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José González — Teardrop
Album: In Our Nature
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3483









Released: 2007
Length: 3:11
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Love, love is a verb
Love is a doing word
Feathers on my breath
Gentle impulsion shakes me makes me lighter
Feathers on my breath
Teardrop on the fire
Feathers on my breath

Nine nights of matter
Black flowers blossom
Feathers on my breath
Teardrop on the fire of a confession
Feathers on my breath
Black flowers blossom
Feathers on my breath

Water is my eye
Most faithful mirror
Feathers on my breath
Teardrop on the fire of a confession
Feathers on my breath
Most faithful mirror
Feathers on my breath
Teardrop on the fire
Feathers on my breath

You're stumbling a little
Comments (268)add comment
Hmm 🤔 it’s ‘fearless’ on my breath, methought?!
Mmmmmm, transition from Gustavo Santaolalla to José Gonzalez is some peak guitar.
 ibribe wrote:

OMG, the transition from John Parish covering Nick Drake to Jose Gonzalez covering Massive Attack gets 10 mins blown emoji from theirs RP head.



Hope you were around 2 months later. Same segue. 
OMG, the transition from John Parish covering Nick Drake to Jose Gonzalez covering Massive Attack gets 10 mins blown emoji from theirs RP head.
i can't believe it. i like this better than the original. it somehow sounds more authentic or something with his vocal techniques. i'm probably not wording that correctly...sorry.
Another "Why I listen to..." song!
This is fine but I really want to hear the original now
Yummy version. The guitar goes to the stars! 
Each time I hear this I give it one more plus... 
 Typesbad wrote:

Such a good song.  One would have to work at creating a bad version of it.



So true of some songs, and certainly this one!  For some reason mine is Atlantic City by Springsteen.  Have heard 6, 7, 8 versions, I don't know how many.  They're all good.
Such a good song.  One would have to work at creating a bad version of it.
Jose Gonzales is awesome, but I think plinking away at guitars just doesn't replicate the thick sound of the Massive Attack version  They accomplish the same thing with a quieter, more foreboding sound.
My favourite latino Swedish recording artist ever...
Liz’s version is better and this is damn good
What the hell was I on when I rated this a 4? It's a 9 now!
 teomacd wrote:

(intro) waiting for "Hello darkness my old friend".......... 



Great segue from Sounds of Silence outro to this intro in Teardrop.   
 KevinM wrote:

Everything Jose Gonzalez does is gold


Only if you suffer from insomnia. I have attended one of his concerts, so I know. 
 gumby wrote:
Blondie vs. Philip Glass — Heart of Glass
The Lost Fingers — Billy Jean
Jose Gonzalez — Teardrop

Can we skip the copypasta and get back to regular music?
Thank you



I see no problem with this copypasta... But maybe that's because it's lunchtime and I'm hungry!
 charbo wrote:
https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-so...

Great article about the inspiration for the melody, lyrics (Jeff Buckley), other artists that covered the tune (over 20 times!) and most importantly how "musical efficiency" has almost eliminated the  song intro. A lot to unpack from a song, but that has given it even deeper meaning for me.

It's gonna take some time for me to appreciate this rendition, if ever.
 
Look after the king of R n R
https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-so...

Great article about the inspiration for the melody, lyrics (Jeff Buckley), other artists that covered the tune (over 20 times!) and most importantly how "musical efficiency" has almost eliminated the  song intro. A lot to unpack from a song, but that has given it even deeper meaning for me.

It's gonna take some time for me to appreciate this rendition, if ever.
Happy new year all together.
A nice song to start 2021!)
(intro) waiting for "Hello darkness my old friend".......... 
Mala versión
 maxvonevil wrote:

Sure, let's all sit in a big circle with a guitar around our neck and a sunflower up our butt, go "ohm-nom-nom", clap our hands and think happy thoughts. That just doesn't work for some of us when a given piece of music rubs us the wrong way. A few learn to love it, others ignore it, most hit PSD and the remaining handful of us jump the chance to bitch and moan about it.
{#Nyah} 

"You've got to tune out the worlds problems. Some use Stravinsky and Wagner - I prefer Smith and Wesson"
- The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990), slightly paraphrased.


