Review: G-Dragon - Can't Help Falling In Love
Let us get one thing out of the way first; Elvis Presley's 1961 mega-hit Can't Help Falling In Love is a seminal classic. Basing its melody on the classical and legendary Plaisir D'Armour, Elvis' version gave the song a summery and melodic version that has lasted for years, aging as perhaps his best song, and certainly helping cement his legacy. There has been a bit of an uptick recently in Elvis' interest after a biopic film, and now movie director Baz Luhrman is collaborating with K-Pop legend G-Dragon to create a song-video pair remaking the classic song.
G-Dragon and Elvis share some similarities, both are pop provocateurs with unique skills. This is where the similarities end. G-Dragon is more of a hip-hop or punk star, while Elvis established rock and roll. Additionally, Elvis is known best for his charisma and voice but wrote very few songs. On the other hand, G-Dragon is an acclaimed songwriter-composer who can also sing and rap. The end result is that G-Dragon's cover is more of a reinterpretation than a remake.
Can't Help Falling in Love is now a punk track, with a rougher, and emo feel. G-Dragon always felt like a rockstar in the body of a K-Pop idol, and this cover is another reminder of this for those who forgot Crooked's existence. After a mid-tempo song intro, G-Dragon opens up into a chanted and distorted remix of the chorus. As with many of G-Dragon's classics, this cover sounds like a messy, 2AM emotional flow. He never hits the notes perfectly, slurring and muttering at points, screaming at the top of his lungs at others. This could easily collapse into messy sing-talk, but G-Dragon is a star with extreme control of his persona; he can emote better than so many other singer-songwriters. He plays off his own vocal lines in gruff rage.
G-Dragon's cover is short, clocking in at only two-and-a-half minutes. As a result, there is very little time for the song to reach the cathartic peaks of Untitled, 2014. The song is in a rush, as a result, the dramatic chorus comes off as a little weaker than it should. Nonetheless, G-Dragon gives his all. This is a fantastic return for one of Korea's most prodigal artists. We can only hope his upcoming release will be this strong, or even better.
Rating: 8.75/10
Purchase G-Dragon's latest album, Kwon Ji Yong, right here!
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