The Gourds- Gin and Juice (cover)
This song by Snoop Dogg is a classic. As I’ve explored different musical styles throughout my life, from rock, to rap and hip hop, to folk, one of my favorite is the g-funk (gangsta funk) style of rap from the early 90s originating on the west coast, starting with Warren G and Snoop Dogg. If you’re into that kind of stuff, listen to Snoop Dogg’s debut album “Doggy-Style,” it’s one of my favorites. One day I stumbled upon the Gourd’s cover of Gin and Juice, which was awesome because it blended two different musical styles, from completely different spectrums.
Lyrics
The lyrics in both songs are exactly the same. Snoop’s lyrics are not for the faint of heart, and can get pretty dirty (the album is called doggy style…), but overall it’s good music. In the original by Snoop Dogg, he’s pretty straightforward with his lyrics, talking about being a gangster, his crazy partying and high rolling lifestyle, which goes along with what a lot of other rappers talk about and what’s associated with a rapper’s lifestyle. It’s awesome how the Gourds use the exact same lyrics but with a more folky style of music, nothing like rapping. They took lyrics that would never go with any songs in the style they play, and made it work, it’s hilarious but it’s good.
Melody
The original song’s melody is very “laid back,” with more of a minor tone that goes with Snoop Dogg’s rapping. It definitely goes along with Snoop Dogg’s style and persona. The Gourds’ cover takes the song and sings it with two chords throughout the song, in a very upbeat manor and in more of a major tone. Also, the Gourds make the song musical with more tonality and singing as opposed to more hip-hop/rap.
Organization
In Snoop Dogg’s version, he goes through his rapping/freestyling section, and then there’s the chorus of “sippin’ on gin and juice.” In the Gourds’ cover, the organization is the same as Snoop’s version with the verse and then chorus, but after the chorus they have more extended musical/instrumental jams with mandolins and guitar. It’s pretty hoe-downish, and like I said earlier, the whole song is simply two chords. It’s not chaotic in either version; both have a structured, ordered approach.
Rhythm
As with the minor tone of the melody creating a vibe that’s very chill, the rhythm is somewhat slow, giving it more of that laid back feel. The Gourd’s version has a faster, upbeat rhythm that coincides with its major tone. It sounds like it’s something that makes you want to get up and go crazy, as opposed to Snoop’s relaxed and chill rhythm, that makes you relaxed and chill.
Tension & Release
Snoop’s version builds tension in the chorus, with increasing volume and more background singers, and when he goes back to the verse there is a release when he goes into his rapping. The Gourd’s start off quiet with the mandolin and builds up volume going through the first verse, and then the second verse comes in with the drumbeat and more layers of sound. Once the chorus hits there is the most tension, and then there’s release going back into the verse. And after they jam they go back to being really quiet with just the mandolin and singing, and then the volume and layers increase again.
Didactic Lyrics
Snoops lyrics don’t require any active thinking. He is telling you straight up a story of living a wild lifestyle in Long Beach. I don’t think there’s any hidden meaning behind his lyrics, but it’s lyrics are pretty vivid, and you see the kind of life he lives. It’s good to have lyrics that require you to think, but sometimes it’s good as in Gin and Juice to not have to think about it, Snoop’s being real.
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