 
Hahahahahah. LOVE this comment. Kinda made my Quarantine morning, sipping my Black Rifle Coffee of course. <3
I am a huge fan of both versions of the song. Massive Attack & Liz Fraser give the tune a very cool feel to it, combining her delicate vocals with all of the various performers adding the baseline instruments & making it delightfully complex. Jose is basically doing the whole thing himself, with some nice effects (one live performance I saw had no looping at all, whereas the one playing on RP obviously stacks up the elements). He's also not trying to recreate the sound of the original, choosing to have it build up, layer by layer, until it crashes in a final crescendo. His voice is a little bit of an acquired taste, but I think it allows the listener to focus on the lyrics & the guitar.
Great segue from SOUNDS OF SILENCE! 
What a great cover. Brave too.
 SmackDaddy wrote:
I didn't know the word "feathers" had 6 syllables.
 
Mostly, it's for pheasants. Peacocks have like a dozen syllables, easy. :)
That's kind of neat. I like it when a cover challenges me to try and "unlisten" to the original. What would I say if it were the other way round and Massive Attack had covered Jose? I like them both. Must have said it elsewhere, but to me a good cover is like a door opened to parallel universes. Thanks RP!
I didn't know the word "feathers" had 6 syllables.
 crogers wrote:
Hmmm.  For me, part of what I find beautiful about the original is the quiet, wispy, almost conspiratorial delivery — as if Elizabeth is telling us a secret that is difficult to express, even more difficult to understand and perhaps, best not repeated.  It draws me in and makes me feel as if I could be a part of her inner circle.  All together, it makes for a fun listen.

Unfortunately, Jose, whom I generally appreciate, almost rips me a new one with his delivery.  It strikes me as loud, brash, unkempt and irresponsible — like someone repeating something that should be a secret... but too loudly, in the wrong company and with the wrong attitude.   

Or, I'm too damn sensitive today.  Could be that. 

 
That's what i thought too, but i have changed my mind once i heard Jose performing live this song, try to hear him live. Amazing. 
Merry Christmas José
He is an amazing songwriter - SO wish he would get his production figured out.
I really enjoy this version too...really nicely done.  Completely different{#Clap}
Good cover, but that’s what you’d expect from Jose!
 Kokoloco53 wrote:
It appears that many of the listeners are in need of a soul cleansing. Please find your peace, share your love, shed your negativity on this fine site of music and celebration. I seek to become more like Thumper, that great old statesmen rabbit that once proclaimed: "If you can't say something nice, don't say 'nuthin at all".

 
Sure, let's all sit in a big circle with a guitar around our neck and a sunflower up our butt, go "ohm-nom-nom", clap our hands and think happy thoughts. That just doesn't work for some of us when a given piece of music rubs us the wrong way. A few learn to love it, others ignore it, most hit PSD and the remaining handful of us jump the chance to bitch and moan about it.
{#Nyah} 

"You've got to tune out the worlds problems. Some use Stravinsky and Wagner - I prefer Smith and Wesson"
- The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990), slightly paraphrased.


Why can't this song make its mind up?
It appears that many of the listeners are in need of a soul cleansing. Please find your peace, share your love, shed your negativity on this fine site of music and celebration. I seek to become more like Thumper, that great old statesmen rabbit that once proclaimed: "If you can't say something nice, don't say 'nuthin at all".
Still a good song.
 Webfoot wrote:

As opposed to "necessary" covers. . . .??

 
{#Lol}  The only "necessary" cover version I could think of was "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" by Jim Nabors.
"Hello darkness my old friend..."
Pffff..... from 4 to 3... to 2...to PSD!
Was this version really necessary?
I respect the attempt, but it doesn't work for me.
This crap can't hold a candle to Massive Attack. Too bad they ruined it by using it as a themesong to that fucking doctor show.
This guy is so overrated...
 nickshortie wrote:

totally unnecessary cover....

