Cover Songs

Usher is one of the biggest names in hip hop. To date, Usher has sold over 45 million albums worldwide. In 2008, He was ranked as the 21st most successful Hot 100 Singles Artist of all-time by Billboard magazine. Needless to say a lot of bands are going to want to cover his songs.




I don’t know about the rest of you but I love cover songs. I will actually go on youtube and search for covers of my favorite songs. My favorite cover songs are crunk goes punk, basically taking rap and hip hop songs and remaking them into alternative rock and punk songs. The song I decided to compare and contrast was, Love in this club originally by Usher, and covered by the band The Summer Set. Both songs are a completely different music genre. Usher’s version is a rap and hip hop song, something you would actually hear in a club. The Summer Set’s rendition is a lot different. I would say it’s more alternative pop-rock. The lyrics are the same, with a few minor repeats of the chorus in the cover song. The speed of the cover song is a lot faster and more upbeat. The original is upbeat but since it’s hip hop it has a smoother pace and is a lot slower. The organization of the two songs is very diverse. The original song starts off fast and gets slower, it is ordered and flows smoothly there aren’t any instrumentation surprises. However, the cover song starts off slow and gets a lot faster. It is more chaotic and leaves you on your toes about what instruments they are going to use next. Both songs keep the same rhythm they just use different instruments. The original song uses a drum kit during the entire song to produce a slower tempo. However, during the chorus the tempo increases and becomes faster. This is similar to the cover song, during the chorus the tempo also picks up and is a little bit faster. The cover also uses a drum kit but the tempo is much faster throughout the whole song. Both Usher and The Summer Set’s songs are very didactic. The lyrics and the song conveys a sexual message, but you don’t have to actively listen either song to understand that. The contrast of the Summer Set’s interpretation is very intense and in your face. As a matter of face, that is how almost all of their songs our. They really aim to get you on your feet and rock out right along with them. As compared to Usher’s song, the affinity of the song really doesn’t have much intensity to it. It’s more laid back and doesn’t make you want to jump out of your seat right away. One of those songs that you just don’t know how to dance too, it’s too slow for the club, and too fast for a slow dance.
Out of both of these songs, I like the Summer Set’s version better. This is partially because I love alternative rock and always will. I only like hip hop and rap songs when I’m out at a party trying to shake what my mama gave me. The lyrics make more sense as a hip hop song, but there is just something about the way the Summer Set sings them that makes it more catchy and original.