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k.d. lang — Helpless
Album: Hymns of the 49th Parallel
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1589









Released: 2004
Length: 4:09
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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There is a town in north Ontario,
With dream comfort memory to spare,
And in my mind
I still need a place to go,
All my changes were there.

Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
Yellow moon on the rise,
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows in our eyes.
Leaves us

Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless

Baby can you hear me now?
The chains are locked
and tied around my door,
and baby, will you sing with me somehow.

Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless

Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
Yellow moon on the rise,
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows in our eyes.
Leaves us

Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless
Helpless, helpless, helpless

Helpless, helpless, helpless
Comments (218)add comment
 fraserji wrote:

Double dose of CanCon. Yay.  


Right, and from an album that was all about that. That CD spent a lot of time in my player back in the mid-aughties.
Posted 1 month ago by Talus1    [ Reply ]
Every song seems to her,  to be a ballad. 

She should something bluesly. More punch. More rnr.
Posted 4 months ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 Wonderloaf wrote:


Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car


This RP listener could care less about Sprout-A-Fry
Posted 5 months ago by Philipirata    [ Reply ]
Posted 6 months ago by mcullers    [ Reply ]
Neil just canceled tonight's show because of the weather. Bummed!!
Posted 6 months ago by awhfman    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Well I guess he might seem like a dick to those gullible enough to believe Rogan's lies about the Covid vaccine.  Neil simply objected to the spreading of misinformation and the countless deaths that could result. What a dick!


and quietly Young has returned to Spotify. oops
Posted 7 months ago by jpfueler    [ Reply ]
 Wonderloaf wrote:


Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car


Hey genius... those of us that enjoy listening to him actually buy his music and can listen to it at any time without a turntable <eye roll>
Posted 8 months ago by TC1    [ Reply ]
I've been making fun of this stupid whiny song for decades - since it came out. KD finally turned it into a great song. FAR superior to the original! NY is a great artist but not everything he's done is great,
Posted 10 months ago by RoundT    [ Reply ]
Not for me. 
skip....
Posted 1 year ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
 easmann wrote:

I don't believe most covers are executed in the spirit of competition, rarely are they attempts at improvement. I believe most covers are attempted because an artist loves another artist's song and hopes to bring an interesting and alternate interpretation. I believe this is an example.

Comparisons are inevitable of course and folks may well prefer one or the other.

I greatly enjoy both, and yes, I do have a preference, depending on the day and my particular mood.

P.S. I just realized that C, S, N & Y's version utilizes their signature and largely unmatched harmonies on the chorus while k.d.'s version uses very subtle, almost minimal, harmonizing. 




Thanks for your post. Totally agree with your view of covers.
Posted 1 year ago by Egctheow    [ Reply ]
 jp33442 wrote:
Too bad neil turned into a real dick with spotify 

Well I guess he might seem like a dick to those gullible enough to believe Rogan's lies about the Covid vaccine.  Neil simply objected to the spreading of misinformation and the countless deaths that could result. What a dick!
Posted 1 year ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 Wonderloaf wrote:


Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car

We agree on something fascinating 
Posted 1 year ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
Wish you would play Buffy Sainte-Marie's version, it's great too.
Posted 1 year ago by newbolddrive    [ Reply ]
Double dose of CanCon. Yay.  
Posted 1 year ago by fraserji    [ Reply ]
Two rarities: 1) a k d lang performance  that doesn't immediately give me goosebumps and 2) a song that I just downgraded from my original rating (9>8). I don't think the latter has ever happened.
Posted 1 year ago by bimmerfan739    [ Reply ]
Comments are really all over the board on this one. 
Posted 1 year ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
I spend a summer in north (west) Ontario. This song takes me back...
Posted 1 year ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
 jp33442 wrote:

Too bad neil turned into a real dick with spotify 


Agreed - punishing people who enjoy listening to him....not everyone has a turntable in their fucking car
Posted 2 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
 dray2009 wrote:

A tribute from one Canadian to another.


