999,793: Perry Como - Magic Moments ; 999,792 Ronnie Hilton - Magic Moments

A kind of a bizarre, yet common, practice was that back in the 40s/50s day when a song hit it big in the United States, it was re-recorded by someone of the United Kingdom. Especially weird since Como's version was a number one hit in England. Although Glee is certainly bringing that useless-covers-of-recent-songs trend back. ANYWAY, Listening to the two versions of Magic Moments side by side, the production is strikingly similar: lots of strings, back-up ladies singing, whistling (though MUCH more whistling for Como), and the sweet lead stylings of Ronnie and Perry. Picking them apart is like playing the pub game Photohunt. (or Highlighes magazine feature). However, one thing did kind of separate them: attitude.

Perry may be singing about some really special times, but in the typical American fashion he's pretty casual about the whole affair. His vocals are almost conversational. On the other hand, Ronnie is singing with the emotion of someone auditioning for X-Factor: enunciating every word, going for full vibrato on every throwaway line. You see, Ronnie made his career on these covers. Ronnie had to try HARDER, push himself FARTHER and go to the limits of what it meant to be a cheeseball crooner. And if you are trying to out-cheese mr. goody two shoes Perry Como, you are gonna end up in velveeta land!