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'