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part

Nobody said it was easy
But no one ever said it would be so hard

I'm going back to the start

I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart

Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

So tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh, and I'll rush to the start

Running in circles
Chasing of tails
Coming back as we are

Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part

Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard

I'm going back to the start

Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
It's such a shame
Ah-ooh
It's such a shame
Ah-ooh
Comments (433)add comment
 johnfiva wrote:

After reading all the lousy comments critizising this song I gave it a 10 just to make myself feel better. 

Good for you. I will follow your lead. 

Ohhh...I get it now. The common thread to current songs: pristine live vocals of great female singers. 

Or...is it some type of Big Lebowski movie theme? Some kind of nihilist vibe. 
Aaaaiiimmmeeee. 🙄. At least you are sincere.
 BSartiste wrote:

nihilist nine-toe kraut 


Excellent use of this space to discuss the merits of the track as presented... /s 
Not a bad cover, but I just heard it on RP yesterday. 5 plays in the last 30 days says RP; I don't believe that. How about more songs in the mix, Bill and Rebecca?
After reading all the lousy comments critizising this song I gave it a 10 just to make myself feel better. 
This may be a cover, but Aimee certainly makes this song feel like it's one of her own.
 westslope wrote:

Decent cover.   The Coldplay boys should feel flattered.  



I think this is a better than decent cover. And you are right about flattered.
 GoodKarm wrote:



wow... I was just saying the other day:  what happened to the Till Tuesday girl.  ...  I wouldn't have realized this is her if I didn't read your comment.   ...    Your voice carried, and I picked up on it!  THANX for saying!

If you liked this, GoodKarm, you have a ton of Aimee Mann material to catch up on.  Her solo career has been stellar.  One of the most underrated artists of the last 25 years.
 E_A_D_G wrote:

Another overachieving Berklee alumnus. Lush, beautiful, brilliantly executed concept album. Loved her in Till Tuesday, love her now. Thanks Aimee.




wow... I was just saying the other day:  what happened to the Till Tuesday girl.  ...  I wouldn't have realized this is her if I didn't read your comment.   ...    Your voice carried, and I picked up on it!  THANX for saying!
beautiful original. distinctly below par cover. what's the point? Love her other stuff though. 
 BSartiste wrote:

nihilist nine-toe kraut 



I think few people are getting the reference here. 

For future reference, Aimee played the nihilist who cut off her own toe in The Big Lebowski. And the line above is a direct quote from the film. Well played, OP.
The usual trite nursery rhyme from a vastly overrated band, sung out of tune. Nice one.
I love both the original song and Aimee Mann, but this cover doesn't do it for me  ...
Decent cover.   The Coldplay boys should feel flattered.  
 itsme_bygolly wrote:
 
 
Creative name calling is the last refuge of the weak minded.




Creative? Hardly. Definitely offensive.

While I agree with the sentiment of your post, I disagree with your claim. Name-calling is the first refuge of folks like that. It's intent is to dehumanize. It's literally Step One in the process. From Psychology Today, Nov. 2018--

The 5 Steps of Dehumanization The psychology of racism and discrimination
1. Hinting at the subpar intelligence or morality of the group
2. Use of infestation analogies
3. References and comparisons to animals
4. Threats of violence
5. Removal of group from society
 Gazraman wrote:
I wouldn't have thought it possible to make such a white bread POS song even worse. Surprisingly it is. I could see a 50 yr old hedge fund manager listening to this in his Maserati and thinking he was pretty alternative. Absolute shite. 
 

Another country heard from...
Deep respect and love your music.
 BSartiste wrote:
nihilist nine-toe kraut 
 
Creative name calling is the last refuge of the weak minded.


 BSartiste wrote:
nihilist nine-toe kraut 
 

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
nihilist nine-toe kraut 
 troutstream wrote:
Lots of pretentious haters on RP these days. Very sad. If you haters are so qualified to trash honest and sincere artists, why aren’t your own songs part of the RP playlist?
 
no offence, but that is a very idiotic thing to say.
Uhm. No. This...just no. I'm not a Coldplay fan girl, but this is karaoke. I don't know Aimee Mann's music so I'll have a listen to see if perhaps it's just the cover that's been the stumbling block. 
 tomperth1 wrote:
Love Aimee Mann - such an underrated artist.
This is a most excellent cover.
 
I prefer this to the original.
Fellow Berklee alumni. Go Amy!  

Perfect vocal partner.  I practice counterpoint harmony all the way through.  Almost got it ...  
 troutstream wrote:
 
 
It's a democracy. People expressing what they don't like should be water off a duck's back for those who like what they hear. No need to let it bother you that someone might not have the same taste as you, or might want to rant about something you like. It's just an expression of their taste. If we all had only good things to say, it wouldn't be worth reading any of the comments.
 tonyjory wrote:
Well said Troutstream.
My sympathies entirely. 
Tony Jory
London, Englans

 

 troutstream wrote:
Lots of pretentious haters on RP these days. Very sad. If you haters are so qualified to trash honest and sincere artists, why aren’t your own songs part of the RP playlist?
 

