I don’t think I ever really realized how much one instrument could change an entire mood of a song.
Until recently, I never even paid attention to what instruments were being played in songs. I just allowed the sounds to cloud my head, and if I later found myself humming it, then I knew I liked it. I also rarely (if ever) considered things like what a song would song like live or acoustic. Now, maybe that’s because I don’t play an instrument, so it would be difficult to see how the addition or subtraction of one would enhance or develop a song more. Who knows!
But, I’ve just never listened to a song and considered how with a different instrument, the song could morph itself into a completely different genre than it originally falls under.
Though, it was when I heard Ellie Goulding’s cover of Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World” that I truly understood the importance of sound in songs, and how changing one instrument could give that song a brand new meaning.
When listening to the original of “Only Girl in the World, “ it’s not easy keeping your attention focused on the lyrics and on finding that main message. The song is packed with various beats and synthesizers that it completely overshadows Rihanna’s raw talent and the story she’s trying to tell. I personally just look at this song as a good ‘pump me up’ tune to play, as I get ready to go out. I dance around and belt the lyrics but I never really stop to think about what it is that I am actually singing; I like to think it’s the overpowering, body pounding beats that prevent me from doing so.
I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing though. I may be responding to the song the way Rihanna intended for her audience to… to see this song as something fun to dance around to.
But, once I had the pleasure of hearing Ellie Goulding’s rendition on BBC’s Live Lounge, I was able to see that this song actually had a point to make; it had a message. If it weren’t for both versions having the same title and lyrics, you’d think it was a completely different song, and it’s all because of the way Ms. Goulding altered the sound by introducing new instruments.
This English singer/songwriter took this song, stripped it naked of its processed production of sounds, and gave it a complete make over musically.
Using a combination of string quartet, a piano, and an acoustic guitar, she managed to transform the original, mind numbing, dance poppy number into something sophisticated, beautiful and something filled with meaning and emotion.
At the beginning of the song, we hear a few simple chords on the guitar, and within seconds it’s accompanied by the clean-key sounds of the piano. It’s at this same moment that we are also introduced to Ellie’s soft, trilling voice as she recites the first few lyrics clearly but with a whole lotta passion. And so, with not even 30 seconds into the song, her sound as well as those of the instruments have already created a more classic, more intellectual feel to the song.
It’s at 0:48 in that we really get a chance to hear how an instrument can completely transform a song. It’s the addition of the graceful strings along with the beautiful harmonies that give this song some true emotion. This version gives us listeners the opportunity to hear and comprehend the lyrics like, “Want you to make me feel like I’m the only girl in the world, like I’m the only one that you’ll ever love, like I’m the only one who knows your heart...” and see that this is actually a legitimate song about love.
And, it’s at 2:38, the true orgasm of the song, that we can really look at it and see that it is now a song of substance and a song that has the potential to affect us emotionally. We hear the harmony kick in at full force while the strings are powerfully being picked and all you can think to yourself is “wow… this is simply gorgeous.”
It is no longer a song that goes in one and ear and out the other but now a song that has the ability to comfort you, console you and give you some major goosebumps, and its all due to the stunning orchestral sounds and yodeling voice of Ellie Goulding.
So, how has this song changed my life?
The truth is, I never really understood the point of cover songs. Why try and revise something that’s great in its original form? It wasn’t until Ellie’s version of “Only Girl in the World” that I realized covers are necessary. A song can sound amazing in its original form, but there are artists like Ellie who look at an already publicly approved piece of music and see that there’s still so much that can be done with it; there’s so much potential one has with the lyrics of a song. She has taught me that cover songs are not performed because some artists are too lazy to think up and write their own music but rather they’re done so that audiences can see an artist’s creativity by presenting the lyrics in a different light.
Bottom Line:
1. Ellie Goulding, I think you're fabulous
2. This post was not supposed to bash Rihanna... because I back her too.
Oh and 3, listen to this song… it’ll change your life.
