Say the right things when electioneering, I trust I can rely on your vote.

            Today I’d like to compare and contrast The Easy Star All-Stars’ cover of Radiohead’s song Electioneering (Linked here and here).  Electioneering is a song off of Radiohead’s highly acclaimed album from 1997 titled “OK Computer.” The Easy Star All-Stars are a reggae band that almost exclusively releases albums full of covers from a certain band.  Their cover of Electioneering is off their second album, titled “Radiodread.” Other albums they have released include “Dub Side of the Moon,” an obvious tribute to Pink Floyd, and “Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band,” an equally obvious tribute to The Beatles. 

            Both songs share the same exact lyrics, for the most part.  The Easy Star All-Stars generally use the same lyrics as the original in all of their cover songs, but with slight variations due to their reggae/ska style.  These variations can be found in the slang terms they may use to either end or begin a verse, such as the term “ey man,” which is a form of slang commonly found in reggae music. 

            One aspect that is notably different is the tempo of the song.  The original version is fairly upbeat and heavy, while the cover version is more laid back. These are characteristics that seem to come from the genres both artists occupy. Rarely, if at all, will you ever hear an upbeat reggae song.  While Radiohead does have much slower tempo songs, this song is on the faster end, which helps add to its heavy rock vibe. 

            Timbre is another easily noticeable point of contrast.  The timbre of the original is very raw and rough, which comes mainly through the layering of multiple guitar riffs.  The timbre of the Easy Star All-Stars version is much more mellow and soothing. Also the overall timbre of the song can be attributed to each version’s percussion section.  The original version’s percussion utilizes a very raw sounding drum kit, and in particular the snare drum.  Both versions contain a lot of snare, but the sound of the snare drums is drastically different.

            The difference in intensity between the two songs also plays into the way they affect the listener subconsciously. The original is much more intense than the cover and I feel like subconsciously it makes you want to “rock out,” for lack of a better term.  The guitar riffs are much more in your face and prominent than in the cover, and subconsciously it definitely makes me feel like I want to be moshing at a rock concert.  On the other hand, the cover version is a lot less intense, due to its mellow sounding vocals and instrumentals, which subconsciously makes me want to just relax on a couch and enjoy the music.  These two varying effects on the subconscious can be largely attributed to the differences in intensity. 

            While both versions are really enjoyable, I enjoy the original version more. Being a huge Radiohead fan, it would be very hard for me to find a cover of any of their songs that I would like more than the original.  That being said, there are many times when I enjoy putting on some Easy Star All Stars, and in particular their cover of Electioneering.