Songs with Friends: Creating Cover Versions of Songs
Another type of relationship in music: a new version of the same song. This is often called a ‘cover version’, and there are several interesting questions we can ask about musical covers:
1. What is the relationship between the original song and the cover? E.g. how does the original song affect the cover?
2. How does the cover affect the way we listen to the original song?
3. What is the relationship between one cover and another cover? How is one cover affected by another?
4. What are the effects (positive and negative) of singing a cover version rather than a new song?
● Can you think of any songs you are currently listening to that are cover versions?
● How do the above questions apply to the song?
● In what ways does knowing that the song is a cover affect the way you listen or respond to it?
Listen to a few different versions of the song Cry Me A River, starting with the original version and then a selection of covers.
Although the song was originally written for Ella Fitzgerald in the 1920s, it was first recorded by Julie London in the 1950s.
Cry Me a River, by Julie London/Arthur Hamilton, USA (1955).
Aerosmith, USA (1982) (especially from 1’11’’).
X Factor Judge Michael Buble, Canada (2009).
Discuss in small groups
● Ways in which the cover is clearly affected by the original version
● Aspects of the cover which are entirely new
Imagine you have been to a concert in which several versions of the song Cry Me A River have been performed.
Write a review of two cover artists, highlighting at least four distinctive musical features of each performance and their relationship with the original.
Try to use musical vocabulary where possible, in particular in describing:
● Instrumentation
● Style of accompaniment
● Timbre (sound quality) of the voice
● Features of the melody (are there any changes or embellishments?)
● Dynamics (loud or soft)
● Tempo (speed)
Practical Performance Task
In a group of 3. Choose one chord each on the guitar and see if you can play a Camp Fire Song to rehears and play your own cover!!
Use the Guitar Songs Book (or substitute Ukulele). You may look up chords from other songs if you like.
Guitar songs.pdf