Mandy Moore Covers Rihanna's "Umbrella"

Continuing with what can only be described as this week's Mandy Mooreification of our site, I humbly present to y'all Double-M's new cover of Rihanna's "Umbrella":

Whattaya think? Personally I find it to be a lovely take on the song -- one that makes it more overtly wistful and melancholy. And who couldn't use a good cry at 3pm on a Friday? Just me? Hello?

(Thanks to Mega Queen MamaPopTalk Betch Mejan for the heads-up!)

Comments

[Tamara]

I love her cover of the song. Rihanna's voice is so grating, but Mandy Moore, awww... so nice.

[Kelly]

I really like the original and I think Moore did a wonderful rendition. I agree with you that it really brings out the wistful and melancholy aspects of the song. even though the original was still poppy, you could tell it was dark and sad but a tiny bit hopeful at its core

[Natalie]

This is so much better than the original...Rihanna's is catchy but somewhat annoying.

Was this rendition on the hills the other night? I heard it at the end of one of the episodes, but I just thought it was an acoustic version by Rihanna. Was it actually this one by Mandy Moore?

[Amalah]

Lovely, really. Funny how I'm not really a fan of Rihanna's OR Mandy Moore's music...but put them together and I love it.

[Kyla]

Dude, I love it. Way better than the original.

[Sweetney]

agreed -- not a fan of MM or Rihanna's music, but together they're pretty fantastic.

[sarah]

Love her. And love her version more than the original!

[Christine]

Is this the version that was on this week's episode of The Hills? Did I just out myself as the only grown woman who watches The Hills?

[Mejan]

Oh.Mah.Gah! My very own heads up?? I'm honored. :-)

Anyone on the MamaPopTalk forums knows that I'm loving this version of the song...now if only itunes will release it!

[Kristabella]

No, I am grown and also watch The Hills.

And yes, this song was on there.

I do like this version better.

[Spig]

I don't know if I like this or the Alanis cover of "My Humps" better.

[Nic]

I love it more than the original, by far.

[Sweetney]

spig: yeah, that'd be a tough call for sure.

[eva]

I think Rhianna is a beautiful girl, but having the video of her umbrella dance in the background just made Mandy Moore look so classy in comparison

[Jenny]

Oh, wow. I LOVE it. Mandy's got some pipes.

[Barbara Peterson]

I think this is the same stunt that was pulled in the older days to keep African American artist from rising. African American artist like Little Richard and The Temptations all had their songs "covered" or remade by white artist. Ironic how this type of racism is still being done years later. Rihanna's version represents African American culture from the bass beats to the hip-hop artist featured on it to her dances in the video. Someone above stated, Mandy Moore appears more "classy." I guess Rihanna was a little to "black" for mainstream music so Mandy Moore had to fix it for America?

[Upstate Kate]

Oh please. Rihanna was a little too half naked and writhing around with an umbrella. Her skin color has nothing to do with it.

[Karen]

Really? With the race card? Could it be that Mandy is more talented than Rihanna? I don't like Rihanna's voice. I hated this song until I heard this version.

[eva]

I actually just thought that the umbrella striptease was a little commercial and a poor match for the wistful, loving lyrics of the song. Also, some of my favorite artist are ones I discovered through hearing a cover, then finding out it was done more than one way, and wanting to hear all of the versions. I also somehow doubt that Rhianna would be upset at the amount of exposure that her song is getting from this (completely different and in no way competitive) cover. By the way, does anyone know who wrote this? I couldn't find a credit.

[Amy H.]

Sorry, Barbara, I really have to disagree with you. And I am surprised that anyone would pull out the race card in this instance. I had never heard Rhianna's version before I heard the cover so after I listed to MM's version I looked up Rhianna and listened to the original. This actually exposed me to her music rather than having the opposite effect.
It makes me sad that something so simple can be turned into a race issue when it clearly isn't.

[Zelda]

Regardless of skin color, I can't believe that covering another artist's song affects the original *that* much anymore, since media is so much more accessible. The audience has the opportunity to make the decision. Back in the days of Little Richard and Elvis, black artists were suppressed in favor of the (often worse) later white covers.

That isn't the case anymore. Whitney Houston covering 'I Will Always Love You' and Sean Combs' use of 'I'll Be Watching You' are the first couple of examples that spring to mind--both of them put their own spin on the material, and both were far more successful than the original recordings.

[eva]

Also Jimi Hendrix's covers of All Along The Watchtower (Dylan) and the The Star Spangled Banner. It works both ways.

[Juan]

Personally, I like both Rihanna's original version and Mandy's much softer and slower version. Rihanna's is great for a club vibe and Mandy's for more of a wedding vibe. Also, to address Ms. Barbara Peterson's comment: Rihanna is NOT African-American; she is from Barbados. She identifies herself as Black (which is not the same as African-American). As such, her style may be influenced by our R&B from the states, but her music is clearly influenced by her Caribbean roots.