Fans of Seventeen Going Under songwriter Sam Fender were horrified by a cover of People Watching from Take That member, Gary Barlow.
Following the success of cover work from Rick Astley and Franz Ferdinand, the former X Factor judge too has tried his hand at covering contemporary artists. A post to the r/SamFender subreddit had fans of the Get You Down songwriter in stitches, as they compare Barlow’s cover to the musical style of a cruise ship singer. The post reads: “Gary Barlow covering People Watching. I like Gary but this isn’t a patch on Sam.” Barlow’s cover was part of the Radio 2 Piano Room showcase, with Barlow joined by an orchestra while performing on a Steinway piano. One listener dubbed it “People Watching (Cruise Ship Version).”
Another added: “I have no love for Gary Barlow but this proper boiled my piss.” A third added: “It’s actually worse than I thought it was gonna be. Like I’m not even joking. That is a pile of shit.”
Not everyone finds the song horrible, though, as one user pointed out the YouTube comments left on the video were overwhelmingly positive. They wrote: “Really awful. The YouTube comments are a treat though.”
Several comments left on the video praised Barlow’s decision to cover Fender’s work, and defended the choice as an artist showing their appreciation for another. One user wrote: “All I see is a massive compliment to Sam and his band.”
Another added: “Gary is simply showing his appreciation for a younger up-and-coming musician. it’s a great cover and you shouldn’t compare the two. it’s a nod of appreciation and that’s what you want amongst musicians!”
A third wrote: “I don’t care what everyone thinks about this. I absolutely loved this performance. Keep on singing, Gary.” Others suggested all Barlow was missing from his version was the “youthful fire” which Fender displays during his own performances of People Watching.
Gary Barlow covering People Watching
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One wrote: “Obviously Sam’s original version has a youthful fire that is missing here. However, Gary Barlow is a top songwriter in his own right – he has written some excellent pop songs. Before the song in the full segment, he gave credit to Sam’s new album, praised the new album and called him one of his favourite artists of the last few years.”
Another disagreed, writing: “Sam sings from the heart, of his real experience which makes it real. Gary may not know this real experience, it was decent but he is no Sam Fender.”
One user added: “BBC never fail to have on a bad singer singing a good song or good singer singing a bad song.” Another joked: “He gave that song the whole cruise ship cabaret treatment.”
