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Cover Clash: Which "Umbrella" works for you?

Dorothy Snarker

Every year it seems that one song above all others gets the cover treatment. This summer, that song has been Rihanna’s ubiquitous “Umbrella.” Thanks to that simple piece of pop perfection, I will never again get caught in the rain without wishing some kind soul would look at me and say, “You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh.” And, apparently, I’m not the only one. Artists as varied as Tegan and Sara and Mandy Moore have rendered their versions, with surprisingly effective results.

So, in the spirit of Friday and our seemingly never-ending desire to see celebrities face off with each other (seriously, how else can you explain Dancing With the Stars?), I give you the end-of-summer battle royal. Let’s call it The Umbrella Ultimatum ’07, because, uh, that sounds cool. At this point, you need to imagine that “Let’s get ready to rumbllllle!” dude’s voice.

In one corner — wearing rocker T-shirts and seriously lesbian hair — are those Canadian cuties, those twin titans: Tegan and Sara.

Tegan and Sara - Umbrella

In another corner — wearing simple black and that earnest air of your college girlfriend who left you to join the Peace Corps — is that unpop prodigy, that serious sweetie: Mandy Moore.

Mandy Moore - UMBRELLA

And in the last corner (yes, this is a triangular ring; go with it) — wearing whatever she wants because oh my God, look at that body — is that dancing diva, that sexy siren: Rihanna.

Rihanna Ft Jay-Z-Umbrella

Three enter; one will leave. You decide. And ... fight!

Dorothy Snarker's blog

Submitted by

Dorothy Snarker

on September 28, 2007 - 2:00pm.

TAGS ::

...

Submitted by

Nea (198 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:22pm.

Tegan and Sara, without any questions.

That song gives me headaches like you wouldn't believe, but yay for Canadian cuties ;)

T&S

Submitted by

Rockstar (149 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:30pm.

Come on!! It's not even a competiton if you include there two..

I love how their voices complement.. and their accents!!

Adorable

theres one that plays on a

Submitted by

Nathiest (831 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:36pm.

theres one that plays on a local radio station here in Dallas Texas. Some girl on youtube recorded her own version of it in a kind of a unplug/mix it's really cool.

Can't recall her name at this time though...sorry. :edit: Oh snap it is Tegan and Sara.

Mandy Moore needs to lose some weight get a girlfriend and get her butt back into acting.

-Nathiest

...

Submitted by

Kate 315 (5 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:57pm.

Mandy Moore doesn't need to lose anything!

She definitely gets my vote

...

Submitted by

ice cream (not verified)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:29pm.

Mandy Moore looks great. She doesn't need to lose a single pound. Although I do prefer her acting to her singing. She still gets my vote. I've always had a little crush on her.

...

Submitted by

Kate 315 (5 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 5:07pm.

Yeah, in Saved...Hilary Faye, stupid but hot!

oh Mandy.

Submitted by

Bianca (84 posts)

on September 29, 2007 - 12:20am.

Mandy Moore doesn't need to lose any weight at all she looks amazing! As much as i love my fellow canadians Tegan and Sara, I liked Mandy's version better.

~A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.

Out of Those Choices...

Submitted by

Crank Heart (144 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:39pm.

Tegan and Sara, most definately. But of all the covers I've heard, my vote goes to Amanda Palmer!

write-in

Submitted by

Jessie Maims (129 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:40pm.

Amanda Palmer. Out DDolls frontwoman Amanda Palmer on ukulele and Reggie Watts beatboxing. Of course much of it is karaoke verité, but the performance is magical. This is (one of many reasons) why I love Amanda Palmer.

Mandy Moore

Submitted by

Ace (336 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:41pm.

sounds eerily like Dar Williams here.

Re: celebrity competitions, I miss the comptetitions of my childhood -- Battle of the Network Stars and the Laff-a-lympics.

Tegan & Sara!

Submitted by

notl33t (125 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:49pm.

I vote Tegan & Sara. Cuz its the cutest version of all three!

Rihanna is a good dancer, though. And Mandy is awfully cute . . .

Welllllll.....

Submitted by

cldrdr (3 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 2:53pm.

I don't know I mean I actually enjoyed the mellow almost kinda romantic way Mandy interprets the song. Yes T&C are QTs and do a pretty good job but in the end I'm going to have to say Mandy does it better :-p

mandy!

Submitted by

rudua (72 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:02pm.

I have a slight obsession with Mandy Moore, that I've only recently decided to admit to... I think she does a great job covering a song that, in my opinion, was horrible originally. I would have liked to hear a higher-quality version of Tegan and Sara, though - they always sound lovely, and their cover was good. I might even like it better if the sound was better on that video.

Oh Noes!

Submitted by

Vee (217 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:09pm.