Too bad neil turned into a real dick with spotify 
Posted 2 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
This is good, but I much prefer the Buffy St. Marie version.
Posted 2 years ago by newbolddrive    [ Reply ]
I don't believe most covers are executed in the spirit of competition, rarely are they attempts at improvement. I believe most covers are attempted because an artist loves another artist's song and hopes to bring an interesting and alternate interpretation. I believe this is an example.

Comparisons are inevitable of course and folks may well prefer one or the other.

I greatly enjoy both, and yes, I do have a preference, depending on the day and my particular mood.

P.S. I just realized that C, S, N & Y's version utilizes their signature and largely unmatched harmonies on the chorus while k.d.'s version uses very subtle, almost minimal, harmonizing. 
Posted 2 years ago by easmann    [ Reply ]
 bachbeet wrote:

Not nearly as good as the original by Neil Young.


Works for me.
Posted 3 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
I heard her do this when I saw Lang, Case & Veirs a few years ago - that vocal made for some serious gooseflesh, in the best possible way.
Posted 3 years ago by pilgrim    [ Reply ]
A tribute from one Canadian to another.
Posted 3 years ago by dray2009    [ Reply ]
 Grammarcop wrote:
More k.d., please.
 
Yes...with pieces of ham in it please.
Posted 3 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
The version by Over the Rhine is my favorite, other than Neil's original.
Posted 3 years ago by jnhashmi    [ Reply ]
This is good, but I like the Buffy St. Marie cover better.
Posted 3 years ago by newbolddrive    [ Reply ]
More k.d., please.
Posted 3 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
I love K.D. Lang, mostly. Don't like Neil Young, Mostly. (talking vocalization).  But this song was much better served by Neil's voice than hers. IMO.
Posted 3 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
For cripes' sake, whiners. Try harder to consider this without being biased by your love for the Neil Young original (which I love too). If you can listen to this on its own merits - which are led by k.d.'s soaring vocals (as on everything she does, covers or originals) - ya might just find that this song is quite fine. 
Posted 4 years ago by skindy    [ Reply ]
 bachbeet wrote:
Not nearly as good as the original by Neil Young.
 
Personally, I don't ever want to hear Neil Young's whiny voice, so this is a great way to experience some of his music! All the critics can go pound sand, I'll take kd over Neil any day.
Posted 4 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
Lordy, this is a dreadful cover. Utterly dreadful.
Posted 4 years ago by Paddy_Hannan    [ Reply ]
Sorry; but once again I hear k.d. missing the mark and doing a terrible job on a cover!
Posted 5 years ago by dublanica    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a lifeless cover by a Holiday Inn bar band with a good vocalist.
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
I like K.D., but this is not really  working for me.  I know she is pay her respects to Neil, but give me Neil on this one. 
Posted 11 years ago by teleskialaska    [ Reply ]
How to slay a song...
Posted 11 years ago by amanzanom    [ Reply ]

Posted 11 years ago by barend    [ Reply ]
 Trustocity wrote:
Here's a very simple observation to determine the relevence of this cover: When Neil sings it, he sounds helpless. When k.d. sings it, she sounds like she just got a request from someone in the audience to take a stab at an old standard. What she doesn't sound is angst-ridden in the least.
 

She comes across sounding very coy to me.  "Ooooh, I'm just sooooo helpless over here all by my little self.  Won't sooooomebody come rescue little ol' me?" 
Posted 12 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Contrary to popular opinion...I like this version. Also, I love the album. It has some really great stuff on it.
Posted 12 years ago by robotbass    [ Reply ]
Patiently hoping this is the purgatory before the REAL version.....
Posted 12 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Better than the original recording. Not as good as the live one off of Massey Hall.
Posted 12 years ago by jukes1    [ Reply ]
Can't go higher than 5 on this one.
Posted 12 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
Not nearly as good as the original by Neil Young.
Posted 12 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
I love her voice in this song but the staccato beat of the rhythm doesn't do it for me.  It's still a 5 though.
Posted 12 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
hate this version. she sounds whiney. ugh.
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 deadmessengers wrote:
This might be the only thing KD Lang has ever done that I didn't like.  Her voice, her delivery, everything, is just flawless - which is exactly the kind of voice that this song didn't need.   To be fair, she was trying to improve on something that was damn near perfect to begin with.  
 
