Pulp:
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William Shatner:
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There's no official video for the Shatner/Jackson version.

So which do you prefer? Pulp, Shatner w/Jackson, or someone else's cover? I love both for different reasons but have to give the slight edge to Shatner for the aggression with which he "spits" the song. I think it's more of an angry tune.

Pulp because Cocker is effin' brilliant.

Pulp
I love this live version
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Pulp, but I also like Shatner's version.

Love them both equally, with the qualification that the Pulp version must be the album cut and not the truncated single version. Going with the single version versus single version, I'd give the nod to the Shatner/Jackson/Folds version.

True.

But the same can be said for Shatner.

And Jackson.

And Ben Folds.

Love, love, love the original version of this.

Shatner, not so much.

Cocker sings this with such conviction because you actually feel he is the character singing this, Shatner I would have a hard time believing this happened to.

The Shatner version is enjoyable, but it's not even close to the amazing original.

Shatner's version by far. Joe Jackson kills it.

I feel the same way, except the other way around. By the time Shatner gets to the last verse he's practically spitting the words. He sounds as is he's full of resentment and hate towards the protagonist, which you'd think he would be towards someone who wants to pretend to have his character's shitty life.

If you want a song from Shatner with some realism from his life, check out the "Has Been" album. It's full of introspective songs about everything from the death of his 1st wife, to his relations with his kids, acting fears, and fans that call him a has been. The album is brilliant.

Pulp! That was my favourite song for a while when I first heard it.

Yeah, I love his cover of "Common People" but it's far from the best song on the album.

Shatner all the way. I love it. I searched out the original version after hearing his and didn't like it at all.

Pulp for me.

It's a weird toss-up. Cocker wrote the song, so it's his. But he doesn't have the most emotive singing voice. Shatner talks it as well, but he sells it a little better, but Joe Jackson, oh my god, Joe Jackson, he fucking blasts the song into the stratosphere, and does some of his best singing ever, which is saying a lot.

I love Shatner, but I had to go with Jarvis and Pulp. I'm a huge fan of both Pulp and Shatner, so it wasn't an easy picky by any measure.

Shatner / Jackson...Shatner sells the story better.

The Shatner version also got us this epic music video:

^ That's awesome.

Pulp has always been one level removed from the subjects of their songs. Jarvis Cocker always come off like someone chronicling what he's seeing around him, not experiencing it directly. Even on the more personal songs on Different Class like "Something Changed" doesn't feel like it's the singer directly singing to someone else, it feels like it's Jarvis singing a song about someone singing to someone else. While this may seem like a knock against Pulp, in my mind it's part of what makes it so brilliant.

In Shatner's hands, it's a personal song. In Pulp's hands, it's an anthem and a rallying cry, and all without the use of a backing chorus.

Shatner performing "Common People" on The Tonight Show

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William Shatner sings Pulp "Common People"
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Thanks for posting that. The first time I heard Shat's version was on Letterman but I couldn't find the video when I started this thread.

On a side note. Was Joe Jackson sick in 04? He looks really thin in that video.

Sorry but other than hipster/camp value I don't see how anyone can listen to a William Shatner recording. We used to get high and listen to Golden Throats and just roll around laughing.

With the exception of "Has Been" that's a valid point. I dig some of his older stuff but I'm in the minority. Look at the reviews of "Has Been" and then judge for yourself. It really is a fantastic album with guests including Ben Folds, Henry Rollins, Aimee Mann, & Brad Paisley. It's not at all a campy album

There's nothing campy about this version of "Common People". It's a great cover of the song (better than the original as I voted). I have it rated 5 stars on my Ipod and love to listen to it often.