I want to commit road side suicide whenever that god awful song comes on the radio while I am trapped inside a moving vehicle.

One version of the song that I can actually listen to (not on repeat for sure) is Marie Digby's version)

Mandy v. Rihanna in the finals.

Submitted by

tiff (153 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:23pm.

I saw Mandy Moore do this cover live a few weeks ago in the city, and it was AMAZING. not necessarily the most "fun" but definitely a great romantic interpretation. And to the person who made the comment about losing weight, going back to acting, and getting a girlfriend, all i can say is no, no, and okay fine. 1/3.

I don't really like Tegan and Sara's version, though I'm sure they'll win, because they're a lesbian favorite. It's like putting Angelina Jolie up against Ann Coulter. (though I'm not a fan of either, but I'll let that die here)

And I do think Rihanna totally owns this song. It might overstay its welcome if you're Z100 glued, but I avoid that, so I still dig it. Though it's totally a catchy thing, as opposed to "sweet" song because of how fast it goes.

--
“In a letter to Dear Abby a reader complained that a gay couple was moving in across the street and wanted to know what he could do to improve the quality of the neighborhood. Her suggestion - 'You could move.'”

Since the sound on the Tegan

Submitted by

skyocence (140 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:25pm.

Since the sound on the Tegan & Sara video isn't very good for me, I have to give it to Mandy Moore. Like Mandy, I don't listen much to this type of music, but you can't avoid it - especially since Rihanna is from Barbados as well; it gets plenty rotation here. Mandy's voice is actually better than Ri's as well.

Rihanna

Submitted by

frammie (49 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:25pm.

I like the original. But Mandy does a very nice version too.Voice wise, I may actually prefer Mandy.

My vote goes to Mandy Moore.

Submitted by

Karina (34 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:27pm.

My vote goes to Mandy Moore. She has a great voice, and it doesn't hurt that she's just adorable.

T & S

Submitted by

fridax (36 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:27pm.

My ears are bleeding due to the recording quality of the Tegan and Sara clip...

This is much better (though not at full length...).

Anyway, just knew about the MM cover but T & S top it all! Can't bear Rihanna's version either!

~~Single~~Beefy and fabulous!

Amanda Palmer!

Submitted by

fee (1381 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:31pm.

I cannot stand that song, but I would definitely have to say Amanda Palmer. She makes everything right ;)

Love Tegan & Sara

Submitted by

B. Angela (4 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:44pm.

I never knew they did this!!!! And really Mandy Moore in comparison to Tegan and Sara. No competition.

I can't wait to see them in November!!

My vote goes to...

Submitted by

G (70 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:41pm.

Mandy Moore

Hands down the best version of the bunch that I have heard.

Any votes on Fergie vs. Alanis on "My Humps"?

I think I might go for Alanis on that one.

Alanis, Alanis, Alanis!

Submitted by

lovecatcadillac (107 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 8:04pm.

Alanis, a thousand times! Her cover of My Humps never fails to make me laugh. For weeks after the video debuted on YouTube, my sister and I would sing that song while we did the washing up. We still occasionally burst into renditions of it. :D

Alanis

Submitted by

faith55 (28 posts)

on September 30, 2007 - 10:29am.

Her video of "My Humps" is one of the funniest things I have ever seen, I love it!!

Tegan and Sara!!!

Submitted by

Heather01 (51 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:42pm.

Tegan and Sara. Hands down. I mean, I love Mandy Moore's version...but nobody can top Tegan and Sara.

RIHANNA!

Submitted by

wired (22 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:43pm.

She gets my vote well because she is the original "umbrella" girl and i love her and the way she dances..real sexy..but yea i liked tegan and sara's performance and love their voices in their remix ...but rihanna like i said..is the original...!

............

Submitted by

Gryphie (40 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 3:46pm.

Tegan and Sara.

Totally the easiest question I've had to answer all day.

though one!

Submitted by

Naibsel (27 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 4:00pm.

I love how Mandy actually says umbrella right, instead of that funky umbarella thingy that Rhianna uses. I don't know each version has it's own qualities...

And Can I just be honest and praise the original song, I love it. I actually had that experience of someone offering me a place under their umbrella using the song. It was awsome! And I don't know if its just us crazy danes, but people are bringing umbrellas to the dancefloor. It's dangerous, but crazy funny.

Snap! I can't decide so I'll just say ALL of them...

How to say "umbrella"

Submitted by

dypole (255 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 5:57pm.

According to a friend of mine, the reason Rihanna says "umbrella" that way is because of her Barbados accent. Personally, I think it's adorable. :)

"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck

Rhianna

Submitted by

fallon ash (372 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 4:09pm.

