Covers vs Original
 

One of my friends is taking a course in music and out of curiosity I looked at his first paper topic and this was it. And I was sorta curious if anyone had any thoughts on it past the banal points he has made in his paper (instrument changes, time signature changes, ect).

The song was the original by postal service and the cover by iron wine

• Discuss the musical characteristics of the original song
• Discuss the musical characteristics of the cover song
• Discuss similarities and differences in the music
• Discuss differences in lyrics
• Discuss differences in meaning; explain how the music of each song illuminates, obscures, or otherwise affects possible meanings of the text


I'd actually be interested to hear thoughts on other covers vs. originals as well if anyone really gets into this (which is doubtful).

Sixpence None The Richer's cover song of Crowed House "Don't Dream It's Over." I like both bands, Sixpence is noted for doing covers. Very close to the original, one minor difference in this songs is the guitar that is used is a Stratocaster instead of a Rickenbacker.

(I thouhgt I'll start with easy pop-song instead of some punk song I had in mind.)

original - takes a minute to kick in



cover - does not take a minute to kick in


the most prominent characteristic of the original is its ability to channel the raw energy of metal music using only electronic devices in a day when they were rarely used for anything besides generic house beats.

the cover eschew's virutally all electronic devices to recreate the chaos of the original using a typical metal band setup. the vocals are still thoroughly processed.

the original clip here is a video edit, there's no little girl singing around the 3 minute mark on the album, nor is there the extended intro. lyrically they're identical. musically it's pretty spot on as well. this wasn't an exercise in interpretation so much as a test to perform something that most people thought could only be pulled off by machines. pay attention to the drummer in the cover, he is SPOT on.

apparently the original was composed after a 'fan' left a note with what would become the lyrics for aphex twin after a show.

Aha!

An opportunity to post these - both amazing versions, but for completely different reasons.






Almost no need to discuss - the differences are so obvious :D

Neko Case covers Aretha Franklin's Running Out of Fools

Aretha's version is kind of an upbeat jazzy number, standard to the early 60s. the way she sings it, you feel as if she's shrugging off the fact that she's refusing the advances of a former lover. very cool, and subtle. maybe subtle to the point that you might not even listen to the words. the song is uptempo, giving the listener the impression that she's having a bit of flirty fun with the idea of virtually telling this guy to talk to the hand.

Neko Case's version is a reverberated, slightly slowed down indie rockabilly take produced in the early 2000s. it's very remeniscent of an Everly Brothers production, but with strong female vocals that give the listener the impression that she's a force with intellect who could probably drink you under the table. in her version, the emphasis on the title is sung with bitterness. she's angry that his perception of her is that she's just another fool. she refuses to be one more notch in his belt. and she laments over the fact that she was ever a fool for him in the first place.

The original: Nine Inch Nails


The cover: Johnny Cash


Two interesting things about this original/cover combination. First, the videos. Second, that a lot of people seem to think that the Cash version is the original. I see that as a tribute to just how accomplished and assured the cover is. It's not that different to the original, really, but Cash still somehow owns the song while he's singing it.

I have to say I've never understood why so many people like the Cash version better. I like Johnny Cash a lot and he has a lot of great covers in his back catalogue but "Hurt" isn't one of them. He and Rick Rubin basically removed everything that was interesting and good about the original and turned it into an incredibly bland folk song. Give me the Reznor version any day of the week.

Original:




Obviously totally different, with Reel Big Fish going for an abrasive feel and A-Ha having a more mellow laid back feel to it. I think covers are best when bands completely change them up rather then keeping the cover in the same genre the original was in.

Oh don't mistake me, I prefer the NIN version too, I was just commenting on how many people seem to think Cash's version is the original.

Ugh, believing a cover to be the original .. such sillyness must be ridiculed. And that A-Ha cover was godsdamnedawfulyargh!

Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) is a kind of a warning song against the use of LSD and was first recorded in 1967 by Jerry Lee Lewis. However, it became famous with the band First Edition with none other than Kenny Rogers doing the singing. I think it's a brilliant song.




And Supergrass did a lovely cover which is a B-Side on their Alright/Time single from their 1995 debut which was recorded when the lead singer was still a bitty teenager. It's pretty much in line with the old one, just rocked/speeded up slightly and with a touch of youthful energy added.