Lots of pretentious haters on RP these days. Very sad. If you haters are so qualified to trash honest and sincere artists, why aren’t your own songs part of the RP playlist?
Love Aimee Mann - such an underrated artist.
This is a most excellent cover.
Hey...the Nihilist in the movie, The Big Lebowski!
Dear god. Coldplay covered by Aimee Mann... No thank you.. and then of course the PSD took me straight to Coldplay. PSD AGAIN..
Beautiful song. A solid 8.
 be4con wrote:
Awful dirge.

I'm not really a massive Coldplay fan, and I certainly don't subscribe to the opinion their songs are untouchable. But really, if you can neither improve on the original, nor give it a fresh new direction, then why would you bother?

This is one of Coldplay's best, and certainly one of their most iconic, tunes so the world really didn't need a pedestrian, nasal, country-lite version.
 

Oh go away, haters.  Aimee Mann is in no way pedestrian.  Like the original, and delighted to hear this version too.   
yes, I agree about what you said about covers
Awful dirge.

I'm not really a massive Coldplay fan, and I certainly don't subscribe to the opinion their songs are untouchable. But really, if you can neither improve on the original, nor give it a fresh new direction, then why would you bother?

This is one of Coldplay's best, and certainly one of their most iconic, tunes so the world really didn't need a pedestrian, nasal, country-lite version.
 Sloggydog wrote:
Better than the original.  Chew on that chatroom.
 
Better than mediocrity? Not much flavour in that.
 ExploitingChaos wrote:
Well that was crap
 



 On_The_Beach wrote:

Glad you had a successful visit to the bathroom but we really don't need to hear about it.
 
HA HA HA!!! 
 ExploitingChaos wrote:
Well that was crap
 
Glad you had a successful visit to the bathroom but we really don't need to hear about it.
 cavemanleong wrote:
Sorta 'meh' for me. Some songs should just be left alone. This is one of them.
 
Agreed
LOVE THIS SONG
I really like what she's done after 'Til Tuesday. Honest songwriting and beautiful execution…{#Sunny}
Sorta 'meh' for me. Some songs should just be left alone. This is one of them.
 Sloggydog wrote:
Better than the original.  Chew on that chatroom.

 
Nope. I'll take the original. 

When Coldplay was the early stages of making this album and struggling to write, Chris Martin went to another room at the studio. Sat down at the piano and tried to work out the notes to George Harrison's "Isn't It a Pity". In the process, he came up with this song.
This song made me cry today....  Life .... nobody said it was easy.
ahh..I thought this was going to be 'collapse the light into earth'..PT
Maybe if I were in a certain mood. But not today. Not now.

PSD and gone.
Just heard the Willie Nelson cover yesterday,  Nice song.
I hadn't heard it in a while and it's nice to hear it again :) definitely better than the original in my opinion ! Raising it to an 8 :*
Nice enough cover but Aimee, you're better than this
Oh, and did all you Aimee Mann fans see this little gem? https://www.funnyordie.com/videos/0dadfc1070/the-postal-service-auditions

Her "audition" was pretty frickin great! Made me long for some full-length Aimee Mann Postal Service covers.
Better than the original.  Chew on that chatroom.
 Shovelmancrew wrote:
man why so many haters music is ment to be an expression of whatever like it or not piss poor attitudes anpd hate not required 😐 get over IT lol

 
An expression of whatever! {#Ask}
 LizK wrote:
Too nasal.

 
you're right, she is extremely nasal
but i love her voice, her singing, her songs
Great voice + great song from coldplay. Like to hear the song in a "new" version. Thanks Radio Paradise...
 nickshortie wrote:
What a boring cover...

 
Have you heard the original?
Too nasal.
I heard this on my local station, WYEP, today!!      {#Smile}
man why so many haters music is ment to be an expression of whatever like it or not piss poor attitudes anpd hate not required 😐 get over IT lol
What a boring cover...
To many negative comments for my opinion. I love this coldplay song from since. I also love this version.
Good music!
 Lemonhead wrote:
Coldplay do Coldplay. Note to Aimee Mann - leave Coldplay songs well alone.

