Kanye West Covers Peter, Bjorn & John's Young Folks

Kanye West cover of Peter, Bjorn & John’s Young Folks is a freestyle combining much of the feeling of the original song while adding in the hip/hop and soul Kanye is known for. Peter, Bjorn & John song Young Folks lyrics tells the tale of a couple who is just content with spending the rest of the night with each other, regardless of what they were in the past and what others are doing. This deeper more serious plot is in contrast to the happy-go-luck harmony of the beat, giving the subtext and ironic undertone. They are sang in a slow rhythm making it seem almost as if they are sitting next to each other talking these lyrics like causal conversation. This feel is enhanced by the back and forth switching between female and male singers. The melody is a causal, very rounded sound, steadied at a moderate pace to follow the movement of the so-called conversation. The melody then picks up speed when, at the chorus the both singers lyrics unite, raising intensity with the quickened drumming and louder singing. There is also high-pitched whistling through out the entire song, a key feature in the carefree, light attitude of the song. This whistling is carried on onto Kanye West’s cover of the song, along with everything else. The rhythm and melody are pretty much identical, except for the a beat this only present in the Peter, Bjorn and Johns chorus is continued throughout Kanye’s entire piece, giving the organization a bit more of a chaotic feel. However the speed is also increased just a bit along with quicker paced lyrics also add to the chaotic and noisy feel. That lead to the major difference in songs is the lyrics and performance of the lyrics.  Kanye’s song is freestyle, a form of rap, where as Peter, Bjorn and John’s Young Folks is more of a storytelling. The freestyles content is Kanye’s thoughts on how he is interpreted in the media, in interviews and people thinking they have him figured, but in reality “they have no idea”. Without any major changes to the melody and rhythm of a song the feeling and idea and be completely displace by who performs in conjunction with it. I would have to say, in my opinion, Peter, Bjorn and John’s original Young Folk is the best version of the two. I think that the song is more composed and structured. The intensity is best when it just spiked during the chorus. But that shouldn’t be a surprise since Kanye’s version is freestyle, which most likely didn’t get as much care and consideration. I think they lyrics are not necessarily right for the tone of the beat, and that the melody is diminished when it is sped up. The intensity is best when it just spiked during the chorus, like in the original.  However I thoroughly enjoyed both songs.