The song that I chose for this blog is the “Boss DJ,” originally recorded by the reggae-ska band Sublime on their 1994 album Robbin’ the Hood and covered by the ska-punk band Reel Big Fish on their 2002 album Cheer Up!. It should be noted that the original song as recorded by Sublime is itself a partial cover of two Bob Marley songs.
The LYRICS of the song haven’t changed at all between the original Sublime version and the one recorded by Reel Big Fish. The only major difference is that the chorus, “It’s so nice…” repeats at the end of the Reel Big Fish version, giving the song more of an optimistic tone than the original. The lyrics themselves are not completely pleasant, ending with the phrase “Nowadays, the songs on the radio all drive me crazy.” By repeating the chorus again, Reel Big Fish seems to make the song a bit more hopeful, which is not really their style. Much more to their style is setting unhappy lyrics to upbeat music, and while “Boss DJ” itself isn’t so much an unhappy song, the lyrics are set to significantly more upbeat music in the Reel Big Fish version.
The biggest difference between the two songs is the MUSICAL QUALITY. The Reel Big Fish version is far more upbeat, containing many more instruments than the Sublime version, which is completely acoustic. Bradley Nowell’s acoustic guitar is replaced by Aaron Barrett on rhythm guitar hitting the traditional Jamaican ska upstrokes, with a supporting electric piano and horn section. As for pitch, the difference between the lead singers of each band is clear. Bradley’s voice is slightly higher and flows through the song’s lyrics at a leisurely pace. Aaron, on the other hand, drops in and out of lyrics rather abruptly, and his voice has always had a trademark low pitch. The speed is increased significantly in the Cheer Up! version, and the sound quality itself is dramatically different between the two versions. As an album, Robbin’ the Hood was intentionally recorded with low-budget methods in comparison with Sublime’s previous (and premier) album 40oz. to Freedom. Conversely, Cheer Up! is one of Reel Big Fish’s most well-recorded albums, so much so that even RBF front man Aaron Barrett thinks of the album as being over-produced. As a result, the Reel Big Fish version of “Boss DJ, in terms of the recording itself, is of dramatically higher quality than the Sublime version.
Personally, I prefer the Reel Big Fish version of “Boss DJ.” I have nothing against acoustic tacks, but after a while I get bored of them. I like listening to a song multiple times and focusing on a different instrument each time. With Reel Big Fish, you’ve got plenty of instruments to choose from, each doing their own thing, along with Aaron’s deep vocals backed up by DJ Gordie Johnson. Of course, there is nothing bad to be said about Bradley Nowell’s own vocal skills (may he rest in peace) and as an acoustic, jam-session anthem, Sublime’s original recording of “Boss DJ” is pretty boss.
Sublime:
Reel Big Fish:
No comments:
Post a Comment