Big Mama Thornton and Elvis Presley, Essay Example

Big Mama Thornton and Elvis Presley both sang a song entitled “Hound Dog”. Thornton’s version is a little more bluesy-meaning that there are slide elements to it, diegetic sound (the men barking in the background of the song), and a sort of rough edge to the finished version. Presley’s version is more clean cut, both in sound quality, production, and presentation. With Thornton’s version we get a sense that she’s talking about men being hound dogs; which connotes their sly, sexual behavior, while in Presley’s version we get a sense that he’s talking about women and this connotes their doggish attitude about love. These difference (sex vs. love) are the main difference between the songs, despite similar lyrics and the fact that Elvis “took” the song from Thornton.

James Rhodes and Kanye West seem to be kindred spirits in that they’re both extremely passionate about their music. West just commented in an interview given to GQ this month that he believed that the only reason Drake topped the charts this summer was because West took a step away from his music to focus on other things (family, business, fashion). West was really saying that if he hadn’t stepped down this summer, he would have topped the charts instead of Drake. Rhodes is similar in passion as he puts as much of his time and truth into his music as Kanye. In fact, both artists are prolific (both having achieved early success and producing many albums between their start and their rise to fame). The element that truly unites them is that they’re writing and composing at a genius level. I think that either of these artists would think of and appreciate Amy Winehouse because she revamped an era of songwriting and tweaked it into her own. Rap and hip hop is about using existing beats as West does, and because of this he would appreciate Amy’s efforts and lyrical style. Rhodes, who’s work is steeped in classical composition (mostly influenced from the Russians) would think Winehouse was worth thinking about because of her exposure and inclusion of tradition songs but giving them a cutting-edge feel with new and modern lyrics (similar to Rhodes).