Tainted Love - Originally by Gloria Jones covered by Soft Cell
The original song was recorded in 1964 and released in May 1965 as a B-Side on Gloria's single 'My Bad Boy's Comin' Home' which was a commercial flop failing to chart anywhere. The song was written and produced by Ed Cobb. The Soft Cell cover came out July 7th 1981 in the UK and was produced by Mike Thorn who admitted to disliking the original.
The two songs are of two completely different styles as the original is Northern Soul piece at 166BPM and lasting for 2:13 whereas the new wave/synth-pop cover that came out years later is slower at 144BPM but longer at 2:40. This is due to the difference in structure toward the end as it has 16 bars of the outro then a fade but the original has only 4 bars of outro. The only other difference is the 6 bar into in Gloria's original compared to the 8 bar intro in Soft Cell's cover. One of the only similarities in the 2 songs is that there both in 4/4 and that's it.
Although 4/4 is the most common time signature, especially for pop, the lyrics have been changed so that they are more appropriate as in the original Gloria sings:
"I know you will hurt me so, If I do not pack my things and go”
whereas in the original the pop duo they sing less violent lyrics making it safer for a wider audience. They sing:
“I love you, though you hurt me so. Now I’m gonna pack my things and go”
which sounds safer for a wider audience.
The original song was produced by Ed Cobb using the 60's techniques of recording meaning that it was recorded as a live band all at once whereas the cover had the vocals recorded only once a they got it right or the first try over the track that was produced by Mike Thorn. The original sold poorly however the cover by Soft Cell charted no. in the US and no. 1 in the UK.
Although I personally prefer the original as it suits the song better and gives it a bluesy sad feel which is what the lyrics are about, the cover was so much more commercially successful as it fitted the craze in the eighties. A catchy beat and electronic instruments. The cover does not suit the lyrics however it still isn't a bad song.
Valerie - Originally by The Zutons covered by Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
The original song was produced by Ed Cobb using the 60's techniques of recording meaning that it was recorded as a live band all at once whereas the cover had the vocals recorded only once a they got it right or the first try over the track that was produced by Mike Thorn. The original sold poorly however the cover by Soft Cell charted no. in the US and no. 1 in the UK.
Valerie - Originally by The Zutons covered by Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
These songs came out within 2 years of each other but are hardly similar. The original song by The Zutons was recorded around early 2006 and released on the 19th June that year. The original and cover were released as singles and were in Eb Major. Other than this, the lyrical content, the recording technique and the fact that they're in 4/4 that's it for similarities.
The original is a steady (84BPM) Indie Rock song produced by Stephen Street done by a typical four piece band (guitar, bass, drums and vocals) with added backing vocals. These were easily added as this song as all instruments were recorded separately to a click (Multi-track). This song peaked at no. 9 in the UK singles chart.
The cover produced by Mark Ronson and sung by Amy Winehouse got a lot more attention peaking at no. 1 in the UK R'n'B chart and no.2 in the singles chart. The song is shorter than the original probably due to it's upbeat tempo despite it having a larger structure (double chorus at the end in particular). This cover features a much broader instrumentation as it has glockenspiel, chimes, brass, vocals, drums, tambourine, piano, saxophone, strings giving it a sound. It was released on the 15th October 2007 as a pop cover and was seen as one of Amy Winehouse's greatest songs despite it not being her own.
I love both of these songs equally as they are so different sonically. The original really has a really laid back feel to it and is enjoyable to jam to whereas the cover has tight almost gospel like parts about it and has incredibly happy undertones given by the chimes and strings. I believe that both re-arrangements of these songs work incredibly well.
I'm a Believer - Originally by The Monkees covered by Smash Mouth
I'm a Believer was The Monkees most popular song topping the UK charts for 4 weeks straight after it's release. The song was recorded on the 15th and 23rd of October 1966 and released on November 12th 1966. The cover came out much later as a part of the Shrek Movie Soundtrack and is one of Smash Mouth's most popular songs despite it being a cover. The lyrics and common time signature are the only two things these pieces have in common.
The original is a Pop Rock song in the key of C Major. Due to the time of it's recording it was done with a whole band all at once, it was produced by Jeff Barry. The instrumentation has your standard bass, electric guitar, drums and vocals with the addition of backing vocals, a rotary organ, an acoustic guitar and a tambourine. The song is andante coming in at 144 BPM.
The cover is much faster coming in at 166.5 BPM but longer by around 15 seconds as the structure has an additional outro for 16 bars. The rest of the song is very reminiscent of the original especially in the guitar solo where both guitarist play the riff for 'Wipeout' (A popular piece when the original was released). This song was released May 15th 2001. The recording was Multi-track and produced by Eric Valentine who also played the Synth for this piece. There are considerably less instruments in this version as there is only bass, guitar, drums, vocals and the previously mentioned synth. The final alteration to the piece is that it is in G Major.
There are aspects of both of these songs which I admire and aspects that I dislike. The original plays the melody out so well and the the lyrics sound warming accompanied by the band however I dislike the quality of the recording as it is old. The new one was recorded well however the vocals are jarring and the synth and wacky guitar sounds incredibly out of place in a song like this. If I had to choose a favourite it would be the original as it has everything a good song should have minus the quality of the recording.
