Customer Reviews

With Or Without You

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sarah Darling sounds like a deeper-voiced, less-theatrical Jewel. Her cover of U2's hit "With or Without You," is competent if not especially remarkable. The arrangement is lush, but not overdone, and the Country elements are subtle. In fact, the twang in the electric guitars softly moaning in the background sounds so natural I had to go back to the original to assure myself it wasn't present in U2's version. (It wasn't.) The track's biggest fault is that Darling doesn't approach the level of intensity and conviction that Bono brought to the song. In Darling's defense, it *is* Bono's song, and in any event the lyrics are better suited to a man addressing a woman than a woman addressing ... whoever. Nonetheless, I'm pleased to have downloaded this track.

Usually, when an artist covers a classic song such as this one from the band U2, they'll be at least a small amount of backlash from fans of the original artist. And it's very hard to best the original simply because that's the one that's been stuck in your head through all the years.

Sarah Darling's version is different enough that I don't feel the need to trash it, even though she stays fairly true to the original melody. The arrangement has a lot to do with this, with understated country instrumentation and a much slower tempo. Add to that the female, pop-country vocal and you have an entirely different vibe going on.

U2's version has a heavy emphasis on bass, here the bass is muted and subdued. A distant steel guitar pads the background. The producers build up the intensity by adding a drum set in at about the one and a half minute mark, with harmony vocals coming in a little later to further add some increase in dynamics. Sarah's lead vocal is smooth but not overly dynamic. With U2, it's all about the vocal, with Bono providing all of the energy.

So I'm able to enjoy both versions...I also think you don't necessarily have to like country music to like this one...it's a keeper!

It's incredibly brave for anyone to cover a song that can cause a listener to vividly recall the original and any residual emotion towards the original. This version by Sara Darling will not inspire you to forget the original, in fact Darling follows the original vocals almost note for note. What is lacking is the emotion that Bono conveyed. If only Ms. Darling took a cue from the haunting steel guitar that runs through the song.

This girl has a *BEAUTIFUL* voice which is a pleasure to listen to. The music is only slightly country sounding (more like country pop), and doesn't have the twang that I expected. The instruments are more like an afterthought, and her voice is the focal point. For people who like the original version, this may not be for you. I'm not a big fan of the original version, and she just makes it sound absolutely amazing. If you appreciate a beautiful voice and a hushed, calming sound, you'll love this!

I don't get to hear many covers of U2 that are worth listening to. This one is. As much as I like U2's music, I think Sarah did a great job on this song that in many ways improves Bono's delivery. To each his/her own, for sure, but I really enjoy Sarah's rendition of "With or Without You."

I never heard of her before and enjoyed this track. However the album is all the same, there seems to be no differences between each track and after the third track it got very boring (similar). Waist of money!

Tough to capture the passion of a classic. Sarah Darling does a fine job with the lyrics but the music lacks any punch.

This cover sounds more like a karaoke version that a song worth putting on an album, let alone as the title track. It's competent but uninteresting. Listen to the original if you want to hear the song. See Johnny Cash's cover on "One" by U2 for an example of a country artist covering a U2 song and bringing something new to the table---whether you like that something new (I do) is another story but at least the song adds more than fluff to the collective music available to listen to. Two stars because it's a good song. Nothing for the karaoke.

It is a cover, not the original, but Sarah Darling makes this version able to stand on its own. Her voice is beautiful, and the slower tempo, as others noted, make this version wonderful. I wouldn't even call this country. I can't believe it's free!

I thought she sounded beautiful. If you are not a country fan, then you will compare it to the original song. I like her country version of it and she has a beautiful voice.