On the subjective level, I prefer the performance by Big Mama Thornton because it sounds cooler and performed with more soul. Each sound and word seems to be expressed with more emotional investment, whereas Elvis Presley’s cover is an outstanding demonstration of a mix of African American and White culture. In the case of objective comparison, the Elvis Presley cover lacks a substantial portion of fidelity since he introduced a wide range of modifications. For example, the pace is much quicker between 00:00 and 01:29, but the performance artificially slows down (ForbiddenInGermany4, 2010). However, in Big Mama Thornton’s case, the performance is slow between 00:02 and 01:06, and the artist stops singing and introduces various pauses and phrases (Warholsoup100, 2011). In addition, the latter version is not as frequently balanced as Elvis Presley’s cover.
Moreover, the dynamics of these songs are variant due to the approaches of the artists. The range of audio loudness is larger in the case of Big Mama Thornton, whereas the alternative preserves a similar loudness level. The production process showcases that reverb is more persistent in the earlier version. However, it is evident that both songs are equally effective at morphing the music and lyrics in order to bring some form of uniqueness and originality. Since Elvis Presley had a major influence on pop music development, his cover seems to be a standard for modern ears. Therefore, Big Mama Thornton’s version feels rawer and expressional, where the emotional delivery of the artists is evidently more appropriate. It is especially true in the case of the general lyrics, where Big Mama Thornton’s voice resonates better with the context in a natural fashion.
References
ForbiddenInGermany4. (2010). Elvis Presley – Hound Dog (1956) HD 0815007 . Web.
Warholsoup100. (2011). Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog (1952) Blues. Web.