We have done a few blogs by this point, comparing the differences between original songs and well-known covers of them. The song that we are taking a look at today is “Simple Man”. This song was written by Lynyrd Skynyrd and the cover that we are looking at was done by Shinedown.
Lynyrd Skynyrd had first released their song on their debut album Lynyrd Skynyrd – (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) in 1973 (Discogs, http://tiny.cc/584omz ). This song, being from their first album, had helped shape the great sound that the band has. The guitars are very clear with little to no distortion on them, which is a sound that they use frequently. The song does pick up and you can hear the emotion of the guitarists through their sound. This song showcases such raw emotion on all fronts, and has stood the test of time, in some opinions, due to this raw emotion. The lyrics of the song also help keep the song relevant has they are potentially relatable for the listener.
Shinedown covered this song on their 2004 album Leave A Whisper, that also features other hits for the band (Discogs, https://tinyurl.com/rxfne4b). They also keep the guitar crisper and clearer, but due to the evolution in technology, their tone has changed. The singer for Shinedown has an amazing voice that has so much power, which is easily showcased in this good cover. They stay pretty true to the intend sound of the song all while still making it their own! The singer does take a little bit of creative freedom, but in this case helps push the emotion that the song has.
In summary, Shinedown does a wonderful job of keeping the raw emotion and sound that Lynyrd Skynyrd intended the song to have. The only real differences are the development of technology and the creative freedom the singer took to bring more emotion to the song. Overall, this is an amazing cover. What do you think? Let us know on our Instagram or Facebook!
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