Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 EscherEnigma Mar 15, 2011 13:15:47	So even though I'm not particularly good at it, I feel like talking about music again. First up is (bear with me here) Britney Spear's new single "Hold it Against Me" [link] The refrain isn't terrible (other then the cheap pick-up line) but it's way too pop/dance for regular listening.  And so comes the cover! Sam Tsui's piano cover of "Hold it Against Me" [link] This one... I like.  It slows the song down, makes it a more mellow one twinged with regret and less raw lust.  Sorta like the two version of One Night Only you see in Dreamgirls actually. Beyonce's version [link], the poppy/dance version that, to me, feels like a "woot!  anonymous sex!" that doesn't jive with me at all. Then there's Jennifer Hudson's version [link], the lament about how life gets in the way of love with regret and loss, and finding solace. Doesn't really count as a cover for either of 'em though as (I believe) the song was written for the movie and the two versions was kinda a plot point. Not sure where I'm going with this.  I think it's probably something about how easy it is to change the feeling and meaning of the words, while keeping the words themselves the same, that turning sex-songs into laments of lost love works well, and that piano versions of pop songs sound awesome. Hrm... just re-read what I've written, and I think I hit on the right word back there.  Solace.  To me, Beyonce and Britney Spears are singing about lust and (hot) desire, blood and sex.  Jennifer Hudson and Sam Tsui are singing about longing and (remorseful) desire, pain and solace.  If that makes any sense to anyone but me? Anyway, point being, Sam Tsui's cover of Hold it Against Me and Jennifer Hudson's One Night Only are on my iPod while their pop/dance counterparts are not.
#2 zombie_babies Mar 15, 2011 13:47:25	Sam's version is much less vapid but it would never make any sort of regular playlist I'd have.  Cuz I just don't do tunes like that.  But yeah, I see where you're comin' from with this.  Totally different feel from the two versions.  And that's kinda cool.  And why do all these poptards wanna use a decent tech genre in their stuff?  BEP, Brit and who knows how many more (cuz they all sound the same) are stuffin' dubstep backing into their crap and ruining it.  It's like 'oh, there's a decent element to this tune, I'll listen' and then you do and it's like 'oh, it's more of the same crap everyone is putting out, I was hopin' to hear a good song'.  Meh.  Anyhoo, here's another cover comparison - if that's cool.  Nirvana's Heart Shaped Box and Cylab's version.  From gritty grunge sung by a dood to synthy, dark something or other sung by a chick.  Somehow I find the Cylab version sadder.  I dunno, interesting contrast in the sameness.  Or something.