This or That: “Ain’t No Sunshine”

“Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers VS “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Michael Jackson

Ain’t No Sunshine; originally sung Bill Withers in the 1970’s is one of those classic R&B hits that many have tried to cover. One of the most famous renditions is Michael Jackson’s. Well known for the softness of his voice, Jackson’s version is sung in a higher octave and shows off both the fullness of his younger voice as well as the softness of his high range. It’s a bit more playful and the adlibs definitely play to the strengths of his voice. Throughout the song, he allows a lot more space for the instrumentals to play and the high note midway through the song is definitely chill inducing. However, even though the emotion is evident, it lacks the lackluster of Bill Withers original slightly raspy voice. The more acoustic and string heavy melody along with his play of short phrases brings this song to life. And while the soulfulness sof the lyrics can stand alone on their strength, it’s the maturity and the depth of his singing that makes Wither’s version my favorite rendition of this song. Which version do you prefer?

By Nisreen Galloway

If you liked this, check out:
This or That: “Killing Me Softly”