The original song was recorded in 1964 and released in May 1965 as a B-Side on Gloria's single 'My Bad Boy's Comin' Home' which was a commercial flop failing to chart anywhere. The song was written and produced by Ed Cobb. The Soft Cell cover came out July 7th 1981 in the UK and was produced by Mike Thorn who admitted to disliking the original.
The two songs are of two completely different styles as the original is Northern Soul piece at 166BPM and lasting for 2:13 whereas the new wave/synth-pop cover that came out years later is slower at 144BPM but longer at 2:40. This is due to the difference in structure toward the end as it has 16 bars of the outro then a fade but the original has only 4 bars of outro. The only other difference is the 6 bar into in Gloria's original compared to the 8 bar intro in Soft Cell's cover. One of the only similarities in the 2 songs is that there both in 4/4 and that's it.
Although 4/4 is the most common time signature, especially for pop, the lyrics have been changed so that they are more appropriate as in the original Gloria sings:
"I know you will hurt me so, If I do not pack my things and go”
whereas in the original the pop duo they sing less violent lyrics making it safer for a wider audience. They sing:
“I love you, though you hurt me so. Now I’m gonna pack my things and go”
which sounds safer for a wider audience.
The original song was produced by Ed Cobb using the 60's techniques of recording meaning that it was recorded as a live band all at once whereas the cover had the vocals recorded only once a they got it right or the first try over the track that was produced by Mike Thorn. The original sold poorly however the cover by Soft Cell charted no. in the US and no. 1 in the UK.
Although I personally prefer the original as it suits the song better and gives it a bluesy sad feel which is what the lyrics are about, the cover was so much more commercially successful as it fitted the craze in the eighties. A catchy beat and electronic instruments. The cover does not suit the lyrics however it still isn't a bad song.
Valerie - Originally by The Zutons covered by Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
The original song was produced by Ed Cobb using the 60's techniques of recording meaning that it was recorded as a live band all at once whereas the cover had the vocals recorded only once a they got it right or the first try over the track that was produced by Mike Thorn. The original sold poorly however the cover by Soft Cell charted no. in the US and no. 1 in the UK.
Valerie - Originally by The Zutons covered by Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
These songs came out within 2 years of each other but are hardly similar. The original song by The Zutons was recorded around early 2006 and released on the 19th June that year. The original and cover were released as singles and were in Eb Major. Other than this, the lyrical content, the recording technique and the fact that they're in 4/4 that's it for similarities.
The original is a steady (84BPM) Indie Rock song produced by Stephen Street done by a typical four piece band (guitar, bass, drums and vocals) with added backing vocals. These were easily added as this song as all instruments were recorded separately to a click (Multi-track). This song peaked at no. 9 in the UK singles chart.
The cover produced by Mark Ronson and sung by Amy Winehouse got a lot more attention peaking at no. 1 in the UK R'n'B chart and no.2 in the singles chart. The song is shorter than the original probably due to it's upbeat tempo despite it having a larger structure (double chorus at the end in particular). This cover features a much broader instrumentation as it has glockenspiel, chimes, brass, vocals, drums, tambourine, piano, saxophone, strings giving it a sound. It was released on the 15th October 2007 as a pop cover and was seen as one of Amy Winehouse's greatest songs despite it not being her own.
I love both of these songs equally as they are so different sonically. The original really has a really laid back feel to it and is enjoyable to jam to whereas the cover has tight almost gospel like parts about it and has incredibly happy undertones given by the chimes and strings. I believe that both re-arrangements of these songs work incredibly well.
I'm a Believer - Originally by The Monkees covered by Smash Mouth
I'm a Believer was The Monkees most popular song topping the UK charts for 4 weeks straight after it's release. The song was recorded on the 15th and 23rd of October 1966 and released on November 12th 1966. The cover came out much later as a part of the Shrek Movie Soundtrack and is one of Smash Mouth's most popular songs despite it being a cover. The lyrics and common time signature are the only two things these pieces have in common.
The original is a Pop Rock song in the key of C Major. Due to the time of it's recording it was done with a whole band all at once, it was produced by Jeff Barry. The instrumentation has your standard bass, electric guitar, drums and vocals with the addition of backing vocals, a rotary organ, an acoustic guitar and a tambourine. The song is andante coming in at 144 BPM.
The cover is much faster coming in at 166.5 BPM but longer by around 15 seconds as the structure has an additional outro for 16 bars. The rest of the song is very reminiscent of the original especially in the guitar solo where both guitarist play the riff for 'Wipeout' (A popular piece when the original was released). This song was released May 15th 2001. The recording was Multi-track and produced by Eric Valentine who also played the Synth for this piece. There are considerably less instruments in this version as there is only bass, guitar, drums, vocals and the previously mentioned synth. The final alteration to the piece is that it is in G Major.
There are aspects of both of these songs which I admire and aspects that I dislike. The original plays the melody out so well and the the lyrics sound warming accompanied by the band however I dislike the quality of the recording as it is old. The new one was recorded well however the vocals are jarring and the synth and wacky guitar sounds incredibly out of place in a song like this. If I had to choose a favourite it would be the original as it has everything a good song should have minus the quality of the recording.
There are aspects of both of these songs which I admire and aspects that I dislike. The original plays the melody out so well and the the lyrics sound warming accompanied by the band however I dislike the quality of the recording as it is old. The new one was recorded well however the vocals are jarring and the synth and wacky guitar sounds incredibly out of place in a song like this. If I had to choose a favourite it would be the original as it has everything a good song should have minus the quality of the recording.
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