Blog 3A: Demo and Written exploration of Cover songs

Original

Cover

I chose to compare Toxic by Britney Spears with the Toxic cover by The Cast of Glee.           

While the lyrics and melody are the same in both of the songs, the speed and organization are different.

In the original by Britney Spears the song is much faster than that of the glee remix. The original Britney Spears song is much more up-tempo… although both give a sexual feel but they do it in very different ways. In the original Britney is sexual within the song with a fast exciting never ending pace and seductive lyrics, while in the glee version they use the same lyrics but they use a silently, more secretive type of seductive, less noticeable.  The glee version is more seductive than the original, Britney version, which is overtly sexy. In the Glee remix they are going for a calmer, more musical approach.  I think this also changes the timbre of the song giving changing from a high energy, intense song to a more sly and

The organization in the original is also far more chaotic and frenzied where the Glee version is more controlled and precise (especially in the beginning). The organization is very intro/chorus/verse…etc it is easy to hear the difference because of the change in instrumentation. The addition of a “band” and more driving drums denotes the chorus where they're more accapella with minimal guitar are the verses.

I think that the Glee version uses are more effective tension and release when they choose to change from only with a guitar to additional instrumentation. There is a certain creepy tension that builds with the solely guitar version that is released when the tempo increases. Also there is a great deal of height difference in the Glee version compared to the original.

Since both have the same lyrics they have the same text and subtext. The underlying meaning of the chorus

“With a taste of your lips

I’m on a ride

You're toxic

 I'm slipping under With a taste of a poison paradiseI’m addicted to youDon’t you know that you’re toxicAnd I love what you doDon’t you know that you’re toxic”

Implying that everything about him in intoxicating and she has no defenses against him, that she can not help herself. The subtext is extremely sexual and contains numerous innuendos, while the text is more evasive to the face.

It is hard for me to choose which version I like better because they're so different. The original version is definitely more pop-est and upbeat. The cover of the song is calmer and has more emotional feeling during it by using a lack of instrumentation. I like the original version for its originality and upbeat-ness and fun while I have more musical respect fort he accapella version and find it musically much more sophisticated. Musically, I like the Glee cover better, as I do with most of their covers but  overall for sentimental reasons I will choose the original because I LOVED Britney Spears as a kid and I loved this song!