Bob leans down and says, "My sentiments exactly."
Posted 12 years ago by mcullers    [ Reply ]
This cover is really growing on me.
Posted 12 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
 deadmessengers wrote:
This might be the only thing KD Lang has ever done that I didn't like.  Her voice, her delivery, everything, is just flawless - which is exactly the kind of voice that this song didn't need.   To be fair, she was trying to improve on something that was damn near perfect to begin with.  
 
My first reaction was similar, it seems arrogant to try to improve or even approach the harmonies of the mighty Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
However, it is growing on me, quite a nice cover.
Posted 12 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
 deadmessengers wrote:
This might be the only thing KD Lang has ever done that I didn't like.  Her voice, her delivery, everything, is just flawless - which is exactly the kind of voice that this song didn't need.   To be fair, she was trying to improve on something that was damn near perfect to begin with.  
 
I had the same reaction. No, not much you can do to improve on the beautiful, haunting Neil Young original. So chalk it up to (perhaps) a self-indulgent "nice try" for what surely is one of her old school favs.  Now, let's hear her version of "Hallelujah", which is every bit as good as the Jeff Buckley, version, both being covers of the Leonard Cohen classic.

Posted 12 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
I get a chuckle every time I hear her mention Big Bird.
Posted 12 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
All Canadians just sing along to this song no matter who does it. All together now, Helpless, Helpless, Helpless, Helpless. That's feels pretty good, eh?
Posted 12 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
This might be the only thing KD Lang has ever done that I didn't like.  Her voice, her delivery, everything, is just flawless - which is exactly the kind of voice that this song didn't need.   To be fair, she was trying to improve on something that was damn near perfect to begin with.  
Posted 12 years ago by deadmessengers    [ Reply ]
Thank the gods for youtube to get her voice singing these lyrics out of my head.
Posted 12 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
I've heard three or four covers of this song, and I have to admit that I like them all.
Posted 12 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
 rtrudeau wrote:
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener me feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
 
fyt

Posted 13 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Happy Birthday k.d.!!!!!!
Posted 13 years ago by llano48    [ Reply ]
 KevinM wrote:
 suebee3 wrote:

She's such a whiner.


Maybe so but she does a hell of a lot better than that gawd awful crooner Neil Young

 

roger that...
Posted 13 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
Oh my god. This has to be the best way to completely ruin an absolute classic of a tune. This is mr youngs, get off!
Posted 13 years ago by Zimmerman84    [ Reply ]
Nice version of a truly classic song. But there can be only one impeccable rendition of this, and that's the dude who wrote it. 
Posted 13 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
man, that's nice.
Posted 13 years ago by govna    [ Reply ]
 suebee3 wrote:

She's such a whiner.


Maybe so but she does a hell of a lot better than that gawd awful crooner Neil Young

Posted 13 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
"Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllpless ..."

k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
 
 
Yeah, I have to admit: as a huge fan of both k.d. and Orton, there are times when I wonder about their choices.

This cover of "Helpless" goes seriously astray from the very start, and there are times when Orton is obviously lost. But, that's OK, we all make mistakes and fortunately for the rest of us, we don't make mistakes on a recording heard by the world. 
Posted 13 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]

She's such a whiner.


Posted 13 years ago by suebee3    [ Reply ]
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
"Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllpless ..."

k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
 
 
Oh. my. gawd.  I'm laughing so hard I think I dislocated my spine.  You are SO dead-on.  I think what I love most about Mr. Young's song is that aching, heart-breaking vocal. So much sorrow and yearning in it.... K.D. just didn't convey that in her version.  And yep, Beth Orton's vo-ho-cals ca-han be-he a little bi-hit anno-hoy-ing...

