Introduction:
Marilyn Manson covers “Cry Little Sister” (Gerard McMann), from the 1987 cult classic “Lost Boys”, for the “New Mutants” soundtrack. The song is not only a step ahead in how Marilyn Manson approaches covers, but is also an impressive step on an alternative vocal style for him.

Introduction:
Marilyn Manson covers “Cry Little Sister” (Gerard McMann), from the 1987 cult classic “Lost Boys”, for the “New Mutants” soundtrack. The song is not only a step ahead in how Marilyn Manson approaches covers, but is also an impressive step on an alternative vocal style for him.

Never before have I done a review, or even considered a review, for a single song. There’s a fair amount of reason why now is the time. Every once in an often sparse time, a song comes along where you think 'I gotta express something about this song to someone for some reason'

The Various Versions of "Cry Little Sister"

Gerard McMann: (original version for The Lost Boys, 1987)

Gerard McMahon wrote and recorded "Cry Little Sister" for the 1987 cult classic The Lost Boys (featuring Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, among others). The very memorable theme song, used throughout the movie in various arrangements as well, was a very dark and passionate song with an hooky percussive beat and powerful chorus with a choir singing the backing vocals.

"Thou shall not fall
Thou shall not die
Thou shall not fear
Thou shall not kill"

Aiden (for Lost Boys: The Tribe)

Aiden’s cover, for the mediocre sequel: Lost Boys: The Tribe, was way off in my opinion and certainly did not bring back any nostalgia from the original 1987 song written and recorded by Gerard McMann. It lacked the darkness and didn’t have that passionate desperation that made the original so memorable and impacting.

Marilyn Manson (for The New Mutants)

Cover versions have never been foreign to Marilyn Manson, dating back to 1995 when the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” appeared on their second release, Smells Like Children. Though covers have been, again in my opinion, far too much of a trend the last four or five years, their covers always make me instantly curious. One of the strengths is their ability to arrange the song with, usually, a darker vibe/atmosphere. However, the strength comes from their ability to do this without drifting too far from the original song structures and melodies.

The cover doesn’t deviate from the original that much at all. In fact, the structure is a carbon copy of the original song (verse/chorus/verse/chorus/final verse/outro). In addition, the choir’s backing vocals of “Thou shalt not fall…” retains that childlike choir style rather than simply having a couple backup singers. The song is kept dark as it was intended in 1987 and again, that’s at least my reason why it was so memorable and emotionally impacting.

Most notably, Marilyn Manson’s vocals veer away from his usual vocal style. Through most of the first verse, there isn’t really a change. At the end of the first verse, as if to lead the listener on to “usual”, Manson dives into a much higher register than usual for him. Granted, that is in the original song but it’s admirable and exciting when artists experiment and test as well as respecting the original of course. Most importantly, the fact that it seems like he strains a bit on the higher notes, or at least deliberately intended that sound, it brings up that desperate and passionate atmosphere mentioned earlier.

Sources:

Marilyn Manson cover background information: Consequence of Sound: Marilyn Manson