Who sang I DROVE ALL NIGHT the best? Orbison, Lauper, or Celine?

Celine

Cyndi

I heard Cyndi’s version first so I’m partial to that one but the songwriters wrote it with Orbison in mind and he recorded it first so his is probably the definitive version.

Cyndi

The Cindy version is fantastic.

One of her songs that a favorite of mine, along with Change Of Heart.

Definitely Cyndi.

It was a completely different sound for her at the time - dark, deep, sensual. I still love it.

Celine's version was just another one of her screechers.

Orbison's voice is exquisite but I can't stand the production. Too bombastic, it doesn't build and the drums overpower him at times. I love Celine and Cyndi both, but agree with many here that Cyndi's is best. There's an emotional nuance that Celine's version doesn't offer. The song was written for Orbison by the team of Steinberg and Kelly, who wrote many hits of that era, including "Like a Virgin."

Orbison had only recorded a demo and the track wasn’t completed until years after his death so there was no way to go in and record additional vocals. Jeff Lynne of ELO produced the track so that’s probably why it can sound bombastic

Cyndi, 100% - think it's my favorite song of hers

Surprisingly I actually like all three versions. The Roy Orbison released music video with Jason Priestly and Jennifer Connelly is from 1992, 5 years after the song was recorded. It's probably among the top ten best music videos every made.

Zac Posen's people should contact the Orbison estate, post-haste, about using that song and video for the latest Gap refresh.

You can hear that Cyndi has some electronic help on those high notes.

I love Cyndi, but c'mon.

Orbison's voice is legendary. Unique. It has an importance and gravitas that Cyndi's pleasant light-weight pop voice just does not have.

You obviously haven't seen Cyndi perform live. While her high notes aren't always 100% perfect, but she does get up there.

Lauper.

Cyndi's version is great and she sounds a little desperate on it, which suits the lyrics.

Roy's version is probably the best but a man singing those lyrics sounds a bit rapey. Creeping into someone's room, waking them up and fucking them? #METOO!!!

Celine's version sounds like anything Celine does.

I've heard Billy Steinberg on a lot of podcasts and he's an amazing lyricist and it's always shocking for him to state he is a heterosexual man, especially when he is still bitter about the rejected verse of True Colors he wrote for his mother.

I drove all night to fuck Jason Priestly.

🎵I could taste your sweet kisses, your legs open wide, this fever for you was just burning me up inside🎵

Celine should recognize that while she had a great voice, not every song is suitable for it. She confuses bombast for being able to convey passion and desire and fails.

1/ Cyndi Lauper - propulsive and urgent; one of her best singles though it was only a moderate hit since she’d become passé by the late eighties; terrific video that fits the lyric and even hazards a stab at making Lauper sexy

2/ Roy Orbison - close second; gorgeous voice though the song is not fully suited to the singer, who doesn’t sound like he’d be able to stay awake all night even driving toward an erotic fixation; superb video capturing Jason Priestly and Jennifer Connelly at their peak youthful beauty .

.

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3/ Celine Dion - dreadful; generic with simply awful production; bland video; it sounds Ike the crass car commercial she recorded it as

Link is to Lauper performing the song live. She and the band sound terrific

I'd like to hear Miley Cyrus cover it.

That’s Brandon Priestley right?

At his peak!

19 good performance. Poor Celine. So much bad production in her career.

r22 r21, hey, I typed the correct name and correct reaction at R16. Sheesh.

Cyndi. Perfectly done

Orbison’s vocals, that operatic way he sings “burning me up inside”, is pretty amazing. There is an emotional quality to it that sounds (to me) really unusual. I can see why he was admired as a singer.

This shoulda been a pole.

Lauper - no contest.

Fucking Celine Dion's version is the worst.

Lauper - one of her best IMHO.

I had to eshcape... the shitty was shticky and cruel

Yes R13

C Lauper live - this is just outstanding. Her range, her performance, all of it.

Cyndi Lauper did. No competition.

Orbison and Celine were/are the better musicians and singers perhaps, but Lauper took that song and made it her own. It’s the one most people remember and love.

On the other hand, Cyndi stole Girls Just Want to Have Fun and the poor guy who wrote and first recorded it was basically robbed of royalties, fees etc. Cyndi was brutal in hijacking that song from the guy. She made it what it is of course but she and her people were pretty much hijackers and played dirty to get the song.

I love this song and enjoy all the versions. Cyndi’s was the first I heard.

Recently I came across the Roy version backed by the London Philharmonic (I’m a fan of a lot of these London Philharmonic things that have been popping up — Carpenters, etc). I really like it — especially the opening.

I am a fan of Cyndi's.

R32 Robert Hazard wrote that song, but the lyrics could be seen as misogynistic. Cyndi Lauper changed about half the lyrics and made it women affirming. He made a lot of money from Cyndi's big hit, and still gets half the songwriting royalties.

I feel like Celine's version - although 14 years after Cyndi's - was too soon and tried to overshadow what is arguably one of Cyndi's best songs.

Didn't feel right - it felt competitive and mean. Let me take Cyndi's great song and I'll do it better.

Soured me on Celine even more. I felt protective of that song - Cyndi never got the credit for that song that she deserved. The big mouth Celine comes in and tries to crush it - but she failed, in my opinion.

I guess I'm the only one, but I like the Celine version.

Celine! Because of this video, which made me rediscover the song

OP, I like this song and really enjoyed Cyndi's version and hadn't heard Celine's version. So I listened to all three and was surprised.

