Song cover comparison: "Valerie" by The Zutons (later Amy Winehouse)

           The song Valerie by the Zutons was covered and made relatively famous by the popular singer Amy Winehouse produced by Mark Ronson. The song is originally sung by a man and Amy Winehouse turned it into her own when she made her interpretation of it to make it her own. The original song that was by the band the Zutons who had a more rock and roll type of sound to it. The vocals were also different because obviously it was sung by a man when it was first released, and later when Amy Winehouse covered it she added her own type of style and vocals to adopt it as her own. The version by the Zutons has more tones of rock and roll while in Winehouse’s she exhibits more of a bluesy or possibly pop vibe to it. The way that the song is presented in the Zutons’ version is more like they are talking about a girl that they know or possibly are in love with. While, the way I took it, in Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse’s version of the song it is portrayed more as a friend perhaps. She is speaking like they are close friends and she cares about her, although the song did not change the lyrics, the way it was sung seems more happy and playful than the original version. The music video by the Zutons is a real music video that shows the band in a prison, much like the song says in one of the verses. Yet in Ronson and Winehouse’s version it just is a video of them on stage and Amy Winehouse is singing the song, much like a concert video. The messages do not exactly change just the fact that it could go from a guy talking to an ex of his to the version that Amy Winehouse sang is more like her speaking to an old friend. If that is considered changing the meaning then I guess that it somewhat changes. The tempo of the song is more upbeat and peppy than that of the original by The Zutons. The instrumentals are very different as well. While there are more drums and other rock instruments in the original version and the newer version has more peppy and pop-like instruments. The vocals also have a difference because there is a slower tempo to the way the singer sings the song compared to Amy Winehouse. He also stresses different words and syllables than she does in order to create a unique sound that is not copied. The intended audience is kind of hard to place but I can only assume that the audience for The Zutons’ version is probably directed more towards men and people who enjoy rock music. Winehouse’s version is most likely directed towards females and the more hip and pop-type audience of the modern day people.