Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons, Released July 1947
Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons, Released July 1947
12 comments
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If you haven't already heard it, I highly recommend Tay Zonday's cover of this song...
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He is a great singer, but he just doesn't have the right voice (though he tries). To sing this correctly you need to have smoked two packs a day for 40 years, or at least worked in a real coal mine for that long.
I feel similarly about Amazing grace - it should never be sung in church (except maybe as a solo) because most people in church have been going all their life and while not perfect don't have the awful background in sin to be believable.
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What's a better version?
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I've never heard one that is fully convincing. I know there are some real coal miners who sing songs like this, but I've never heard one.
I like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzlT80jQ3lo but I'm not sure that better is the correct way to describe it. (this is the Geoff Castellucci version that someone else already linked)
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It is hard to have a "better or worse" conversation" about something subjective, like an element of art.
For what it's worth, I like that version a lot more than the Travis or Ford ones. Thanks for sharing it.
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I would argue soon or suffering. A virtuous man who has been shit on his whole life would be appropriate, as well as a reformed sinner.
Or, honestly, anyone with a good, deep, rich voice. I'd love to have heard James Earl Jones try it.
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That's pretty good, but I really love the Geoff Castellucci version.
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This is the best version I've heard. Thanks!
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That was cool, thanks
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12 comments