Gossip lead singer Beth Ditto considers Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody?” her “favorite song of all time,” an appreciation that explains why the Portland-based trio not only covered the 1998 hit on 2006’s GSSP RMX EP, but regularly features the song during live performances.

I don’t, however, share Ditto’s devotion to the Timbaland-produced original. While I like many of his other collaborations with Aaliyah (particularly “If Your Girl Only Knew” and “Try Again”), I found the ‘babbling baby’ sample in “Are You That Somebody?” so distracting, and because of its repetition, more than mildly irritating. Though the single did little for me, it was one of Aaliyah’s biggest hits, peaking at #4.

What I love about the Gossip’s cover is how Ditto breathes a striking new confidence into the song. In comparison, when Aaliyah sings “I been watching you like the hawk in the sky up high, and you are my prey,” the emotional connection just isn’t there; her delivery is so low-key. Aaliyah may be ‘Baby Girl’ but there’s no doubt that Ditto is all woman. Hear here:

Download Gossip – “Are You That Somebody?” via Amazon MP3. Grab a free download of a live version via SPIN’s Bonnaroo Mixtape 2010, a 16-track set that also features The Gaslight Anthem, Kings Of Leon, Phoenix, Chromeo, and more.