Tonight, it was "American Idol," and someone was performing the Rolling Stones'
classic, "Gimme Shelter." While it may not have been awful, I only had to hear 30 seconds of this version to know that it was subpar, not to mention a poor choice of a song to cover.
Don't get me wrong: "Gimme Shelter" (from 1969's Let It Bleed) is one of the Stones' most magical tracks, with a sense of foreboding that calms near the end (where love is "just a kiss away") even as the music is still boiling. Jimmy Miller's production is utterly amazing, starting with the edgy, percussive intro that fades in perfectly, and never relents.
Mick Jagger's singing is first rate on "Gimme Shelter," and when vocalist Merry Clayton practically shatters glass with her passion--you can hear a "whoo!" in the background in response to her startling guest shot--the track has turned into a masterpiece.
If you break it down, "Gimme Shelter" is a great record, not neccessarily a great song, because it depends so much on pure sound and production values, and the singer on "American Idol" was foolish to even attempt an intrepretation. Blame the band or the sound mix if you wish, but excellence was miles away.