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 dctrpunda wrote:
i got past my love of Neil's version and enjoyed this cover
 
same here - in my book, K.D. can do no wrong.

Posted 13 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
"Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllpless ..."

k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
 
 
{#Lol}  Are you the only other person in the world irritated by Beth Orton? 
On the other hand, I really like KD Lang's wonderful, honest voice.
And I like this song done by her. 
Posted 13 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
Good. I like Nick Cave's version better.
Posted 13 years ago by citizenkeith    [ Reply ]
 tipper wrote:
How could she?
 
Because she did this so well.  KD lives up to the original, and also makes it her own.  That's all one should ever ask of a cover.  Love to hear more from this album.  I haven't followed her in years.  
Posted 13 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
"Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllpless ..."

k.d., God bless ya', girl. I don't know which is worse; her beating certain words to death with her looping plunge to the great bottoms or Beth Orton's mu-hashing of wu-hords with that wu-heird "h" thu-hing she does. Actually, imagine Beth singing "Helpless"!
Hmm ... hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-elllllllllp-lu-hess ... or something or other.
 
Posted 13 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
Sorry, but Neil's version can't be topped...this one pale's.....
Posted 13 years ago by linzie    [ Reply ]
i got past my love of Neil's version and enjoyed this cover
Posted 14 years ago by dctrpunda    [ Reply ]
 osbyec wrote:


I love "Hallelujah" done by both Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright, and I hadn't heard her version until the Olympics.  At first I thought it was going to be too pretty, but by the end I had chills.
 
Agree!  It's not quite up there with Buckley's version, but IMHO kd's is the 2nd best version... 
Posted 14 years ago by mfassett    [ Reply ]
 Kokoloco53 wrote:

Wow, I feel sorry for you that you've limited your horizons. Cover music is cover music, and it doesn't take away from Young original, but if you've never heard this album, you've missed one of the all time great collections from an awesome talent.

 Detlaps wrote:

Well said (voice/song thing).
 
 
completely agree, this is an AWESOME collection of songs by a great singer... well worth a purchase, I wore this out.  
Posted 14 years ago by mfassett    [ Reply ]
 rtrudeau wrote:
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
 
i don't know... emotion is a subjective thing. i do feel some angst and a certain amount of empathy when i listen to this version. But It seems that amongst the music elite, a singer needs to have a weak, crackly voice to be considered as having emotion

Posted 14 years ago by clwguy    [ Reply ]

Wow, I feel sorry for you that you've limited your horizons. Cover music is cover music, and it doesn't take away from Young original, but if you've never heard this album, you've missed one of the all time great collections from an awesome talent.

 Detlaps wrote:

Well said (voice/song thing).

 


Posted 14 years ago by Kokoloco53    [ Reply ]
Bill, please play The Valley off of this album — better rendition than the original by Jane Siberry (who is an amazing artist)!
Posted 14 years ago by Viv515    [ Reply ]
 sheeelaaa wrote:
Beautiful voice ... wrong song.  Only Neil can be truly Helpless!  lol
 
Well said (voice/song thing).

Posted 14 years ago by Detlaps    [ Reply ]
Beautiful voice ... wrong song.  Only Neil can be truly Helpless!  lol
Posted 14 years ago by sheeelaaa    [ Reply ]
Uhmmmm.. no. {#Naughty}
Posted 14 years ago by gonzafr    [ Reply ]
How could she?
Posted 14 years ago by tipper    [ Reply ]
nice segue from guaranteed!
Posted 14 years ago by soulcollision    [ Reply ]
The thing that makes the CSNY original great is the amazing vocal harmony. K.D. sounds nice, but the backing vocals on the chorus are weak.
Posted 14 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
Not the best tune for her to exercise the beauty of her voice.
Posted 14 years ago by BlueHeronDruid    [ Reply ]
She should cover "For The Turnstiles"....ok maybe not.
Posted 14 years ago by CamLwalk    [ Reply ]
 rantnraver wrote:
beautiful...just beautiful...the only cover of a neil young song i've heard that towers over the original. i love her voice and her ability to interpret songs. i want to hear it again immediately...which is how i feel when i hear "coming home" or "hallelujah"...beautiful.
 

