Fact: it’s not hard to sing a song better than Ozzy does it. I love Black Sabbath—particularly the first five albums—but the strength of that band lies more in Geezer Butler and Bill Ward than anything. That’s not a dig on Tony Iommi or Ozzy Osbourne. At any rate, Charles Bradley doesn’t just do a good job with this “Changes” cover; he makes it his own. Kind of how Whitney Houston did when she covered Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”.
It took so long to realise
—Geezer Butler
And I can still hear her last goodbyes
Now, all my days are filled with tears
Wish I could go back and change these years
“Changes” is a deceptively simple song. Denuded of the heavier sound that Black Sabbath came to be known for, the vocals have to carry this song. There is no guitar riff to bob your head to and no backbeat to clap along with. Not just anyone can pull this off. I know I gave Ozzy shit in my opening paragraph, but I’m serious. Without his signature sound, could he have otherwise pulled this ballad off? I vote no. It’s the distinction of his voice that saves him here. And perhaps that’s one element that helps Charles Bradley too. He’s got a great voice.
He’s also got soul. Not only do I feel him when he belts this one out, but I also believe he feels it much more than I do. There is an ephemeral quality to his emotion that you can let wash over you, but you can’t hold onto it. Love, devotion, tragedy. He carries it all in this oh-so-simple song.
As you nurse your hangover, what changes are you undergoing?
