{"id":596,"date":"2018-09-16T20:45:57","date_gmt":"2018-09-16T20:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wri-101c-f18.andrewrippeon.com\/blog\/?p=596"},"modified":"2018-09-16T20:50:29","modified_gmt":"2018-09-16T20:50:29","slug":"punk-goes-pop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wri-101c-f18.andrewrippeon.com\/blog\/blog-08\/punk-goes-pop\/","title":{"rendered":"“Punk Goes Pop”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taylor Swift is known for her peppy and uptempo songs, \u201cBlank Space\u201d being no exception. I Prevail, however, had a different idea when they decided to put their own spin on the hit in their cover of it for “Punk Goes Pop’s” sixth volume. I Prevail\u2019s version of \u201cBlank Space\u201d is of a higher key, most likely due to the fact that Swift sings at a relatively low pitch compared to I Prevail\u2019s lead singer Brian Burkheiser. Punk rock\/metal music is also often of higher key, probably to give it a more sinister feel. The two songs have the same initial beat, but I Prevail soon deviates from Swift\u2019s array of synthetic instruments, guitars and sleigh bells in favor of the electric guitar, drums and some piano here and there. The original lyrics weren\u2019t really changed except for in a few spots such as \u201cI can make the good guys bad for a weekend\u201d being changed to \u201cI can make the good girls bad for a weekend\u201d and \u201cyou’re the king baby I\u2019m your queen\u201d being changed to \u201cyou’re the queen baby I\u2019m your king\u201d in the cover version. These are minuscule, almost unnoticeable changes and I didn\u2019t even notice them until the third listen or so as the genre shift distracts from any lyric deviations at first. The original is significantly breathier and smoother than I Prevail\u2019s short, jagged vocals, the emphasis on certain words different between the two songs although many of the vocal fluctuations remain the same. Vocal fluctuation is most noticeable when Burkheiser sings what is originally \u201coh my God, who is she\u201d in Swift\u2019s version but what becomes \u201coh my God, oh my God, who is she\u201d with a new pause added after the first \u201coh my God\u201d. The extreme emphasis on each of the words in \u201coh my God\u201d before said pause makes the lyrics almost unrecognizable to someone familiar with the original and its lyrics. It is certainly weird to consider Swift\u2019s lyrics in such a sinister, punky manner, but the music doesn’t completely throw the words off and instead makes one think of her song in a new light.<\/span><\/p>\n

1A discusses the fact that no clear-cut formula for the perfect cover song exists. A cover can feel like a totally new song or like a new version of the original that highlights different characteristics than the first. I believe that how a cover is perceived has much to do with the band covering it as well as the audience listening to it. As someone who grew up with an appreciation for punk\/metallic music, I believe that I Prevail\u2019s spin on Taylor Swift\u2019s \u201cBlank Space\u201d definitely works. How well it works, however, is up to personal opinion.<\/span><\/p>\n

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