 
As opposed to "necessary" covers. . . .??
For a completely different, strange and absolutely beautiful cover of this, check out the modern choral arrangement by Voces 8...
What ever opinions anyone has about this cover, I believe anyone can admire the thing, that 100000 times accoustic songs have been covered electronically, but only very very very rarely crosses a song from the electronic realm into the accoustic realm as a cover. High rating for this singular move.
Here's a place where AutoTune would be useful - Massive Attack's version is so far superior, this would rate in negativeland, by comparison.
Rubbish cover of an excellent song. Stop playing this second rate trash and play the original instead.
 AlienRelic wrote:
Dreadful version of a boring song.

 
totally unnecessary cover....
Does nothing for me. Massive Attack is far superior with its haunting, thready vocals and sparse arrangment. Please stick to that one. BTW the 2016 Massive Attack release with Hope Sandoval is superb. Just my opinion.
 stunix wrote:

I agree, it is high gain but compressed and limited to the point of almost sounding clipped and slightly distorted.   shame, he is so delicate with everything else.  I guess he was busy playing while someone else was knob twiddling.

 
Agreed, way too much knob twiddling going on.
Wow!
Never heard a better cover.  
We'll done.
And nice pic guys!  
 crogers wrote:
Hmmm.  For me, part of what I find beautiful about the original is the quiet, wispy, almost conspiratorial delivery — as if Elizabeth is telling us a secret that is difficult to express, even more difficult to understand and perhaps, best not repeated.  It draws me in and makes me feel as if I could be a part of her inner circle.  All together, it makes for a fun listen.

Unfortunately, Jose, whom I generally appreciate, almost rips me a new one with his delivery.  It strikes me as loud, brash, unkempt and irresponsible — like someone repeating something that should be a secret... but too loudly, in the wrong company and with the wrong attitude.   

Or, I'm too damn sensitive today.  Could be that. 

 
Or you simply have a differently sensibility. In a way, I almost prefer this version. It imparts a driven power that the original only hints at.
 crogers wrote:
Hmmm.  For me, part of what I find beautiful about the original is the quiet, wispy, almost conspiratorial delivery — as if Elizabeth is telling us a secret that is difficult to express, even more difficult to understand and perhaps, best not repeated.  It draws me in and makes me feel as if I could be a part of her inner circle.  All together, it makes for a fun listen.

Unfortunately, Jose, whom I generally appreciate, almost rips me a new one with his delivery.  It strikes me as loud, brash, unkempt and irresponsible — like someone repeating something that should be a secret... but too loudly, in the wrong company and with the wrong attitude.   

Or, I'm too damn sensitive today.  Could be that. 

 
I agree, it is high gain but compressed and limited to the point of almost sounding clipped and slightly distorted.   shame, he is so delicate with everything else.  I guess he was busy playing while someone else was knob twiddling.
Made a song on my breath.
 stegokitty wrote:
Pretty. Sounds a bit like Junip.

 
A lot, I'd hope {#Wink}
Hmmm.  For me, part of what I find beautiful about the original is the quiet, wispy, almost conspiratorial delivery — as if Elizabeth is telling us a secret that is difficult to express, even more difficult to understand and perhaps, best not repeated.  It draws me in and makes me feel as if I could be a part of her inner circle.  All together, it makes for a fun listen.

Unfortunately, Jose, whom I generally appreciate, almost rips me a new one with his delivery.  It strikes me as loud, brash, unkempt and irresponsible — like someone repeating something that should be a secret... but too loudly, in the wrong company and with the wrong attitude.   

Or, I'm too damn sensitive today.  Could be that. 
Pretty. Sounds a bit like Junip.
I love how his strings are always just the sliiiiightest bit out of tune. Makes for a camp-y porch sound. Much more noticeable coming out of Morphine's In Spite Of Me, for whatever reason
Wow. Quite a cover. The intensity and reverb of a celestial choir!
 thewiseking wrote:

A good cover should add something.

This one elevates. Like some sort of shamanic chant. I imagine tens of thousands singing along with a bonfire raging!



 
exactly !
Makes me happy happy happy {#Roflol}

A good cover should add something.