I love "Hallelujah" done by both Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright, and I hadn't heard her version until the Olympics.  At first I thought it was going to be too pretty, but by the end I had chills.
Posted 14 years ago by osbyec    [ Reply ]
 azdcryan wrote:


well said - exactelly
 


Posted 14 years ago by manonfortini    [ Reply ]
 rtrudeau wrote:
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
 


Posted 14 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 rtrudeau wrote:
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
 

well said
Posted 14 years ago by azdcryan    [ Reply ]

K.D. Lang sings Neil Young's "Helpless" Live (2005):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KRVtjgMkM

"K. D. Lang sings Helpless standing in for Neil Young who was recovering in the hospital. Juno awards 2005. Please enjoy."
Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
There's no denying she has a beautiful voice. However, this interpretation brings nothing new to the song. It's just "pretty." The original actually made the listener feel angst, helplessness. This version does not.
Posted 14 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
What can I say, this does the original justice.
Posted 14 years ago by ezzyme    [ Reply ]
Love this version of Helpless. Then again, I love anything kd lang sings.  Check out kd's last album "watershed" and her new album "Recollection", to be released Feb., 2, 2010.


Posted 14 years ago by ontariomom    [ Reply ]
 brewcity wrote:
I'm not a fan of this version of what is a great song, and not just because I love the original. It's because KD is particularly whiney on this one. Her voice usually doesn't bother me, but I've got to say on the chorus she was like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Paltry poultry for puppies.....


 

One of the most clueless posts I have ever read on RP.

KD Lang and fingernails on a chalkboard

That's like Dick Cheney and peace and love
Posted 14 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Wow! This is a fantastic cover of the song.
Posted 14 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
She's taken the life and meaning out of the song. It adds nothing to the original but fluff and crooning vocals.
Posted 14 years ago by thatch    [ Reply ]
Every time I hear KD's amazing voice I tell myself I have to buy more of her music.

And as a huge Neil fan, I must say this is a fantastic reinterpretation of his classic.

Going to buy this cover album asap.
Posted 14 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
I can't argue with your opinion of this version, it's really nice. I'm not sure I agree with the "towers over the original" part.  I can't think of a song that more perfectly captures a feeling through music, lyrics, and tempo than the original.
 rantnraver wrote:
beautiful...just beautiful...the only cover of a neil young song i've heard that towers over the original. i love her voice and her ability to interpret songs. i want to hear it again immediately...which is how i feel when i hear "coming home" or "hallelujah"...beautiful.
 


Posted 14 years ago by MrJames    [ Reply ]
beautiful...just beautiful...the only cover of a neil young song i've heard that towers over the original. i love her voice and her ability to interpret songs. i want to hear it again immediately...which is how i feel when i hear "coming home" or "hallelujah"...beautiful.
Posted 15 years ago by rantnraver    [ Reply ]
If you like this song, you'll LOVE the album. She covers some powerful songs and takes them to a new level. It's a must have!
Posted 15 years ago by sterlingy    [ Reply ]
The version of Joni Mitchell's Jericho on this album is just stunning. It's a really good album, but this track isn't one of the best.

Posted 15 years ago by Jungle_Jim    [ Reply ]
My brain says
but the goosebumps say

Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
The image on the cover takes me home.  Days so cold that ice fog hangs in the air, you can smell it.  Sounds travel for miles, muffled in an icy embrace.  Cold eyeballs, frozen nose hairs, crunchy, squeaky footsteps as the Sorrels trudge through the brittle snow.  Mittened hands jammed in the pockets of my 40C below-rated parka.  Now all I need is a snowflake emoticon.
Posted 15 years ago by Tagish_girl    [ Reply ]
Did she say Big Bird's flying across the sky? {#Eek}
Posted 15 years ago by Bridieboo    [ Reply ]
Woah! 
As a Canadian, I'm kinda embarassed I've never heard this!
One of the greatest songs ever written by a Canadian artist (Neil Young)
and sung by one of our finest Songstresses (KD)
This is beautiful!

