I really have always loved this song so much that I have mixed emotions about her cover version. I didn't like it at first but to read her explantion of why she did it really hit close to my home. Please give it a listen off of her site and comment.
Anytime a song can reach out and touch you it's good.Now I like Tom's version better but that's just me........If she can breath new life into the song and it helps others feel good than that's cool too. Melissa has a great voice. I always liked "Somebody Bring Me Some Water".
Wow! I think she did a great job with a great song--very powerful. It made me think about the song in a whole new way considering what Melissa has been through. Thanks for sharing this, laceytom!
~~"Can I help it if I still dream time to time"~~
Posts: 429 | Location: In-between memory and a dream. | Registered: October 24, 2003
amazing! of course tom's is better but I have to give it to melissa!!! I thought that totally rocked. The same song but I got a totally different feeling from the song than I get with tom's version. Seems darker!
Posts: 1097 | Location: Fayetteville, AR | Registered: May 07, 2004
Haven't heard it yet, but it makes perfect sense that she of all people would cover it. I always thought it could easily be translated as a kind of homosexual anthem, which I think is cool if she could pull it off. Of course, there's the possibility that she doesn't mean it to be that way at all, but I think it's most probably a factor.
"I want Michael to do this song. This is a dance craze that's sweepin' my brain, you know...uh [pause]...I have dance crazes that occasionally sweep my brain." - Tom Petty, 4-11-99.
Posts: 1231 | Location: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: October 23, 2002
Wow -- I am thoroughly impressed. I've never been a big fan of Melissa Ethridge, but I really have to say, that was a killer cover of "Refugee". I love the dark acoustic guitars. I think, maybe, that the song might even have been a little better if they just left it acoustic and didn't rock it up. It was really good though. I'm impressed.
"I want Michael to do this song. This is a dance craze that's sweepin' my brain, you know...uh [pause]...I have dance crazes that occasionally sweep my brain." - Tom Petty, 4-11-99.
Posts: 1231 | Location: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: October 23, 2002
hello CD listeners, we have come to the point on this album where those listening on cassette or records will have to stand up or sit down and turn over record or tape. In fairness to those listeners we will now take a few seconds before we begin side two... Thank you... Here's side two - tom petty, 1989
Not a Melissa fan, but considering she has a certain level of prestige in the music industry and she wants to cover a Tom song, I feel on our end it's flattering.
I liked it -- but I am a very big fan of Melissa anyway -- if you arent familiar try the Brave and Crazy CD -- I prefer the Tom version but I am a creature of habit and often like originals better than covers . . . just a thing about me I guess.
And I think its more about her fight with breast cancer than the lesbian thing -- read the little paragraph about why shes covering it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace, Love, Laughter and Music!
Posts: 1491 | Location: MI | Registered: October 03, 2002
Ah, didn't know she had breast cancer. That's how far out of the loop I am. She's made such a career out of producing lesbian anthems, I figured "Refugee" would just be her latest addition on that front. But it works either way, because it's just so desperate and empowering at the same time. I really loved how she replaced the word "burned" with "cursed".
Again, I've never liked Melissa Ethridge, but this is really good.
"I want Michael to do this song. This is a dance craze that's sweepin' my brain, you know...uh [pause]...I have dance crazes that occasionally sweep my brain." - Tom Petty, 4-11-99.
Posts: 1231 | Location: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: October 23, 2002
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