1. I was thinking of Roy's YOU GOT IT (I love it) which I thought was I Drove All Night. His version sounds weird like the drums are not in sync or just too busy. I don't like the arrangement and it seems a little too fast tempo. I usually like Roy's voice but on his version he sounds like an old man and who probably shouldn't driving anywhere, night or day. But his unique vibrato saved it

#2 I mostly remembered the choruses, but Cindy's version is really good, she feels it. Love her low tones at the beginning and love the synths but there's a weird drum level thing going on. It sounds like their trying to do some sort of heavier metal from to the songs which doesn't work.

#3 I was surprised I really like Celine's version. It is smooth and has great rhythm. I don't really care for Celine but I would listen to it again, it's not as bad as I was expecting.

In summary: Cindy's version is classic, Roy should nap all night and Celine's is great! And neither of them could sing those clunky lyrics UH-HUH YEA! In the first verse.

I only remember the Cyndi version but it is breathtaking including the arrangement, staging and wardrobe.

Team Cyndi.

R30 that ish the besht version.

Here's Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg discussing how they wrote the song, recording with Orbison, and how Cyndi ended up releasing it first. It's an interesting interview where they discuss many of their hits. The "I Drove All Night" portion starts about 16:20 if it doesn't cue

R17 To this day, I always hear "crapped in your room," instead of "crept in your room."

Is that all right? Uh, NO!

Cyndi has an annoying voice. It's not that appealing.

Celine.

I think Cyndi’s is the best overall, but I’ve heard some really good dance remixes of Celine’s.

#1) Cyndi. Hers has an urgency & need the others lack. It is raw. Underproduced, which suits the song. #2) Roy. I agree with the tone sounding a little straight guy off. A little stalker-ish. A bit like I'm the Only One by Melissa Etheridge. "Choose me. Who else will feel this way?" #3) in last place, Celine. Overproduced, as always. Technique compensating for a lack of interpretation. Furthermore I refuse to believe Celine Dion would drive all night for anyone. She might hire a driver for her tour bus while she naps. She might charter a private plane. But Ms. Celine ain't even crossing the street for another person.

No doubt Cyndi has the superior vocals on this one, however Orbison's video wins over everyone else's video. Thanks to Jason P. NO ONE needs to see Cyndi or Celine as a sex kitten. Cyndi comes off as Madonna lite in her video

Celine's is terrible.

What the hell: I leave for a gay cruise in two weeks.

Hex Hector took perfunctory (if technically spot on vocals) and reinterpreted them into longing and desperation. It’s dancefloor storytelling at its finest. The original is okay, but this version fucking slaps.

I can't imagine Celine Dion getting behind the wheel of a car and driving, let alone getting behind the wheel of a car and driving long distance because her clit is throbbing and she needs good quality dick.

She could have tweaked the lyrics to make it clear she had a chauffeur.

“ What the hell: I leave for a gay cruise in two weeks.”

can i sTop by your room and seE you??

R51, I can't imagine Roy Orbison driving a car, crawling through someone's window or "making love" to anyone, yet, I feel like his version is the best; go figure!

The lyrics are actually super-creepy and wouldn't cut it in the current environment. Plus Roy has that old man warble. (Once I imagined the creepy old neighbor from "Family Guy" singing it at the foot of Chris's bed, I couldn't go back to the Roy version.)

Roy always sounded like an alzheimers patient singing into a fan.

[quote] The lyrics are actually super-creepy and wouldn't cut it in the current environment.

The gay version is "If I was invisible" by Clay Aiken

I wouldn't be comfortable with Roy Orbison driving all night, being as he was practically blind.

I Texted All Night

[quote]The gay version is "If I was invisible" by Clay Aiken

Would that song be as creepy if sung by Shawn Mendes or Harry Styles? It was originally recorded by a cute Irish boyband. I wouldn’t mind them lurking in my room

"I Was Driven All Night, Which Is The Correct Protocol For A Woman Of My Abilities "

Cyndi for sure. Celine did hers for a car commercial and put very little creative thought into it.

I love Cyndi’s version best. Dion’s is too … Celine Dion and as somebody else commented, Orbison’s too bombastic.

I dislike HiNRG dance music so that sinks Celine's. I like some aspects of Celine and her voice and her musical taste. But dance music, no. At least Madonna can make a valid dance song.

In terms of musical talent and audience perception, Celine really was the Barbra of her time (but much nicer). She was never perceived as "cool", she was someone your parents listened to (aside from MHWGO). Her attempting dance music is as bad as Barbra's song Wet. Whitney and Mariah were capable of making some good dance songs, Celine was piss poor at it.

Jason Priestley was so beautiful when young.

I could listen to Orbison sing anything all day long.

Remember when Orbison and KD Lang sang together? That was close to heaven.

Cyndi’s is the best, there’s an emotional immediacy to her vocals and phrasing that made the song work.

I like Orbison's version.

I take it back, I like Cyndi's version the best. I thought she wrote the song.

What's Jason Priestly got to do got to do with it? 😃

R71, he’s in the Orbison video.

R71 No, that's a Tina Turner song.

Agree - KD and Roy together is stunning.

WHET kd lang?

Technically, the Lauper cover is best.

However, I can sing along with Roy, so it’s a harmless and frequent duet.

And, our KD Lang is pulling a Bowie and I wish her great income because she’s worked for it.