The song I chose to compare and contrast was “Billie Jean”, originally sung by Michael Jackson and covered by The Civil Wars. The original was released in 1982, while the cover was released in 2013, and this alone sets the two apart in terms of style. Michael Jackson’s version takes on the embellished style that was so characteristic of its time period. It was upbeat, energetic, and bursting with power, and a full band, complete with backup singers, supported Jackson as he belted out the notes. The song takes on an angry and confused tone as it depicts the theme that relationships often turn sour over time. Although the cover seems to convey the same meaning, it completely contrasts its original in stylistic terms. The simplicity of the version by The Civil Wars allows the song’s beauty to shine through, while the overstatement of Michael Jackson’s version keeps a complex element that confuses the song, in a way. The cover is presented as a duet between a man and a woman, and although this fresh approach does not really change the song’s message, it allows the audience to see the topic from two sides of a relationship, which I believe improves the quality of the song. The new version is also acoustic, with simply a guitar and vocals, and the slow tempo, soft voices, and gentle tone bring a brand new stylistic approach to the song. The classic original and the contemporary cover are extremely different in terms of musicality, tone, and style, but each one still successfully conveys the same overall meaning.
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