Listening on Repeat for Three Days

[rsadelle]

Some amount of time ago, a friend (possibly schuyler, but I could be wrong about that) linked to the Ukrainian polka band cover of "Hot 'N Cold" and said it was proof that Katy Perry is a better songwriter than singer. I couldn't quite agree with her because what I find offensive about "Hot 'N Cold" is the way it relies on stereotypes about women to make its point: "You change your mind / like a girl changes clothes / yeah, you PMS like a bitch / I would know." This is often what I dislike about Katy Perry's music; I actually like her sound - it's catchy! - but nearly every song of hers I've heard has at least one set of offensive lyrics. (This is why I adore "California Dorks.") But now there's a cover that makes me believe in Katy Perry's songwriting skills.

Last week, Mark Rose did a cover of "Teenage Dream" (link goes directly to the mp3). "Teenage Dream" is something of a love song even when Katy Perry sings it, but Mark truly turned it into a soft, lovely love song. It's also a fascinating look at the influence of gender roles on meaning/perception. When Katy Perry sings "I might get your heart racing / in my skin-tight jeans" and "let you put my hands on me / in my skin-tight jeans," it grates because it reinforces all the other bajillions of messages we get telling us that women - especially entertainers like her - are sex objects. Mark is a man, and in a society where men are sex subjects, not objects, that element of meaning disappears and the "skin-tight jeans" become just part of the song. I think this is a big part of why I love straight up covers by artists of a different gender than the original artist.

Comments

[sleepherealone.livejournal.com]

Me and a friend actually got into a discussion where the subject of Patrick Stump hypothetically covering this song came up, and that's exactly what I thought of with those lines! That is such a lovely cover.

[trcunning.livejournal.com]

My problem with KP is almost exactly the same as my problem with Eminem in that they are both very catchy and much more lyrically clever than people assume but they are also both very blase about things I have strong opinions of (ex misogyny, homophobia).

So sometimes they come on the radio and I start bobbing my head, singing along and suddenly realize that the words coming out of my mother are NOT acceptable. So I get upset with them but even more I'm upset with me. And I don't want to be upset with me so I get mad. Only I don't want to be mad either and it's just a whole blather.

[rsadelle]

I can only imagine that a Patrick cover would take the sound in a completely different direction but still have the same effect on those lines.

(Do you know Patrick and Mark know/knew each other? Mark's previous band was Spitalfield, who were apparently very big on the Chicago music scene - someone described to me as, "Fall Out Boy opened for them." There's also an interview, possibly in the AP Podcast, where Pete talks about a tour FOB and Spitalfield did together where some nights their shows were so small the bands would be playing for each other and the venue employees.)

[rsadelle]

Yes! Eminem is another good example.

If I'm the car and something like this comes on, I will often sing along until the song hits a lyric I'm not okay with and then change the station.