Original v. Cover: Smooth Criminal

[Mr. TM]

Michael Jackson left this world a couple months. He left behind his children, his fans, and a plethora of hits. One song that I feel goes under the radar often out of his songs is one of my personal favourites, Smooth Criminal. Now I doubt many people will pick the cover version over the original, but the song they were using to launch MTV Canada 2, by the Alien Ant Farm was a decent cover. However, I cannot pick the cover over the MJ original, a song that now brings a tear to my eye. But perhaps the wrestling ring will get it a vote .

Michael Jackson
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Alien Ant Farm
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[X]

The original again wins here easily for me. Alien Ant Farm are talentless hacks, end of story. It doesn't take much creativity to take a song like Smooth Criminal and simply make it faster. That cover nearly killed my love for the original when it dominated the radio and MTV.

The original is one of MJ's best songs, and the video is amazing as well. I always enjoyed it when MJ took a more rock-oriented approach to a single, and this is the perfect case of that. The manic energy that is captured in the song simply can't be rivaled. Classic song that puts the awful AAF cover to s hame.

 

[SK]

If anyone says Alien Ant Farm they should have their ears removed. Nothing touches the original, especially not some worthless, mainstream wanabees, using the song to try and be popular.

Jackson's original is so much better in every way, one of my top 5 Jackson tracks and a pop classic, it's a disgrace that AAF got so much air time and popularity with their abortion of an effort at covering this song.

 

[Nitafrong]

When I first read through this I was determined to create an inspired post in favour of Alien Ant Farm. I was fairly young when I got their album. I was so young (or so uninterested in Michael Jackson) I didn't actually realise that Smooth Criminal was a cover- took Kerrang to tell me that it was origonally his. I first heard the origonal of this song only a few weeks ago, after listing to the cover for a couple of years. So yeah I am in the strange position that Jacksons version actually sounds like a cover to me.

But in the interests of fairness I actually listened to them both through, and despite my initial thoughts I have to agree with everyone else here so far. The origonal is actually the better song- though after years of the the cover it sounds fairly light and lacks any real force. Its still an ok song though and Mr Jackson certainly makes up any difference (as well as the fact that AAF is a bit simplistic)

Despite all the dislike felt above I will still say I like them though and I think Anthology is an ok album Still probably listen to it again before any of Michael (Though I would dance to M.J first in a club admitidly)

 

[Billie Jean]

Yeah i have to say the original takes this here. No one can beat an MJ song, especily not this one. The anti-graviti leap is legendery. Nope i love alian ant farm but c'mon, this is Michael jackson. The original wins!

 

[Alex]

Michael Jackson because it sounded like it could be in a gangster film (tarantino esque) also the video itself wins hands down because 1. it was original 2. it actually went with the song (gangster outfits etc) Alien Ant Farm, I like it but its rubbish compared to the original, also their video to it is just throwing a whole load of MJ things into one video (pavement lighting up, demon eyes etc)

 

[Dave]

I actually liked the Alien Ant Farm version. I thonk that it has got quite a bum rap on here because people think that it is just sped up. I think that it is a good cover and a decent performance of the classic song. However, Michael Jackson's version is brilliant in every sense of the word. Upon his death, I started listening to Michael Jackson more and more and Smooth Criminal is one of my favourite songs from his career.

Both have their good points. Alien Ant Farm's version is more about Rock and I like that but Michael's was the original and in my opinion, the best.