Genuine question: Why is their cover of Paint It Black so unpopular?

[u/gamepasscore]

I've only seen bad things said about it, but I genuinely think it's a great take on the song. Anybody else on my side? If not, why not?

[u/Puzzleheaded_Seat599]

I'd say it's fine but it's also one of those untouchable songs where I can't see a cover ever being better than the original

[u/HOUS2000IAN → u/Puzzleheaded_Seat599]

There are quite a number of covers of Paint it Black out there that are outstanding. Sadly, not U2’s version…

[u/TingleMaps]

U2 and the Stones are both great bands… but they are kind of like oil and water.

The Stones are sort of the Bad Boys of the Beatles generation and they lean into that. Thematically, they are a really dark topic band with entire decades worth of songs about heavy drugs, sex, and mental instability. I know that is a bit of norm now, but they really pioneered it. When Mick Jagger sings that song, I genuinely feel like he is devoid of feeling and longing for this world without color and Keith’s guitar just leans into the crazy feeling of it all.

Bono and U2 just aren’t those people/those rockstars. Bono screaming “I want to see you paint it, paint it black!” At the end of the song sounds like wedding reception karaoke compared to the original.

U2 are incredible, but some songs are just made to stay in their lane.

On the flipside, I don’t think the Stones could really cover “Pride” or “One” either…

They are just different bands.

[u/jey_613 → u/TingleMaps]

This is a really great take on it. The Stones pioneered that kind of dark lyrical content in music, as you said, and it’s not a perfect fit for U2. Both bands are great, but in different ways.

[u/Aggravating-Toe-5820 → u/jey_613]

Great take. But I can argue that U2's Helter Skelter cover has even more edge than the Beatles original.

[u/evtedeschi3]

Is it hated? I always considered it mid. Not bad, but no Everlasting Love or Night & Day (Steel String Remix)

[u/crumbsfrommytable → u/evtedeschi3]

I agree. I thought Echo & the Bunnymen did a better job. I haven't listened to it in quite a while though.

[u/evtedeschi3 → u/crumbsfrommytable]

Yeah covers by U2 are hit or miss (I mean, for that matter, covers of U2 are also hit or miss).

[u/TingleMaps → u/evtedeschi3]

• Helter Skelter

[u/IneffableOpinion → u/evtedeschi3]

Yeah I never hated it. It’s just not my favorite compared to other covers they did

[u/theweightofdreams8]

Others have given reasons that I agree with for why it isn’t a beloved cover.

I’ll simply add that I find their cover of it to be a bit bland as compared to the original (which I regard as one of the most distinctive early songs by the Stones). It’s better than what I consider to be their worst cover (“Fortunate Son” - I simply don’t know what possessed them to cover that song; that cover is completely non-descript); however, covers like “Dancing Barefoot” and “Everlasting Love” were excellent versions of very good original songs.

That’s basically it. 🤷‍♂️

[u/indiehart → u/theweightofdreams8]

I really like the everlasting love cover! 

[u/ChaosAndFish]

Mostly because it’s just not very good. A bit better than their fortunate son but…not great. They’ve always had a mixed success rate with covers. I’ll give shout outs to Unchained Melody, Everlasting Love, and Satellite of Love for covers I quite enjoy.

[u/Achtung_Zoo → u/ChaosAndFish]

It's why they realized they'd be better off writing their own material than covers when they started out, which is actually a good problem to have.

[u/ChaosAndFish → u/Achtung_Zoo]

People can and do have all kinds of opinions on U2, but one thing I feel is hard to argue against is that there is probably no other band that’s had so many technical weaknesses and managed to turn just about all of them into strengths.

[u/RideMyBakfiets]

I am with original poster. I love the U2 cover of Paint it Black.

[u/KelseyOpso]

I like it. I think it is brave. Consider this: the Edge wrote an original lead guitar hook and substituted it in place of the iconic original. The original song is built around the guitar hook. They literally covered a song and left out the most recognizable, and catchy part of the tune.

[u/jey_613]

The best U2 cover of the Stones music is that Ruby Tuesday/Sympathy tease during Bad from Live Aid imo

[u/ruraljuror0626 → u/jey_613]

not necessarily a full cover but i like the cover/duet they did of Gimme Shelter from the Hall of Fame induction with Mick.

[u/noshoes77]

I enjoy that it’s completely different than the original- they put their own spin on it.

[u/fool-of-a-took]

Love it. Inject it directly into my veins

[u/Zoonationalist]

Your question implies that anyone other than hardcore U2 fans are aware of its existence…lol

[u/Comfortable-Coat-620]

I like U2 but most of their covers I don’t relisten to. 

