RS Readers like/don’t like U2′s ‘Helter Skelter’

U2′s cover of “Helter Skelter” is named Best Beatles Cover by Rolling Stone readers.

As expected, commenters at RS revolt:

That U2 cover is atrocious (and I like U2).

and

I like U2 circa “Rattle and Hum,” but their version of “Helter Skelter” castrates the original.

and

U2’s version of Helter Skelter is horrible. I have no idea what the hell you guys are smoking

Just another day on the Interweb…..

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8 Responses to “RS Readers like/don’t like U2′s ‘Helter Skelter’”

  1. Edwardo 26 March 2008 at 4:02 pm permalink

    Surprising choice as I thought most people hated this cover. I don’t hate it but there is nothing special about it.

    !!!!!!!!!

  2. Erika 26 March 2008 at 5:08 pm permalink

    The only remarkable part of this song is “This is a song Charles Manson stole from The Beatles, and we’re stealing it back.”

  3. Janko 27 March 2008 at 3:04 am permalink

    I think this cover is marvelous! Imho it’s much better than the original, it’s more fluent. Full of energy!

  4. Niterpi 27 March 2008 at 3:54 am permalink

    this is a great cover! U2′s cover of happiness is a warm gun - now that sucks!

  5. mkfg 27 March 2008 at 8:37 am permalink

    I agree with Erika and am VERY SURPRISED it was chosen… so many better ones out there.

  6. ian 27 March 2008 at 9:14 pm permalink

    you guys kiddin’ me? the BEST part of that song is the guy in the audience who howls, “YAAAAAAAAA HOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

    awesome. Best. Beatles. Cover. Ever.

  7. Watts4 4 April 2008 at 4:18 am permalink

    The “Happiness is a Warm Gun” cover was worse, but not by a lot.

    Had R&H started with “Desire” as the first track, instead of that “Helter Skelter” cover, I think the reviews would have been a lot better for R&H. That cover just put people off right from the start. It’s not that bad of a cover, it kinda rocks, but it would have been better as an unexpected b-side than the intro song.

    There are so many great Beatles’ covers out there, the fact that voters chose this as the best shows a) U2 is popular b) People are stupid. I don’t like the math here!

  8. Moi 7 April 2008 at 12:15 pm permalink

    I think it was a good cover, nothing like the original, it was an interesting choice, as not so many people would choose a song like Helter Skelter to cover. I think it was far better than the Happiness… and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, no doubt.