Picture this. Summer 1994. A British duo named Everything But The Girl releases a languid torch song called "Missing," hoping that Adult Contemporary radio stations will latch onto it.
It doesn't take.
Their label gives it to DJ Todd Terry to remix, and he emphasizes the dance elements in the original tenfold.
It goes on to dominate the fall/winter of 95-96, peaking in the top three of fifteen countries.
"La Tortura" is good, but I always find it a bit overrated on ATRL. There's something so commanding and momentous about "Whenever, Wherever"—it really feels like an arrival—that holds my esteem more.
Nirvana in sonic form. Originally meant for Madonna, William Orbit decided to let All Saints have the track instead - thank goodness. "Pure Shores" has been rhapsodized on this forum many times, but one just has to listen to know they've not heard anything like it come from a girl group.
Musical nirvana is the perfect description. The first time I heard "Pure Shores" was literally something akin to a spiritual experience, and it still holds incredible emotional resonance with each subsequent listen. It's a good 50 spots too low, but at least it's here.
If Madge did this it would be her best post-80s song. It would also be about half as good as a song.
What can I say? It's pretty perfect. I'm ok with the Saints (they don't even need a deity nickname!) beating the Gods.
You're definitely right, it's a ringer for Madonna! I had never heard it before now. I also agree it's a very solidly constructed song, if not exactly my style.
Could Madonna have brought something so authentically searching and innocent and buoyant to the song? I'm not sure she would have done it justice.
But then, she finds her own sort of musical nirvana on "Ray of Light." So her version might be an interesting, if less ethereal, experience, too.
It is very ROL-ish in a way. But I don't think it's the right song for Madonna. All Saints pull it off perfectly, nobody else could really do it justice. It wouldn't sound right with different vocalists.