 
Agreed
Coldplay do Coldplay. Note to Aimee Mann - leave Coldplay songs well alone.
no no no no. Leave it alone
Love this version!!  Great cover!
Aimee Man sounds like she is either singing against her will, or she simply cannot be bothered. She has all the passion and excitement of watching toadstools grow.
Everything by Aimee gets a 10 from me. I'm not impartial or objective in my ratings with certain artists. They get a free pass to 10 on every track that pops up here. 
 Gazraman wrote:
I wouldn't have thought it possible to make such a white bread POS song even worse. Surprisingly it is. I could see a 50 yr old hedge fund manager listening to this in his Maserati and thinking he was pretty alternative. Absolute shite. 
 
It's a pop song.
Get over yourself.
good song in the hands of the great Aimee Mann —love it
I wouldn't have thought it possible to make such a white bread POS song even worse. Surprisingly it is. I could see a 50 yr old hedge fund manager listening to this in his Maserati and thinking he was pretty alternative. Absolute shite. 
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I was about to say something about the great cover but took a closer look and this is a 2-CD set? So I have to buy the whole thing again to get the second CD? I hate that.
 
Yah, the marketeers like to release a 1-disc version to start, so everyone buys that, then later they'll release the "Deluxe version" with a second disc, expanded graphics, etc. Then the die-hard fans feel they have to own that and buy it too. Of course artists such as Bowie have made a fortune by re-re-remastering their classic releases and re-releasing them as the newer better version that you gotta have. Often they'll throw in a few "bonus" live tracks or "alternate takes" which typically are not very good. I find the whole practice very sleazy, but hey, the industry is hurtin' and doing what they can to resell the same old product in a shiny new package.
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I was about to say something about the great cover but took a closer look and this is a 2-CD set? So I have to buy the whole thing again to get the second CD? I hate that.

 

 
I like this cover too.

 
This song is the ONLY thing that bugs me about RP. The original is excellent, doesn't need messing with, certainly doesn't need blindly copying. Just play the original...nuff said. Tempting to rant but RP is glorious and this is a minor wart on such a perfect skin.....
A lot better than the original by Coldplay but still no great hit. A decent 5 though, because it reminds me of the movie "the apartment" and I loved this movie :)
Cool segue from Cold Play, Scientist (or Cold Play anything). I'm embarrassed to say, at 62 yrs old, that I didn't know until recently Aimee Mann was the hot babe from Til Tuesday.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
  
Wasn't it the Tara Reid character (Bunny?) who had her toe lopped off ?
https://assets.sbnation.com/imported_assets/81076/bunny.jpg

 
Bunny asked the Dude to blow on her freshly painted toes, and then offered to do him a favor for $1000.  The Dude just shuffled off, saying he was on his way to find a cash machine.  Just one of only about 150 great zingers in the film.

I remember howling at this movie on opening weekend, while my wife kept looking at me in mock disgust (she just didn't get it).   And I guess neither did many others, as it bombed in theaters, but now roars full steam ahead in our public consciousness 17 years later. 

Fortunately, the Mrs. came around too, and quotes like "Obviously, you're not a golfer" and "Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here" roll off at the appropriate times. 
 2020sk wrote:
Reminds me of Celine Dion's version of I Drove All Night, or the Bilge version of One. Professionally executed with not a single ounce of honest emotion. Towards the end, this cover feels to me as though she was thinking "Let's get this over with as soon as poss."

 
ugh!! so true. fake. gross. 
 treatment_bound wrote:
Nope—they zoomed in on Aimee (credited as "Nihilist Woman, Franz's Girlfriend") in the restaurant when she was having a meal with her boys, and she had a bandage around her foot. 

That "little piggy" went to market...
 
Duly noted.
Happily, it doesn't seem to have affected her music career.  ; )
 On_The_Beach wrote:
  
Wasn't it the Tara Reid character (Bunny?) who had her toe lopped off ?


 
Nope—they zoomed in on Aimee (credited as "Nihilist Woman, Franz's Girlfriend") in the restaurant when she was having a meal with her boys, and she had a bandage around her foot. 

That "little piggy" went to market...
 treatment_bound wrote:


Did she ever get her toe back?



 
Wasn't it the Tara Reid character (Bunny?) who had her toe lopped off ?
https://assets.sbnation.com/imported_assets/81076/bunny.jpg


Did she ever get her toe back?


Reminds me of Celine Dion's version of I Drove All Night, or the Bilge version of One. Professionally executed with not a single ounce of honest emotion. Towards the end, this cover feels to me as though she was thinking "Let's get this over with as soon as poss."
very nice!
Aimless.

PSD > Souvenirs — 1000 Miles Away {#Bananajam}
 treatment_bound wrote:
Not a bad cover, but I felt like I had to "consciously uncouple" with the higher volume level.

 
OK, very funny
Sublime...save for a bit of an exaggerated ending.
          Dare I say it....I prefer Aimee's version to Cold Play's...there, I said it.....!  ( I do enjoy both versions though....)
                                                                                           {#Wink} {#Wink}
 ppopp wrote:
just.too.darn.nasally. And it has the usual Aimee Mann jump-off-a-bridge-with-concrete-shoes feel to it.