This one elevates. Like some sort of shamanic chant. I imagine tens of thousands singing along with a bonfire raging!


Great  song, thanks! {#Hearteyes}
Me likey like, yeah!{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}{#Sunny}
This is a good cover. It brings something different, gentle and powerful.
Or reasonable version of an awesome song.  You say potato, I say no mate its music.
Dreadful version of a boring song.


Dreadful version of a beautiful song.
Very impressive version.
Nicely done

On first listening
 kenhull wrote:
GREAT VERSION of this great song! Wow Jose, nice work!

 
{#Clap}
 Eric_Gustafsson wrote:
Music from Sweden.......{#Bananapiano}

 
Are you sure, O Viking, that you'd not prefer to use another icon? {#War}

RP does have a 'thing' about Scandinavian music, with all the great Scandinavian artists played on here. A 'thing' which I share. 8 from the Scandophile Nottingham jury.
I like the Walter Mitty Soundtrack but everything else is awful.
Music from Sweden.......{#Bananapiano}
 stephw wrote:
I like the original too much to give this cover any consideration

 
So this is before I discovered Jose Gonzalez (thanks RP) and am now a huge fan, so I take my comment above back and give this a big fat 8.
7 -> 8.
GREAT VERSION of this great song! Wow Jose, nice work!
Love this entire set of music! Love it whenbyou stretch people a bit. Don't let the haters get you down!
 
 kcar wrote:

Hugh Laurie. Great actor. Early in his career, Laurie played Bertie Wooster, the epitome of an upper-class twit and polar opposite of his character in "House."

Hugh Laurie looking just like a shocked dog eating a cupcake 

There is vigorous debate as to whether dog was smarter than twit. My money's on the pooch.  

 
Thank you kcar for biting on my sorry-ass attempt at a troll, and for doing so with the hilarious bit of BBC memorabilia.
Blondie vs. Philip Glass — Heart of Glass
The Lost Fingers — Billy Jean
Jose Gonzalez — Teardrop

Can we skip the copypasta and get back to regular music?
Thank you
I like the original too much to give this cover any consideration
Awesome Cover '8'

Everything Jose Gonzalez does is gold
 handyrae wrote:
I would never have figured out this was a cover of the Massive Attack song if it weren't for the comments below. I'm not a huge fan of covers, but this one is fantastic. Gonzalez reinvents the song into a something that is new, fresh and compelling.

 
Nope. Poor cover, weak insipid vocal and no balls at all..............
I would never have figured out this was a cover of the Massive Attack song if it weren't for the comments below. I'm not a huge fan of covers, but this one is fantastic. Gonzalez reinvents the song into a something that is new, fresh and compelling.
 kcar wrote:

Hugh Laurie. Great actor. Early in his career, Laurie played Bertie Wooster, the epitome of an upper-class twit and polar opposite of his character in "House."

Hugh Laurie looking just like a shocked dog eating a cupcake 

There is vigorous debate as to whether dog was smarter than twit. My money's on the pooch.  
 

Heck of an author, too, as it turns out.  If you haven't read "The Gun Seller" yet, give it a shot.  Great stuff.  

As for this song, sorry, but no.  I'll take Massive Attack.   
 kcar wrote:

Hugh Laurie. Great actor. Early in his career, Laurie played Bertie Wooster, the epitome of an upper-class twit and polar opposite of his character in "House."

Hugh Laurie looking just like a shocked dog eating a cupcake 

There is vigorous debate as to whether dog was smarter than twit. My money's on the pooch.  
 
{#Roflol}{#Roflol}{#Roflol}{#Roflol}{#Roflol}
Covers?  meh.  This one?  Godlike.
Started off expecting to hear "Hello Darkness my old friend."

Good tune
 SinisterDexter wrote:
 kcar wrote:

Hugh Laurie. Great actor.... (from House)

Also, a very accomplished musician/vocalist...
 
