Tuesday Tunes

Should old art be left alone?  When it comes to music, some folk stand stoically as soldiers defending their chosen artist, genre, or song. Others have no such sacred cows, and encourage new interpretations readily. The opinions on the subject run the gamut, and I find most people judge on a piece by piece basis depending on how emotionally invested they are in 'their' version. I know that the only way some songs have survived centuries is due to being shared and reproduced. But then I feel that no-one will ever come close to the impossible standard that is Bohemian Rhapsody. Sometimes, though, it takes a new sound to re-imagine the lyrics in a new context ...

The Songs
Song: ‘Stand By Me’ & ‘Stand By Me’
Artist: ‘Ben E. King’ & ‘Ki:Theory’
Album: ‘Single - 1961 - Atco’ & ‘Kitty Hawk - 2013 - Kringer Records’
Method of discovery: Heard on the radio & Friend recommended

Personal thoughts: Most people know that Johnny Cash's 'Hurt' was originally a Nine Inch Nails song (for the record, both are great). Its a beautiful example of taking some lyrics and fitting it around a different soundscape, and this, in my opinion, is another. The original is a classic, reminiscent of the love songs of yesteryear. Its a simple song with a simple statement: as long you as you are by side I can handle anything. In my mind its sung by a man who has already won his love, and is reaffirming it in their cute bungalow overlooking the city.
Ki: Theory's version is darker in sound and tone, it doesn't seem like a love song anymore. It seems to me like the insane plea of a drug-addled man, a fallen from grace sinner who lives in the seedy sewers of a filthy city. He's going through withdrawals and the crash is worse than it's ever been. All he needs is one more hit to feel like the person he once was, when he lived sung to the same words to his love at the top of the hill.

Theory: There are the more overt ways this change in tone was established. First of all the instruments change from a typical 50’s band to more industrial sounding clanks and bangs. Then there is the tempo, the words are delivered along a longer time-frame, ie. there is more space between the words, and sometimes they don't be where you expect them to do. It's the familiar with the strange.
Then there are the less overt: like the chords. Ben E. King, writing the song with producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, uses I-vi-IV-V, which has now become so ubiquitous some people call it the “‘Stand by Me’ changes”. The newer version keeps the bulk of the melody, but changes the I into a vi, which changes the sound of the melody. Ki:Theory’s version sounds a lot more minor, but it’s only a minor change. Pun fully intended.

Research: Ben E. King’s original was inspired by and based around Psalm 46:2 “we will not fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the sea.” It was written for the Drifters, who would not record it until 2015, just after King’s death. It has been covered by plenty of other artists, and Ki:Theory is simply one of the latest to offer up their version. Compared to the first twenty versions you’ll find on any streaming service, it’s a pretty harsh interpretation. And it’s clearly struck a chord with advertisers, again pun fully intended, being used in association with at least seven TV shows. It’s rather impressive for a single man: Joel Burleson, hailing from Richmond, Virginia. Incidentally, King’s native Henderson, North Carolina is just over the state border. If music like this is what you get, I’m all for making a little change here and there.

Give it a go: if a fresh perspective has ever helped

Give it a miss: if all music is sacred 

[links]
Spotify: Tuesday Tunes, Stand by Me by Ben E King, Stand by Me by Ki:Theory
Ben E. King: Wikipedia, Stand by Me on Wikipedia
Ki:Theory: Website, Wikipedia
Other: Psalm 46:2 on Biblehub