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Clash of the Cover Songs: Kayne West vs. the Fray

The Rules for Battle: Each week, we pit versions of the same song by two different artists in a head-to-head death match for musical supremacy. (Sometimes it will be the original recording vs. a cover version; other times it will be two different covers.) Then it's up to you to decide: Listen to and vote on which version you think should emerge victorious and which should be sent packing. May the best band win!



The Song: 'Heartless' (original version by Kanye West)

The Contestants: Kanye West vs. the Fray

In This Corner -- Kanye West: On last year's '808s and Heartbreak,' listeners heard a new side of the pompous rapper; instead of slick jams, the album found Mr. West, um, singing, about his broken heart. On this song, West croons and laments about a woman as cold as "the winter wind when it breeze." Heartache never sounded so cool.

Kanye West, 'Heartless'




In This Corner -- the Fray: Not too many folks would fancy the Fray as a hip-hop cover band. Fair enough. But the band have at West's tune, trading the beat in favor of some sparse instrumentals, and upping the energy. And with Isaac Slade singing without a vocoder -- ahem -- West's sorrowful lyrics take center stage.

The Fray, 'Heartless'




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chelsea

Kanye wrote the song, not the Fray as the previous responder thought. However, I do agree that The Fray's version sounds better.

January 23 2010 at 1:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nick

There is no competition, The Fray wins. They obviously did a better job on this song and it sounds just so much better. It is something I could listen to over and over again. I hate Kanye singing it, he sounds so weird singing a song like this. By the way, Who wrote this anyways? I think the Fray did but it may have been some songwriter who sold the song to both Kanye and The Fray.

October 21 2009 at 12:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply