Song of the Week- 3/22/08

Sorry it was late a day- busy. This week, I present to you one of my favorite cover song: "I Will Survive" as done by CAKE.

"I Will Survive" was originally done by Gloria Gaynor in its most famous version. CAKE, in their 1996 album Fashion Nugget, recorded a cover of Gaynor's classic disco song. When Gaynor sang it, the sense of betrayal and feminine empowerment rang clear. When CAKE's John McCrea sings it, you get the sense of a lovable hopeless romantic. The original song is such a part of the collective consciousness of society that it's hard to associate CAKE's version of the song before the lyrics are sung. Once the first line is sung by McCrea, you immediately recognize the song- a second later, it hits you. You chuckle to yourself because you recognize it and the irony of the cover. But it's not necessarily ironic, it could be just as serious and righteous as Gaynor's original.

This version of the song includes its own charms on top of the clever change of musical context. The single trumpet, almost sounding like a lost trumpet from a mariachi band, plays the famous melody of the song. McCrea add his signature distant yelps, the guitar solo is aggressive and cuts through the song as it enters in the chorus and the solos, the jangling acoustic guitar gives the song a new coy character, and the funky bass is highlighted to maintain some semblance of the song's original disco roots.

Great song. Enjoy.