Country Cover Songs- Faith Hill Vs. Janis Joplin
Faith Hill performs the National Anthem before the start of Super Bowl XXXIV between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. January, 30 2000.
With this week’s Country Cover Songs, we look at Faith Hill Vs. Janis Joplin. This song is a classic, but no matter which version you prefer, it’s still a classic. The song in question is “Piece Of My Heart”. Janis Joplin originally had a hit with it all the way back in 1969. Faith Hill released her version of the song in 1993. And I think we can all agree that both versions of the song are awesome, but different and unique in their own way.
Lets talk about Janis Joplin’s version. It’s raw, it’s soulful, it’s rockin’, it sounds like 1969! Like I said before it’s a classic. You can tell that Janis was feeling every single word she was singing. I love songs like that. Songs that you know were lived by the way they were being sung.
Now we move on to Faith Hill’s version of “Piece Of My Heart”. It’s a little more structured, it’s a little more polished and neat. Faith’s version is like it’s meant for the radio, and it was, the song was a huge hit for her. It’s a song that makes you think about Faith Hill, and in fact you may not have even know this was a country cover song.
Can you say one version is better than the other? Maybe so, but it would be tough. Faith Hill’s version was the first one I heard growing up, and I’ll always be partial to it. However, Janis did do the original, and it’s awesome too. I think this is a case of both versions of the songs are great. In my opinion, one isn’t better than the other. They’re both different, and awesome in their own unique way. I think we can appreciate both versions.
Here’s Faith’s version:
Here’s Janis’ version:
If you missed my Country Cover Songs last week with Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams, you can check that out here.
8 Of Faith Hill’s Number One Songs, Ranked
Faith Hill seemed to step away from the country music spotlight a few years ago. She’s had one of the most significant careers in the genre in the early 2000s as a solo artist. And, of course, along with her hubby Tim McGraw, who continues to record and tour.
Faith did make waves and got some fantastic reviews and recognition for her acting portrayal of Margaret Dutton, playing the wife of James Dutton in 2021 in the Paramount Plus original series 1883. James was portrayed by her “real-life” husband of almost 28 years, McGraw.
Her famous husband wrote his thoughts on many subjects in an article Esquire’s “What I’ve Learned” feature. Tim discusses his family, his early life, and the fact that his wife, Faith Hill, helps him stay sober. McGraw quit drinking in 2008.
He also recalled that his wife Faith Hill helped him stay away from alcohol when he quit drinking. Tim said, “I remember a moment when I was getting out of bed and going to the liquor cabinet and taking a big shot at 8:00 in the morning.” He remembered that he went straight to my wife and said, “‘This is where I’m at.’ I was scared. She just grabbed me and hugged me and changed my life.”
Tim also touched on anger and that “love is being angry.” He noted that love is getting in “each other’s face” and accepting when you are wrong. McGraw shared that most parents fight in front of their kids. He said in part, “Everybody fights in front of their kids. That’s part of the deal.”
He concluded the piece by saying, “My wife always says, ‘You’re not scared of anything. I say, ‘Oh, one thing. I’m looking at it right now.'”
While we usually see Hill standing beside her husband when he is honored, like at the recent 2023 ACM Honors, where he was given an icon award, she does have some pretty big songs in country music over the years. As Faith celebrates her 56th birthday today (9/21), we take a look at eight of her biggest songs.
Bryan “Dub” Axelson is the host of the Kicks Wake Up Krew on KICKS 99 and has been with Beasley Media Group in Augusta for over 20 years. He got his start in radio by being a regular caller on the Kicks 99 morning show. He was soon hired and has worked in various roles in Augusta, including Promotions Director. He was raised in Georgia, and currently lives in Grovetown with his wife Kelsey, their daughter Maddie, and their 3 dogs. Dub enjoys watching sports, playing golf, spending time with his family, and discovering new music.