(10-30-2015, 01:04 PM)Miguel Wrote: The ad agency said they listened to "all three zillion" covers. So presumably
they liked what Ingrid did and used it as the model for what they wanted.
We first discussed the similarity to Ingrid's version on Oct 12th:
http://haleyfans.com/showthread.php?tid=...5#pid53035
I said then, Quote:I can understand a fan of Ingrid's being upset she wasn't given the opportunity, or credit. Consider how we felt about The Voice and "Creep."
Of course, from Ingrid's POV it's also a lost opportunity in terms of exposure and income.
Prior to today, I have been wondering how the other artists the ad agency commissioned to record demos for the spot have felt given the attention it has brought Haley.
Well I disagree a bit . . . I don't think TPTB incorporated anything Ingrid-esque to what was requested of Haley.
I refrained from saying anything back on the 12th regarding Haley's rendition allegedly being a ripoff of Ingrid's, because I thought it would just go away, but apparently it has a bit of a life of its own.
However, I can certainly understand how Ingrid and her fans might cry "foul," given the outcome Haley has had, but
not from reason.
There should be two things common to all renditions of a song: melody and lyrics. In this case, all renditions/arrangements should have a recognizable similarity to, in this case, Elvis. If there are a hundred covers, they should in a sense all sound "alike" i.e. a recognizable melody and proper adherance to the lyrics. So in this sense ALL covers are going to sound somewhat alike, including Haley and Ingrid.
The added task that accompanies this song is that in some way you have to differentiate it from Elvis . . . cuz you're not Elvis! So all these covers are going to sound, to a reasonable degree, "like Elvis, only different!" The very lovely Kat Mcphee did a beautiful rendition of this song on Idol and got skewered by Simon for doing too much to it. Similarly, Ingrid, IMO, over did it as well, in her effort for differentiation.
Most importantly for this issue, the change-up was NOT copied by Haley.
Ingrid decided to change the timing--different from tempo--by singing on the half-beat, like this: 1
& 2
& 3
& 4
&, for most of the song. It is not wrong . . . just different (from Elvis). She plays the piano on the beat and sings between the beats; kind of an echo effect.
Haley, and Elvis!, sang ON the beat like:
1 &
2 &
3 &
4 &. That is a major contrast to Ingrid's treatment. And more could be said about the way Ingrid switched-up the melody in the latter half of the song. Beautiful . . . but different.
Haley actually sings it much closer to Elvis than to Ingrid! Why is she not being lambasted for the "closeness?" I think it's due to two things:
first, her voice and timbre (rasp) is just so different that IMO it simply does not sound like it is coming from the same kind of creature! [OK, I'm a Halien . . . don't expect a lot of objectivity from me!] I think she could have sung exactly like Elvis and, if he were alive--big if, I know, he would hug her and thank her for her art!
The
second understated unique element that she uses to differentiate herself is that word we have learned was part of her commission:
sparseness! Instead of going over the top like we all know she could have easily done, she stripped it down to a pure simplicity that scores of millions of people around the world [that's kinda fun to type!!!] have embraced, who, even without the gum ad would have still been in puddles of tears.
For these reasons I don't think Ingrid or her fans have much to complain about. If she were not part of the "auditioned covers" she would be justifiably irked for being overlooked, but that's not anything related to Haley.
