Cover:
The song I chose was Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) by Kate Bush, and a cover version by Placebo. To contrast the two, the original song had a much more soulful, hopeful groove, while Placebo’s version was much more relaxed. While the instruments themselves were similar, the digital effects used on them different greatly, being much more affected in Placebo’s version to make them soft and muted. Placebo’s version used recognizable piano as well, while Bush’s version used only keyboard-like or synth sounds. Bush’s version sounded like it had more depth due to a louder intensity in general, although it’s possible that both songs had a similar amount of instrument layers. As for what was similar, both songs had a similar repetitive drum beat throughout virtually the entire song, and both occasionally used chorus-like background vocals. The melody and structure were very similar as well, the main difference being the lower intensity of Placebo’s version, though the organization of the song itself was primarily the same. Overall, Placebo’s version remains faithful to the core beat and melody of the original song, but gives it a much more soft-spoken, almost eerie feel. As for which I like better, I like both versions in their own right, but I prefer Placebo’s version. I like 80’s music just fine, but that 80’s sort of overly bright synth feel is a little too much for me sometimes. Placebo’s version doesn’t have that problem, so I could listen to it in any mood. I also enjoy the way that the slow, soft-spoken feel of Placebo’s version almost grabs your attention and makes you think about the words more than the strong, forceful vocals of the original. Kate Bush’s original version has powerful emotion in it, like a prayer directly to God, but Placebo’s feels less like a prayer and more like it’s speaking to the listeners themselves, as if to say we have the power to stand in each other’s places.
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