Music Review: Uncle Kracker & Dobie Gray "Drift Away"
Uncle Kracker & Dobie Gray
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Drift Away
Album: No Stranger To Shame
Year: 2003
By 1973, Dobie Gray had some hit singles, acted in the musical "Hair" in Los Angeles, and played in a band named Pollution, according to the All Music Guide. However, he would also record his signature song "Drift Away," a song which now lives on in soft rock radio stations everywhere.
Music has helped Gray through the rough patches in his life in the resolute "Drift Away."
An ambivalent guitar opens the single, setting a introspective tone. Gray comments that he doesn't know what to think anymore. The rain falls on his window as he searches for a way out of his doom. If he misses seeing the sun after a downpour, he's believed he's lost. He's under a lot of pressure and hopes someone else can see the situation he's in. ("Day after day I'm more confused/Then I look for the light through the pourin' rain/You know, that's a game, that I hate to lose/I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame.")
In the chorus, he turns on his favorite album to distract himself from his pain. The music takes him away from his troubles, although temporarily. ("Give me the beat boys and free my soul/I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away/Give me the beat boys and free my soul/I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.")
In the second verse, he believes he's not doing anything in his life. He's wandering aimlessly and would like to know why he does it. His boss had been yelling in his ear earlier that day for something he didn't do. The electric bill didn't get paid on time. However, he leans on his favorite song to help him forget it all. ("Beginnin' to think, that I'm wastin' time/And I don't understand the things I do/The world outside looks so unkind/And I'm countin' on you, you can carry me through.")
In the bridge, the music slows and becomes contemplative. When he's listening to music, the melody lifts him up. A guitar riff can calm him down. He thanks the band for giving him the only happiness he knows. The song is more than just words to him. It's a lifestyle and become a motto. The song has given him strength. ("And when my mind is free/You know your melody can move me/And when I'm feelin' blue/The guitars come through to soothe me/Thanks for the joy you've given me/I want you to know that I believe in your song/And rhythm, and rhyme, and harmony/You helped me along, you're makin' me strong.")
The chorus is sung again. However, handclaps accompany him instead of the guitar. The guitar returns for the chorus. For the third around, the drums and bass make their appearance.
Gray sings "won't you take me away" for the final 20 seconds.
In 2003, Uncle Kracker (who was on the brink of obscurity) released his cover version of "Drift Away." The single was inescapable, possibly due to its faithfulness to the original and inclusion of Gray.
However, Uncle Kracker's version is nothing more than a remix. The musical arrangement is similar to the Gray's. The exception being, the guitar is more pronounced.
Kracker simpers and oversings. His enuciates terribly, making the lyrics tough to understand. The word "confused" goes on unfinished, "hate" sounds like "had." Gray gets half a lyric "I'm feelin' the strain" and Kracker finishes with "oh, ain't it shame."
Then, Gray joins him for the chorus. Kracker makes one change from the original. He adds "won't you take me away" after every chorus.
Kracker echoes his vocals in the second verse ("time" can be heard twice after he's sung it). Once again, Gray has half a lyric ("I'm counting on you"). For the rest of the lyric, they harmonize ("to carry me through.")
In the bridge, overproduction muffles Gray's vocals "("And when my mind is free/You know your melody can move me/And when I'm feelin' blue/The guitars come through to soothe me.")
Kracker's takes the second half. However, his vocals are clear. It gives the impression Kracker does not want to be overshadowed nor that he likes to share. Gray is stuck adlibbing on his song that he's been invited to sing.("Thanks for the joy you've given me/I want you to know that I believe in your song/And rhythm, and rhyme, and harmony/You helped me along, you're makin' me strong.")
The handclaps are gone for the chorus after the bridge. Drums are replaced and fade out gradually ("give me the beat boys and free my soul/I want to get lost in your rock and roll/and drift away.") The drums (as the only accompaniant) continue into the second and third time.
The chorus is repeated (with full music) for the last added minute. Kracker also repeats "won't you take me away" for 40 seconds until the song ends.
