"Bad" Songs Actually Being Great In Right Hands. Examples Abound

This uniquely styled French woman named Nathalia performed
the campy song "YMCA" the France's version of "The Voice"
and turned the song into a sexy tour de force. 

Sometimes, over the years, a song becomes a big radio hit and I wonder why.

The tune in question often seems, at least to me,  lame, annoying, unoriginal.  The song gets inexplicably stuck in my head, and my mood sours for the entire day.

I've learned, though, that some of these "awful" hit records are hits because they are actually well-crafted songs. It's just that the rock or pop star that recorded the song didn't get it quite right. At least in my opinion.

That could be why these songs get stuck in my head - the classic earworm.  At some level, the public gets that these songs are somehow good, and they latch on. These songs become big hits. And earworms. For a reason.

I'm a big fan of those talent shows like "The Voice" that's broadcast all over the world and "(Insert Nation Here)'s Got Talent." Contestants often play around with these popular songs. They change the tempo, or the pitch or they strip the tune down to the bare essentials.

That's when I understand these "terrible" pop songs are actually quite good. Which is why I encourage people to give these music reality shows, and these different versions of "bad" songs a chance.  I've got a few examples that you should watch and listen to.

In 2016, Jasmine Elcock, then 14, went on Britain's Got Talent and performed the Cher song "Believe."

Elcock was smart enough to slow the song way down, strip away the Auto-Tune. the dance track and all the bells and whistles and reveal "Believe" for what it is: A beautiful, introspective and heartbreaking song. Elcock even had the judges and stage hands in tears. Watch and listen:



Then we have that Britney Spears song, "Oops, I Did It Again," another lightweight, fluffy song

In Germany's version of "The Voice," back in 2016, Vera Tevares turns what felt to me in Spears' version like a cold, manufactured pop song into something truly sexy. She also ditched the Auto-Tune in Spears' rendition. What is it with this awful Auto-Tune anyway?  It doesn't improve things. Watch and listen to this much better version.



Speaking of sexing things up, we should turn to a woman named Nathalia, who appeared on the French version of The Voice back in 2017.

She sang, of all things, the Village People classic, "YMCA."

Yeah, the Village People song is fun and campy, a staple of every bad wedding reception you've ever attended.

Nathalie combined a jazzy vibe, that sexiness and a wonderful vocal range to wow the judges and the audience with this song. This is my favorite video in this post. By far.  Watch and listen:



I kind of like, but don't love this next song, "Highway To Hell," originally done by AC DC.  The song has become kind of a cliche, frankly. And the performer who sang this on 2018's Britain's Got Talent didn't really change it up all that much, as in the performances above.

But considering it came from Jennie Darren, a nice, demure 68-year old Britsh retiree, it makes it totally fun and new and refreshing. Be patient at the beginning of the video, and you will be rewareded. It turns into proof that as I advance into old age, there's hope for a rock and roll life yet:



I'll conclude with a song I actually truly, really, love, pretty much whoever performs it.  "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen has been done many, many times by contestents on talent shows around the world.

Most of the contestants use the song to showcase their range, their pipes, their belting out songs, like this stunning performance by Emmanuel Smith on Britain's The Voice 2019.

In 2018, Mennel Ibtisse took a completely different tack with the song.  She remained seated, and did a subdued, but absolutely gorgeous version of "Hallelujah." It will move you to tears:



So yeah, go on line and look for versions of songs you don't really like.  You'll be surprised and rewarded.