1. Slight variation for album filler: Unimaginative. Uninspired but Familiar.
2. Self indulgence: Artists can suppose themselves equal to those gone before by covering their work.
But on occasion, ever so rarely a cover comes along that does more than re-cut or remix. It reimagines the song. So much so that despite the same notes, the feeling is completely different.
The song is 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley. This ballad was released in 1961 and was featured in Presley's film, "Blue Hawaii'.
And in particular, I want you to pay attention to how you feel when you hear these three lines
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
Be you single, be you married, be you in a complicated on again/off again relationship with mint chip from Halo Top, I don't care. This song makes you fall in love with the idea of being in love.
It's magical. It's Wonderful. It's one of the greatest love songs of all time. As such, it has been frequently covered (for better or for worse), making it the perfect specimen to help us understand what makes a good cover. I've sorted through over a dozen covers and found two to help illustrate.
First up we have the Teen Pop Glitter version coming straight to you from the Swedish act, A*Teens (a supposed play on teen-age ABBA). [Note: I've avoided using the music videos. Wanted to remove as many variables as possible so you can make the most subjective judgement possible.]
Pure frosting, right? Not terrible, it's just the same song set to pretty "new" pop-sounds. More filler than self-indulgent. Yet through this re-mixing, those three lines are lost. 'Take my hand' isn't about love anymore. What was a life's fulfillment is demoted to, as my grandma would say, "3 minutes of wiggling on the dance floor." Frosting.
Now, forget about that version. Get up, clear your head, walk around the room. Do some lunges if you need to. Sugar rush over? Now sit back down, in a comfortable position, and listen to this:
This is a cover by Ingrid Michaelson. It bears the double weight of being both a cover and a live recording. But she takes advantage of the rawness to reimagine loved as love-sick.
Elvis's version swoons. It croons. It sweeps you up in love. Ingrid's does not. It's reflective. It's apprehensive. It's sad. And you can hear her pain through the imperfections of the recording.
'So won't you take my hand'
For Elvis, it's a lover's gentle request.
For Ingrid, it's half a question, half a plea, revealing deepest desire; "Why won't you take my hand?"
For Ingrid, it's half a question, half a plea, revealing deepest desire; "Why won't you take my hand?"
'Take my whole life too'
For Elvis, this is a pledge of love.
For Ingrid it is admission of defeat.
'For I can't help falling in love with you'
Euphoria when reciprocated.
Euphoria when reciprocated.
'For I can't help falling in love with you'
Crippling when not.
Elvis uses the song to join two hearts, where Ingrid uses the same chords, the same words, the same melody to break one in half. That, ladies and gentlemen, is why we have covers. They take what we know and transform it into a new flavor. Not just just because it is new, but because it is something beautiful.
Thanks for reading. Good luck out there.
Crippling when not.
Elvis uses the song to join two hearts, where Ingrid uses the same chords, the same words, the same melody to break one in half. That, ladies and gentlemen, is why we have covers. They take what we know and transform it into a new flavor. Not just just because it is new, but because it is something beautiful.
Thanks for reading. Good luck out there.
