Taking sides "Freddie's Dead" - Curtis or Fishbone?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I'm of the right age that I heard the Fishbone cover first, and for a long time (months for sure, maybe years) I didn't realize that there was a superclassic original version of the bang-out opener of my favorite album. Of course, once I heard the full Superfly treatment, I was instantly in love with that, too.

So I guess the question is, can those LA kids even get one vote? I might do it, but I might roll with Curtis, too.

Poll Results

Option	Votes
The O.G.	29
The new jacks	8

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Friday, 9 January 2009 19:35 (sixteen years ago)

Both great, but m'heart belongs to Fishbone.

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 9 January 2009 19:39 (sixteen years ago)

Curtis. Listened to Superfly hundreds of times, Truth and Soul only a bunch of times.

― Calling All Creeps! (contenderizer), Friday, 9 January 2009 19:40 (sixteen years ago)

The doowop breakdown IS awesome as fuck. xp

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Friday, 9 January 2009 19:40 (sixteen years ago)

bump

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 13:54 (sixteen years ago)

Can't imagine voting anything other than the original, but the Fishbone version (1988) at least seems timely.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, 12 January 2009 13:59 (sixteen years ago)

just looked at the 2cd reissue of superfly in zavvi and contemplated getting it.
letting the album slip through my hands is going to be one of those things i regret isn't it.
i loved the fishbone version at the time of release, though not so sure i would be overly keen now.

― mark e, Monday, 12 January 2009 14:03 (sixteen years ago)

xpost Timely for its moment, that is.

And yes, Mark, you will regret it.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, 12 January 2009 14:15 (sixteen years ago)

going with curtis, but fishbone version is almost as godlike

― is this a cunning (Baldrick style) plan to obtain the reward money? (stevie), Monday, 12 January 2009 14:22 (sixteen years ago)

ts: communities destroyed by heroin vs. communities destroyed by crack

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 15:20 (sixteen years ago)

Yeah.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, 12 January 2009 15:22 (sixteen years ago)

Crutis

― ilx chilton (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 12 January 2009 15:31 (sixteen years ago)

MFSB! (haha ok Curtis)

― 909090909 Rivethed Brikkchin Reverk now DANZ (Mackro Mackro), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:10 (sixteen years ago)

Huh, haven't heard that one.

(after a trip to allmusic)

Rippapotamus?!!!?

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:18 (sixteen years ago)

Sorry, RippOpotamus

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:19 (sixteen years ago)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/RHONDATEUDHOPE/Kellynew.jpg

― ^likes black girls (HI DERE), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:20 (sixteen years ago)

Never heard the Fishbone version, can't imagine there'd be much point, as Curtis did it perfectly.

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:22 (sixteen years ago)

The chickipedia thread is in ILE, Dan.

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:22 (sixteen years ago)

The Fishbone version shouldn't work at all given what song they're covering, but it does and it's awesome.

Still, the original pwns.

xp: lol you don't like the Ripapotamus?

― ^likes black girls (HI DERE), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:23 (sixteen years ago)

I only see the ripa, no potamus.

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:33 (sixteen years ago)

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/Jermaine_narrowweb__300x442,2.jpg

― ilx chilton (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 12 January 2009 16:52 (sixteen years ago)

Isn't that a Conchord? I don't get the connection.

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 18:36 (sixteen years ago)

Yes, but they call him the Hiphopopotamus.

― ilx chilton (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 12 January 2009 19:09 (sixteen years ago)

Oh, THAT'S why I don't watch that show!

Anyway, those of you who are voting without having heard Fishbone's version - I'm not saying that you'll change your mind when you hear it, but it really does have a reason to exist, and a good one. We're not talking about RHCP doing "Higher Ground" here.

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 19:14 (sixteen years ago)

I like Fishbone but anyone who thinks their version is better than Curtis's is not only wrong but INSANE to boot.

― Pfunkboy Formerly Known As... (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 12 January 2009 19:18 (sixteen years ago)

No allowance for "Was 19 when Truth and Soul came out"?

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 19:52 (sixteen years ago)

I'm tolerant of Fishbone, hell I like the earlier stuff, but "Freddie's Dead", while obvious why they would cover it, is not one of Fishbone's highlights.

― 909090909 Rivethed Brikkchin Reverk now DANZ (Mackro Mackro), Monday, 12 January 2009 20:40 (sixteen years ago)

Now "Ghetto Soundwave" off the same album? Now we're talkin'

― 909090909 Rivethed Brikkchin Reverk now DANZ (Mackro Mackro), Monday, 12 January 2009 20:40 (sixteen years ago)

Actually, my fave on T&S is "A Question of Life" (despite what I hear as likely crypto-anti-choice lyrics) but it's a disc full of winners.

― The Way of the Diamond Spirit (Oilyrags), Monday, 12 January 2009 21:05 (sixteen years ago)

obv choice but "BONIN' IN THE BONEYARD"

― ^likes black girls (HI DERE), Monday, 12 January 2009 21:10 (sixteen years ago)

OG for me - "Freddie's Dead" was the low point of Truth & Soul. Fishbone rocked better than they swung. (At least, by that point in their career.)

― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 12 January 2009 21:21 (sixteen years ago)

Master P - Kenny's Dead

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 12 January 2009 21:36 (sixteen years ago)

See the track in context on the Superfly soundtrack ferfucksake. Anyone who cared enough to cover it would tell you the same.

― Soukesian, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:50 (sixteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

― System, Thursday, 15 January 2009 00:01 (sixteen years ago)

love love love Fishbone but there is no question here Curtis was a god

― H in Addis, Thursday, 15 January 2009 01:19 (sixteen years ago)

Best thing is that it's just an instrumental in the movie -- Curtis wrote the withering lyrics for the record itself.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 15 January 2009 16:52 (sixteen years ago)

I never have actually seen that movie...

― Velma can stay (Oilyrags), Thursday, 15 January 2009 19:29 (sixteen years ago)

Both great, but m'heart belongs to Fishbone.

― Alex in NYC, Friday, January 9, 2009 7:39 PM (6 days ago) Bookmark

yep.

― m the g, Thursday, 15 January 2009 19:33 (sixteen years ago)

much love for truth & sould, they get my vote

― bnw, Thursday, 15 January 2009 19:40 (sixteen years ago)

truth & sold would be more rhcp amirite

― bnw, Thursday, 15 January 2009 19:41 (sixteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

― System, Friday, 16 January 2009 00:01 (sixteen years ago)

Closer than I suspected, by a lot.

Next up: Aretha vs. En Vogue "Giving Him Something He Can Feel"

― Velma can stay (Oilyrags), Friday, 16 January 2009 16:32 (sixteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.