Posted 15 years ago by colleen    [ Reply ]
 ufamsm wrote:
Great pick. 

Good song, this entire album is actually one of those exceedingly rare finds where every single track is entirely listenable. 49th || is one of the better albums to throw into the shuffle for a dinner or wine party.  
 
I picked three tracks from this album to upload, and, not only did B&R accept all three, they play all three!  But wait, there's more: They played her version of Hallelujah the very day I uploaded it!

Posted 15 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
 trompetilla wrote:
nice, but too sing songy for me. I like the origial better. KD's voice is too rich&luxe for this I think. maybe it'll grow on me too.
 
full agree

Posted 15 years ago by Mnemo    [ Reply ]
Thanks for the dedication to Canada Day hangovers, Bill. Mine is in full bloom!
Posted 15 years ago by rtb    [ Reply ]
This cover is helpless.
Posted 15 years ago by joanie    [ Reply ]
Great pick. 

Good song, this entire album is actually one of those exceedingly rare finds where every single track is entirely listenable. 49th || is one of the better albums to throw into the shuffle for a dinner or wine party.  
Posted 15 years ago by ufamsm    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
After having grooved to the original of this song, I'm ruined for any other version. Even if I wasn't, though, K.D. Lang should not attempt to cover something as heavyweight as "Helpless." She's doomed from the start.
 
Oh so sad to hear that! Neil can't sing, never could and he admits it freely. It is without a doubt a great song done by both neither detracting from the other. K.D. made me fall in love with this song again and to go back and listen to both. Far from "Doomed" she has done a fabulous enterpretation of a timeless classic. Happy Canada Day eh!


Posted 15 years ago by PeterBerr    [ Reply ]
What a gorgeous version - well done KD - this is awesome
Posted 18 years ago by MrKite    [ Reply ]
After having grooved to the original of this song, I'm ruined for any other version. Even if I wasn't, though, K.D. Lang should not attempt to cover something as heavyweight as "Helpless." She's doomed from the start.
Posted 19 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
nice, but too sing songy for me. I like the origial better. KD's voice is too rich&luxe for this I think. maybe it'll grow on me too.
Posted 19 years ago by trompetilla    [ Reply ]
I've been in the camp that insists that this song shouldn't be done by anyone but NY and that KD doesn't sound pained enough. But - I'm starting to like this version - not compared to anyone/thing else, but on its own merits. It's up to an 8 for me. :nodhead:
Posted 19 years ago by diane    [ Reply ]
I think kd did a fantstic job with this! She's such a talented singer, and she does these lyrics great justice! Solid 9
Posted 19 years ago by beckysbear    [ Reply ]
I'm not a fan of this version of what is a great song, and not just because I love the original. It's because KD is particularly whiney on this one. Her voice usually doesn't bother me, but I've got to say on the chorus she was like fingernails on a chalkboard. Paltry poultry for puppies..... :grumpy.gif:
Posted 19 years ago by brewcity    [ Reply ]
You think Neil would agree his song is "perfect" and shouldn't be played by someone else? Doubt it. The album is called "hymns of the 49th parallel", which I think shows the respect she gives the songs.
Posted 19 years ago by Nuance    [ Reply ]
Love the song. Love K.D. Lang's voice. But this song definitely lacks the heart and soul that this song requires to be truly awe inspiring. It could be so much more...
Posted 19 years ago by oppy    [ Reply ]
This version, musically, leaves me uninspired, but KD's vocals are so rich and expressive, that I can't help but enjoy it.
Posted 19 years ago by effba    [ Reply ]
Doesn't suck but it's not Neil. Some songs are so perfect, you just don't go there.
Posted 19 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]