Just heard the most godawful thing on the radio this morning. Mary J Blige has felt the need to cover U2's "One", which sadly for me is one of my favourite songs. Blige has a decent voice, so I was prepared to cut her some slack. Then she started warbling, and my heart sank. Then she warbled some more. By the end of the song, there was nothing left of any sort of vocal line.

Terry Wogan summed it up perfectly: "Why do they have to do that gargling?" Which really for me is why I hate modern R&B music (and the pop styling offshoots thereof) - not the sexist crap that it puts out, but the few singers who can actually sing don't have any concept of a song beyond it being a vehicle for them to show off. The rot set in with Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, and it's only got worse since.

I could have faced that if it had been a complete cover with some anonymous session musicians paid for providing her with some backing. Doing it for the money I can understand. But no, U2 themselves did the backing. Bono did a bit of harmony, which was probably the only bit that did work since it forced Blige to sing a fixed note, and the Edge did a bad imitation of past glories.

It's wierd. Covers is fine, and even if you want to mutilate a good song then go ahead - it's your decision. But why a good group should go out and shit on their own material, I just don't understand. It can't be like they need the money, surely? Or have they just lost track of what good music is?

There are some things you *really* don't want to have to face on a Monday morning...

Graham.