Scattered Thoughts: Is Instant Karma Gonna Get You?
U2’s studio version of the John Lennon classic Instant Karma is now out and floating about. It is new and it is U2 (we like) and it is available for purchase as of June 12 in the U.S. as part of the benefit cd Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. It will be released later this month outside of the U.S.
Entertainment Weekly’s reviewer says U2’s version “brings the lameness” and that Bono’s vocals are “curiously dispassionate.” Meanwhile, David Fricke’s review in Rolling Stone gives U2 high marks for energizing the song “like true fans.”
Have you heard it yet? (Click here for a listen to the full version of U2’s take on Instant Karma.)
Personally, I was expecting a little more oomph out of that chorus, but overall it sounds like “four guys in a room” playing a pure rock ‘n’ roll melody, and I am definitely a fan of that.
What is your review of it?
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Silvrlvr said,
June 14, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Oh, is Bono on it? I was too busy listening to Edge’s chimey guitar
Actually, I think they should have done a retake. Bono’s voice goes really shrill on “world” in the second verse. What, did they run out of quarters for the studio meter?
Micheal said,
June 15, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
I certainly don’t feel like they “brought the lameness” but I was expecting a little more. It almost sounds as though they were afraid to approach Lennon. I miss the little drum solo- I was hoping to hear what Larry would do with it.
All that said, I sure did sing along pretty loudly!
“And we all… Shine On!”
mkfg said,
June 15, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
I agree with Micheal. It certainly wasn’t “lame” but I thought it was very very safe. I still like it though. it’s just nothing groundbreaking. And yeah, Larry never gets the spotlight.
TC Jones said,
June 15, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
I was expecting more from the chorus as well, and more from Larry. His one repeated fill, if you can even call it that, gets tiring.
The live versions were much better.
ian said,
June 15, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
i liked it. it got loads of play on my cell phone / walkman thingy.
it reminds of christmas (baby please come home) they did years ago — like a quick one-off recorded fast and sparse.
i’m not going to say it was the best u2 use of a studio to record a john lennon song ever, but a fun surprise none-the-less…
caravox said,
June 16, 2007 @ 8:05 am
Slighty off-topic, but I was surprised when I bought the cd to see that the producer for U2 on this song was Tal Herzberg. (Additional credits on production to Larry and Edge).
Tal Herzberg also worked with U2 on the Mary J. Blige version of One.
John said,
June 17, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
I’ll hold up the previous few lines. Good, but not great. Fun, but not overwhelming. Missed Larry on the drum solo.
But Larry’s never been a drum solo kind of guy. When your drumming days begin in a Dublin marching band, there really isn’t a terrible propensity to have monster fills and solos.
Their cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Jesus Christ” was a whole lot better.
I know one can’t really judge by a cover song on a tribute album, but maybe it’s this that Bono was talking about when he said “The rock has to change.” Yes, “Window in the Skies” was killer (I don’t care what anyone else says), but the studio version of “The Saints Are Coming” was underwhelming. I think if you compare their sound on Blige’s version of “One” and the HTDAAB stuff with what they’re doing now, you’re seeing them in kind of a transitional period, looking for something new.
Chelsea said,
June 21, 2007 @ 8:48 am
As I am young and have never actually heard the John Lennon version of “Instant Karma” I have nothing to compare the U2 version too so I liked it. It’s the song I like to wake up to in the morning simply because it makes me want to get up and dance around. The chorus is my favorite part.
aj said,
June 23, 2007 @ 9:51 am
wow its terrible. its way to nice not gritty at all..Bonos lost it recently, his voice is a shadow of what it was..Everytime i hear him sing any old songs his voice goes low,when it use to go higher..Time to hang up his boots, starting to resemble a uncle at a wedding dancing embarrassing..
julie said,
July 2, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
i prefer duran duran’s version of Instant Karma, much more inspiring and edgy with their own twist.
But it wasn’t God awful or anything. Just okay. Just doesn’t seem like they put a whole lot of effort into it.
Vedat - Zoro said,
July 3, 2007 @ 11:01 am
hi U2 is my favourite group music i like you U2
sagittarius_ela said,
July 6, 2007 @ 8:49 am
It’s not bad but they could have done a little bit more.I was hoping for a Larry Mullen Jr. drum solo.