 
I too wish she'd sing from her stomach as opposed to her sinuses - it grates.
 treatment_bound wrote:
Not a bad cover, but I felt like I had to "consciously uncouple" with the higher volume level.
 
Yes, I got the reference.  ; )
Not a bad cover, but I felt like I had to "consciously uncouple" with the higher volume level.
{#Wave}....liking this although I prefer the original version by Coldplay so it gets a 7
 Red_Dragon wrote:
holy. shit.

yes. 

  Indeed.  Aimee nails it.


The thing with Coldplay for me, and I am not what you would call a "hater" at the best of times, is that I usually find that, musically, I really like the things they do.  The songs are great stuff.  It is just that the lead vocals turn me right up and I can't listen.  This version, on the other hand, takes some good song writing and makes it work really well.
 Lauriea wrote:
First time hearing song {#Angel}
 
Very nice song from Coldplay! This is also a great version. I like Aimee Mann!!
First time hearing song {#Angel}
Her voice is much easier on my ears than Martin's.  Amy just does melancholy better - more rich life experience, less whiny.
Fun Fact:  Aimee Mann played the part of Nihilist Franz' Girlfriend who gave up her little toe (with nail polish) in The Big Lebowski.
Amazing that even the most vocal Coldplay haters have kept it shut for this.

This is really nice.  Great homage to a great song from a great band. 
Sweet.

Now if she'd just record her cover of Joni Mitchell's Free Man in Paris. My Aimee Mann collection would be complete.
holy. shit.

yes. 
Interesting, but Willie Nelson's version to promote grass-fed organic beef and sustainable pork farming for Chipotle is my favorite cover of this tune (and the little film is nice, as well)

I was about to say something about the great cover but took a closer look and this is a 2-CD set? So I have to buy the whole thing again to get the second CD? I hate that.

 
Good version!
I like Aimee Mann.  I like covers of this song.  I do not like how much this cover is played here!  {#Eh}
I was just singing this to myself the other day, but the Coldplay version. This is lovely, I hadn't heard it before. Thanks for playing it RP 
 ShamanManu wrote:
one of few song that make me switch to another station.... quite a mutilation of Coldplay goodie {#Eh}

 
Try PSD instead. That's what I'll do now.
one of few song that make me switch to another station.... quite a mutilation of Coldplay goodie {#Eh}
 lycomede wrote:
In french : "Découverte sur RP, vraiment génial !!!!"  God bless Radio Paradise...
 

 
Welcome.  Enjoy!
I don't hate Coldplay; some of their songs have done me really good. ...okay, I rather love several Coldplay songs... although they're loosing me lately (there's not a single song from the "Mylo Xyloto" that found its way to my heart, which is a first for me since I discovered "A rush of blood (...)".

I don't hate or love Aimee Mann - I don't know her stuff at all.
I do like her taking the initiative to cover one of my big favorites by Coldplay.

*BUT*... I expect the cover of a song I love to suprise me, to make me feel like I'm hearing it for the first time although it has been hundreds or thousands.
To me, this cover is so close to the original that it does nothing for me. Towards the end, the guitar has more distortion/is more rock-ish and the vocal harmonies sound different, but then again, it all ends just when it was starting to venture into new ground.

I don't hate this cover. It just adds very little to the original. It's decent, with a little plus, so a 6.
 ziakut wrote:
Upon hearing this...I'm thinking 1. Oh this is Aimee Mann...like her. 2. Why the hell is she covering a song by a band barely old enough to know who SHE is. 3. I'd rather hear original material of hers. No hatred towards Coldplay...just...."why?"

 
Because its a damned good song.  I will likely never buy another Coldplay album or pay money to see them perform but e
ven mediocre bands like Coldplay put out some good songs, like this one ---- and the next one playing on RP. 
That's why radio (in all its techonological forms) exist.
I LOVE AIMEE!
Even a crappy Aimee Mann tune is pretty good.
better than the almost unbearable original, but still boring as hell

In french : "Découverte sur RP, vraiment génial !!!!"  God bless Radio Paradise...
 
Upon hearing this...I'm thinking 1. Oh this is Aimee Mann...like her. 2. Why the hell is she covering a song by a band barely old enough to know who SHE is. 3. I'd rather hear original material of hers. No hatred towards Coldplay...just...."why?"
Christ, that's enough. I'm switching to SOMA.FM.
Great set, Bill!{#Dancingbanana_2}
Clever programming! :)   I prefer the original, but this version is OK too.
Okay, So I love this song so much, that each cover reminds of the original and puts me in a comfortable, sort of melancholy  place.  Is that a good thing?