The harmonizers in Boyz II Men have a new all-covers album, Love, due out just in time for the holiday season, and the first single from it leaked over the weekend: It’s a super-syrupy take on “Open Arms,” the lighter-worthy ballad from arena-rockers Journey. You may notice that it sounds kind of like an American Idol audition, what with its melismas and straining and all, and there’s a good reason why: It was produced by former Journey member Randy “Dawg” Jackson, who somehow managed to modernize the circa-1982 sound of the original track, yet still make this new take on it sound as dated as a February 1998 Reader’s Digest in a dentist’s waiting room. Ah, the Idol magic is always working! Clip after the jump.
Boyz II Men - Open Arms (Prod. By Randy Jackson) [YouTube]
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THAT ORGAN TRILL. I think this is possibly the definition of guilty pleasure to the nanometer.
Guilty, yes. However I fail to see who could get pleasure from this, unless you hate music and enjoy watching it suffer.
I’m just saying, on paper, you can’t help but rubberneck some New Jack Journey.
Mariah Carey’s cover of Open Arms was the B-side to “One Sweet Day,” her duet with Boyz II Men. Six Degrees to uninspired remakes.
My ears are bleeding sugar now.. pretty much hate this remake.
@Evie: “New Jack Journey.” You win, Evie. And I agree.
2 cover albums in a row.