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It’s the mark of a great song when its qualities are recognizable even if you only hear a short snippet, or when it’s been transformed by a thoroughly deconstructive arrangement.  There’s been a Cheerios spot on Canadian television recently with a soundtrack with just those qualities.  Turns out it’s Ben Taylor with his rendition of I Try .  Its hauntingly familiar, but I would never have guessed it was the same song originally written and performed by Macy Gray on her debut album On How Life Is .  If you’re going to download Taylor’s version, you owe it to yourself to download Gray’s original version as well, and play them together.  It’s a case study at how great songs not only tolerate, but are often enhanced by diverse arrangement styles.  It turns out there’s another reason the song is familiar — turns out that Ben Taylor is the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon.  I knew I had heard that voice somewhere before.