Oh!  Right-o — doesn't he have an album coming out?  Or going on tour?  I thought I heard that somewhere.  Enjoyed his music performance bits on House — added deeper dimension to the character.  EDIT:  guess it came out May 2011, I missed the memo on that one....
This is technical perfection with heart. 10+
 kcar wrote:

Hugh Laurie. Great actor. Early in his career, Laurie played Bertie Wooster, the epitome of an upper-class twit and polar opposite of his character in "House."

Hugh Laurie looking just like a shocked dog eating a cupcake 

There is vigorous debate as to whether dog was smarter than twit. My money's on the pooch.  
 
Don't forget the Black Adder !  A far cry from House.
I, too, love the original, but if you don't play guitar and sing, you can't understand how fearless this cover is.

Brilliant and beautiful. IMO. 
i don't think this needed to be done.
Not as good as his usual stuff or the original but still not too bad.
A great cover of one of my favourite songs originally sung by (the goddess) Liz Fraser. A 9 in my books.
 lshinkawa wrote:
Like Massive Attack's version better
 
I agree. But this one is still pretty good.
 kcar wrote:

Hugh Laurie. Great actor.... (from House)

Also, a very accomplished musician/vocalist...
What a beautiful song!
Jose can you see by the dawns early light...  Perfection.  10.  A rare cover I will applaud.
 Sasha2001 wrote:
Hey! This sounds like the same song from tv's "House." I love that british actor, what's his name? Hugh Jackman?
 
Hugh Laurie. Great actor. Early in his career, Laurie played Bertie Wooster, the epitome of an upper-class twit and polar opposite of his character in "House."

Hugh Laurie looking just like a shocked dog eating a cupcake 

There is vigorous debate as to whether dog was smarter than twit. My money's on the pooch.  
Hey! This sounds like the same song from tv's "House." I love that british actor, what's his name? Hugh Jackman?
 SinisterDexter wrote:
He has the oddest album covers. Does he design them himself?
 
i doubt it.....probably paid somebody

He has the oddest album covers. Does he design them himself?
Like Massive Attack's version better
nice homage to a beautiful song, but not as good as the original. Why do I think of men in kilts on a wild scottish moor when listening to this version?


Okay - I'm voting for a "Torture RP Listeners" set. ALL the versions of this song, one after another. With apologies before and after the set.  And then, another "Torture RP Listeners" set with "Alleluia."   Possibly a contest - listeners vote for their favorite version and the winners of the most popular version get a mug, or a T-shirt, or a really cool thing to post at their websites. Or money.  Money would be good, too.

Suitable warnings should apply, of course, and during the time some RP listeners will flee the scene and possibly get homework done or a room rearranged, beverages and food should be offered. 
Good, but I definitely prefer the MA version.  
 derekd wrote:
Massive Attack's original was off the charts great. But in my opinion, a cover should be someone else's interpretation altegother, and I feel this is an outstandig rendition as such.
 
I agree that a cover should be the other artist's interpretation, though I find Jose's just okay.

I do, however, love Civil Twilight's "Teardrop" cover: https://www.myspace.com/civiltwilightband/music/songs/teardrop-72476885


 derekd wrote:
Massive Attack's original was off the charts great. But in my opinion, a cover should be someone else's interpretation altegother, and I feel this is an outstandig rendition as such.
 
nailed it. {#Cheers}
That was painful.
Love me some Jose Gonzalez!
 derekd wrote:
Massive Attack's original was off the charts great. But in my opinion, a cover should be someone else's interpretation altegother, and I feel this is an outstandig rendition as such.
 
I've been listening to RP for about 5 years, always loved this song, think of it as the "clanging on the pipes" song.  Also have always loved Massive Attack's version. So I guess it's a tribute to both band's unique cover of this song that it was only a few months ago that I realized they were the same song!


took my breath away...I heard this song in a way I never have before and I love Massive Attack no doubt. Thank you (once again, RP) for given me a delightful aural experience. {#Yell}
 Imkirok wrote:
Hello darkness, my old...

Oh wait.  Never mind.

 
haha, I heard that too

Just had to bump this from 8 to 9. I do love a cover version that really reinterprets the original and makes something new of it. Otherwise, why bother? (Note, I love the original as well.)