Good cover musicians will include just enough of the ‘well known’ version to make it work, while not trying to exactly copy sounds, instruments or note fir note of the arrangement.
And in any case, when you play an instrumental version of a song which is principally known for its exquisite vocal, you are never going to get close to the original anyway, because you are missing the key part - the singer. So why try. Best to find a way to make it reminiscent but different.
When you have a good vocalist, and an arranger to accompany, and in Dusan’s case this is what he is doing, you have great options. You don’t have to play the melody, so you have the freedom to actually play riffs and fills live, behind the vocal. The style doesn’t have to be that complicated, because you can live play these parts.
BTW, I think most people are not that familiar with Etta’s amazing version of this song, because many may never have heard it. Because of circumstances, more people, especially younger people, have probably been introduced to this song by Beyonce’s version. And if my memory serves me, she had no strings at all in her live version at Obama’s inauguration ball.
Mike