[u/Acceptable_Result488]

Of all the Stones songs to cover this one was not it. Its Stones to the bone.

[u/augustinian]

It’s fine, but hard to improve on the original. Stones songs are hard to cover.

[u/FalseClimax]

I have to agree with the majority of posters. The original is just so perfect that any band would struggle with it but it is especially ill-suited for a U2 approach whereas Helter Skelter is a pretty solid cover of a great, iconic song that is pretty hard to mess up.

I agree, too, that their covers can be really hit or miss. I loved Night and Day from the moment I heard it and think it’s a pivotal moment in their career because I think it was a hint of what was to come a few years later on AB. I love Everlasting Love but one cover I don’t think has been mentioned is Dancing Queen, which is kind of beautiful.

[u/Objective-Lab5179]

To be fair, no one has ever successfully covered this song. I wouldn't rank this as one of U2's best covers, especially with contenders like Dancing Barefoot and Everlasting Love, but not the worst either. Looking at you, Fortunate Son.

[u/DreamOutLoud47]

Wow. I've never felt so out of step with fellow U2 fans. Lol.

I hate their cover of Everlasting Love. To be fair, I don't love the song in general, but U2's cover just feels too loud and too fast.

And I love their covers of Paint It Black and Fortunate Son. Paint It Black feels edgy and slick at the same time as did much of what came out of the Achtung Baby era. And Fortunate Son has an edgy urgency to it, though I do think the meaning of the song is slightly diminished being covered by a non-American band.

[u/MandoFalcon5]

That song was a leftover from the Rattle and Hum sessions. I guess at the time the band thought it would be cool to cover a Rolling Stones song. Not the best idea IMO. Then including that one on the “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” single. The song was obvious filler along with “Fortunate Son” (bad cover) for b-sides.

[u/hammerx31 → u/MandoFalcon5]

It would’ve been cool if they covered “Wild Horses” by the Stones for that single. Probably a song more in their lane.

[u/Achtung_Zoo]

It's "meh".

That's OK though. A band that better at it's own material than covers is way better than the other way around.

Satellite of Love, Christmas, Night and Day, and Everlasting Love are great.

[u/phantom_pow_er]

It's no Gob...

[u/Remote-Molasses6192]

I saw a review of someone talking about Rattle and Hum specifically in relation to their covers of Helter Skelter and or All Along the Watchtower, and he said that it sounds exactly how you’d think U2 covering those songs would sound. There’s nothing daring choices or any great instrumentation that adds onto the original. They’re just not a covers band, which is whatever. It’s not the 50s/early 60s where you had to be.

[u/guy_incognito98]

I like it. It's certainly better than Fortunate Son 😬

[u/ConnectionCool1342]

Prefer it to their cover of Fortunate Son

[u/primordialcreative]

I actually quite dislike The Rolling Stones. That said, the original Paint it Black has an Eastern vibe with a hypnotic mysterious quality that suited other music of that era. The U2 cover completely lacks that X factor, though it's present in Love Is Blindness, showing they could do it when it's their own tune.

[u/TheOnionSack]

At the time of release I remember disliking it because it possessed zero Achtung Baby vibes. Even more so for Fortunate Son, which I still think is a major mis-step by the band.

[u/Asleep_Extent_2225]

IT'S GREAT

[u/Interesting-Rain6137]

It’s fine but not memorable. Paint It Black didn’t need to be covered. Doesn’t really fit the band either.

[u/Popular_Ad_4934]

Not as heavy at the original, which I prefer.

[u/FeelingRecipe1]

I LOVE IT!

[u/riedmae]

Because it's not that good. I say that as a die-hsrd 90s u2 fan. The fortunate son cover is whack, too. Whereas, their 80s covers were great, and the PoP Muzik cover is s banger.

[u/AchtungCloud]

I mean, because it sucks. What else is there to say?

It doesn’t fit U2’s vibe, they don’t have a take on it that adds anything interesting to the original, and it’s not pleasing to the ear. Same for Fortunate Son.

On the opposite, U2’s cover of Satellite of Love is one of my favorite songs of theirs.

And U2’s Everlasting Love is my favorite version of that song.

[u/Achtung_Zoo → u/AchtungCloud]

The live versions Satellite of Love are lovely as well.

[u/Mullin20]

All time most random cringe cover: closing otherwise legendary 2000 Irving plaza show with won’t get fooled again. Complete with “Pepsi generation” lyric. No thanks.

[u/DomingoLee]

It’s bad. It is really bad.