Between the two choices, I'd pick the punk version also. However, I'm not going to download either.
To me the thing I like about a piece is it has to be musically interesting.
I like a wide range of music, from punk to country, folk to electronic. I prefer the song to be performed by the artist, rather than cover versions, however if you bring your own spin on it, then it can work. I hate the current Lily Allen song- a cover of Keane's 'Somewhere Only We Know'- her voice is reed thin and brings nothing to the song. Not a big fan of manufactured pop, either, One Direction leave me cold.
Luckily, Coventry has a thriving live music scene and am often spoiled for choice here.
There is good music in nearly all genres, I think, but what makes it "good " is honesty. That is to say, if the song is a reggae piece, the artist shouldn't try to make it pop. if it is punk, don't try to turn it into skye or rap, or some other medium. But, and here's where honesty plays into it, if you are gonna steal a song from another genre, then don't screw around. Go for the whole caboodle. The best examples I can think of off hand in my current semi-inebriated state of mind are Emerson Lake and Palmer doing Pictures at an Exhibition, and Jimmy Smith doing Peter and The Wolf. In other words, make a musical statement; don't try to please everyone. Because when you do that, all you are is "elevator" or "dentist office" music.
"There's only three tempos: slow, medium and fast. When you get between in the cracks, ain't nuthin' happenin'." Ben Webster
