Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” hands down is one of my favorite ballads ever. If you watch any reality singing competitions, you know I’m not alone with this sentiment. The heart-wrenching song has been butchered numerous times on American Idol, Nashville Star, Rock Star: INXS and countless others. Even established artists aren’t immune to the track’s emotional power. George Michael, Prince, Kenny Rogers, Kelly Clarkson, Boyz II Men are just a few who have covered the 90s classic. Now, you can add Ester Dean to the list.

For those who don’t know who Dean is, she’s the songwriting genius behind some of today’s biggest hits. From Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Minaj, Usher and Christina Aguilera, Ester has worked with them all, with Rihanna at the top. The prolific songwriter has penned huge hits for her including “Rude Boy”, “What’s My Name?“, “S&M” and “Where Have You Been”.

Stepping out behind the scenes, Ester is now front and center giving her own touch on Bonnie Raitt’s signature ballad. The 26-year-old has totally reworked it and turned it into a dance track. While the dance beats remove the emotional impact of the lyrics (IMHO), I don’t completely hate the cover. I’m sure Bonnie Raitt fans (and Raitt herself) absolutely loathe the new interpretation. Listen to it below and judge for yourself.

Ester Dean ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’

What do you think of Ester Dean’s dance cover of “I Can’t Make You Love Me”? Should she stick to songwriting instead of venturing out as a singer? Sound off below.

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