*guh*

Honestly, I find the song kinda boring and have never listened to it in its entirety before. But seeing Rhianna's video made me completely forget the first two versions. Hot.

Tegan and Sara

Submitted by

Alayna (13 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 4:10pm.

gotta go with tegan and sara because they are my all time favorite band...ever. and they make it more rockish which is the type of music i like

Minority

Submitted by

Aidan P (181 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 4:17pm.

I definitely liked Tegan and sara's version the best, but I also enjoyed Mandy Moore's version quite a bit as well. I never listened to Moore's music, so I have nothing from the past to compare it to, but it wasn't half bad.

Tegan and Saraaaa

Submitted by

Katherine (212 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 4:44pm.

I find Mandy Moore's too slow and depressing and kind of boring. maybe she's coming at it from a more romantic angle, if by romantic you mean your lover just broke up with you and you're trying to get her/him/it/whatever back and will follow her/him/it/whatever around with an umbrella when it is raining no matter what.

I could never stand Rihanna's voice. cuz it's all.. I mean I think it's okay for faster club banger songs but when she sings slower songs... bleh. can't explain. :)

Tegan and Sara's is all rock and roll-y and yes, more somber than Rihanna's, yet they still have a sense of fun with it, unlike Mandy Moore's version!

omg, inbd

it pains me a little...

Submitted by

its_just_a_thought (39 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 5:04pm.

i'm a huge tegan and sara fan but i have to say i vote mandy moore. I don't quite no why either, i think maybe it's the emotion she puts into the song, sure tegan and sara's version is more rocky and fun but i like the simplicity of mandy moore's version, damn i'm kinda mad at myself for not chosing tegan and sara!!!!

On a side note I've never paid much attention to mandy before but does that woman have amazing eyes or is it just me???

I have a bit of bias...

Submitted by

Tals (38 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 5:18pm.

I have a bit of bias, being a Canadian and a total Tegan and Sara fan, but I really do like the rock version best.

I will admit, however, that I was surprised at how much I liked Mandy Moore's version.

TnS!

Submitted by

Deedeez (29 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 5:29pm.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Of course.

well,

Submitted by

new_dawn (50 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 5:31pm.

I actually hated the song when I first heard it on the radio, but it really got to me over time. And it was the most fitting song for the rainy summer here in Germany.

Overall I prefer to listen to Mandy Moore's version of it. But if you want to dance the original version rules.

Mandy!

Submitted by

naomi2cute (60 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 6:01pm.

Mandy Moore, her voice touches my heart and make it warm!

Yet another contender

Submitted by

dypole (255 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 6:13pm.

I absolutely love the original song; after "Pon de Replay" and "S.O.S." I wasn't really expecting Rihanna to have yet another huge summer single, but she really outdid herself with this song. It's catchy, it's fun, and it's the perfect pop song for carefree summer nights. And the way she says "umbrella" quite literally makes me swoon.

As for the covers, of these two, I prefer Tegan and Sara's because of the rock-ish tone, but I absolutely loved it when Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance inexplicably started singing "Umbrella" during the band's set at Projekt Revolution. Although it was completely out of place during the concert, everyone in the crowd was still singing along and knew all the words, thereby affirming just how genre-crossing the song has become (though I hated the Fall Out Boy version).

You can watch Gerard singing "Umbrella" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6wWoKd60Qc

"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck

TnS

Submitted by

oxoxTeGaNxoxo (5 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 6:46pm.

i was soooo suprised that they of all people covered this song, but i do remember tegan saying that she like rihanna so yeah. but tegan and sara's version is awsome ay. love it and them.

I like the original. Tegan

Submitted by

Julia (273 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 7:36pm.

I like the original. Tegan and Sara are hot, but musically not really overwhelming

TEGAN!!

Submitted by

JK_Singer (213 posts)

on September 30, 2007 - 9:07am.

So, so, so not true. They are fantastically original, and hands down the best live band I've ever seen. That low quality version doesn't do them justice.

But I also gotta say, I really like the Rihanna version, even though I usually don't listen to that kind of music.

"Even in death Gabrielle, I will never leave you"- Xena

tie

Submitted by

angel winters (228 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 7:46pm.

I love the original by Rihanna and the cover by Marie Digby....both awesome....plus I would want to have both of them for myself....

Mandy... always!

Submitted by

clonchi (164 posts)

on September 28, 2007 - 8:24pm.

I just listened to 50 seconds of the Tegan and Sara version and I couldn't listen to it anymore. I don't know if it's because of the sound quality or the song itself. I absolutely adore Mandy Moore, and I think she makes this song sound good. I like Rihanna's version, but after listening to it 3 times, I can't listen to it anymore. Mandy's more romantic and sentimental version is spot on, and she is just dreamy... I love her... Definitely Mandy!!