Lopez Blogs

I love a good cover version I do. When done well they bring an instant air of familiarity to your airwaves while hopefully offering something new into the mix, whether that be within the arrangement, the harmonies or the lead vocals. It's something X-Factor contestants do on a weekly basis (with varying degrees of success), but sometimes you will come across a cover version or two that is so outstanding it blows everything else out of the water. Here are two such recordings, both available this week...

Daniel Boys ~ To Make You Feel My Love

Ah Daniel. Aiden Grimshaw should take a leaf out of his book... Not winning Any Dream Will Do was probably a blessing in disguise for the charming Mr Boys. He's gone on to establish himself a pretty decent career in the West End (Avenue Q), put out a delightful debut album (the lovely So Close) and built up a solid concert following. His duet of I Know Him So Well with John Barrowman is one of the most stunning live performances I've seen/heard in recent years. His latest recording is a stripped back acoustic version of the Bob Dylan evergreen, To Make You Feel My Love. The guitar gently provides the background setting for an emotive performance from Daniel that accentuates his ability to really give a delivery with his vocals. His voice weaves a spell around the lyrics so you are transfixed by his total immersion into the song. He resists the need to belt it out, making it a more subdued plea that highlights the nuances in the melody. It's a truly beautiful performance that sadly shimmers from start to finish. Daniel is definitely an accomplished vocalist and definitely knows how to interpret a tune to maximum effect. It helps that he's an absolute looker too :) Be sure to follow him on twitter to download this gorgeous, gorgeous track for zero pence. amazing.

Elouise ~ You'll Never Walk Alone:

I've already chatted quite extensively about the two other songs on Elouise's latest Stardust Melodies EP (The Winner Takes It All and Stardust). Larry Flick premiered the third track from the EP (out now on iTunes) on his Morning Jolt yesterday and it's an absolute stunner. It's a simmering rendition of the Carousel anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and proves once again that the match of Steve Anderson's production values with Elouise's ever stunning vocals is something very special indeed. The instrumental backing is a slowly building echoing wall of orchestral magic that sounds incredibly festive without being Christmassy - let me clarify that: it's the type of song that an established artist would put out at Christmas, dominate the festive charts with but be the song that you can play all year round. There is an air of angelicness around the choral backing vocals that bring the song into life at the start with Elouise providing a tempered breathy delivery of the lyrics. As the tune progresses, there is a building drama that never completely goes over the top and nor should it - the passion in Elouise's voice demonstrate a an abiding love for the song and an emotional connection often missing in her contemporaries. And kudos to Steve for letting Elouise shine with that heavenly choir and orchestra that always enhances her but never overtakes her. Simply gorgeous. Buy the EP right here.