Question

Take a cover Post Modern Jukebox song and the original version. Compare and contrast both versions using the characteristics of music.

Answer 1

*For the example I will be comparing the song "Problem" originally by Ariana Grande

PMJ's version of "Problem" by Ariana Grande, gives the song a slower and doo-wop 1950's feel. The cover is performed by a female soloist, three male background singers, and is accompanied by a pianist, bassist, and drummer. The cover is in a new key and plays with the melody of the chorus and the rap. Here, the song feels more like a girl giving her partner a send off and kicking him to the dirt, but somberly, almost regretfully.

Whereas the original begins with a soulful remix and transform into a pop anthem. Ariana's vocals are shown off throughout the song with various riffs and gives a modern twist on "the pop diva" music steryeotype. The song puts you in a good mood and the words are a lot easier to miss the meaning of since the pop/dance feel truly shadows the meaning of the song. It's as if the song is a feminist anthem, and the upbeat tempo can make you feel good.

Both versions are unique in their own way and outstanding, it just depends on the mood you're in

Answer 2

I'm going to compare the song umbrella by Rhianna with the post modern jukebox cover.

The main difference between the two is actually the instrumentals and the pacing , in the PMJ version they use piano, the cello, and a bassoon, the tap dancers also add some accompanying sounds. Rhiannas version has artificial sounds, some of the music sounds like it was made with synths. And the most different is actually the vocals, obviously both versions are sung by different singers, the singer in the PMJ version is male and the the OG is sung by Rhianna who is a female, usually males and females have different vocal ranges. Rhianna also sings "smoother" while the male singer in PMJ has kind of a "crackly" and loud voice
(I'm not sure if the BPM in both versions is different or not but it seems that's the case)

The comparisons that are the same is obviously the lyrics and they both respectively use drums.

For this specific cover and original alot is different between them. I could go on for more but I hope this helps a little bit , if you are writing about it I would listen to both of them separately and maybe perhaps listen to them both together to see if you can spot any clear differences or similarities.