In Uncle Kracker's version, Dobie Gray's role is minimized to a cameo, despite getting "featuring" billing. Kracker seems as though he's recording a karoake song and not an actual single for radio. The tone is slick and copies the original. However, it's without any of the feeling Gray's version had. Uncle Kracker's "Drift Away" is the textbook of why some people dislike covers.
Album: No Stranger To Shame
Year: 2003
By 1973, Dobie Gray had some hit singles, acted in the musical "Hair" in Los Angeles, and played in a band named Pollution, according to the All Music Guide. However, he would also record his signature song "Drift Away," a song which now lives on in soft rock radio stations everywhere.
Music has helped Gray through the rough patches in his life in the resolute "Drift Away."
An ambivalent guitar opens the single, setting a introspective tone. Gray comments that he doesn't know what to think anymore. The rain falls on his window as he searches for a way out of his doom. If he misses seeing the sun after a downpour, he's believed he's lost. He's under a lot of pressure and hopes someone else can see the situation he's in. ("Day after day I'm more confused/Then I look for the light through the pourin' rain/You know, that's a game, that I hate to lose/I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame.")
In the chorus, he turns on his favorite album to distract himself from his pain. The music takes him away from his troubles, although temporarily. ("Give me the beat boys and free my soul/I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away/Give me the beat boys and free my soul/I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.")
In the second verse, he believes he's not doing anything in his life. He's wandering aimlessly and would like to know why he does it. His boss had been yelling in his ear earlier that day for something he didn't do. The electric bill didn't get paid on time. However, he leans on his favorite song to help him forget it all. ("Beginnin' to think, that I'm wastin' time/And I don't understand the things I do/The world outside looks so unkind/And I'm countin' on you, you can carry me through.")
In the bridge, the music slows and becomes contemplative. When he's listening to music, the melody lifts him up. A guitar riff can calm him down. He thanks the band for giving him the only happiness he knows. The song is more than just words to him. It's a lifestyle and become a motto. The song has given him strength. ("And when my mind is free/You know your melody can move me/And when I'm feelin' blue/The guitars come through to soothe me/Thanks for the joy you've given me/I want you to know that I believe in your song/And rhythm, and rhyme, and harmony/You helped me along, you're makin' me strong.")
The chorus is sung again. However, handclaps accompany him instead of the guitar. The guitar returns for the chorus. For the third around, the drums and bass make their appearance.
Gray sings "won't you take me away" for the final 20 seconds.
In 2003, Uncle Kracker (who was on the brink of obscurity) released his cover version of "Drift Away." The single was inescapable, possibly due to its faithfulness to the original and inclusion of Gray.
However, Uncle Kracker's version is nothing more than a remix. The musical arrangement is similar to the Gray's. The exception being, the guitar is more pronounced.
Kracker simpers and oversings. His enuciates terribly, making the lyrics tough to understand. The word "confused" goes on unfinished, "hate" sounds like "had." Gray gets half a lyric "I'm feelin' the strain" and Kracker finishes with "oh, ain't it shame."
Then, Gray joins him for the chorus. Kracker makes one change from the original. He adds "won't you take me away" after every chorus.
Kracker echoes his vocals in the second verse ("time" can be heard twice after he's sung it). Once again, Gray has half a lyric ("I'm counting on you"). For the rest of the lyric, they harmonize ("to carry me through.")
In the bridge, overproduction muffles Gray's vocals "("And when my mind is free/You know your melody can move me/And when I'm feelin' blue/The guitars come through to soothe me.")
Kracker's takes the second half. However, his vocals are clear. It gives the impression Kracker does not want to be overshadowed nor that he likes to share. Gray is stuck adlibbing on his song that he's been invited to sing.("Thanks for the joy you've given me/I want you to know that I believe in your song/And rhythm, and rhyme, and harmony/You helped me along, you're makin' me strong.")
The handclaps are gone for the chorus after the bridge. Drums are replaced and fade out gradually ("give me the beat boys and free my soul/I want to get lost in your rock and roll/and drift away.") The drums (as the only accompaniant) continue into the second and third time.
The chorus is repeated (with full music) for the last added minute. Kracker also repeats "won't you take me away" for 40 seconds until the song ends.
In Uncle Kracker's version, Dobie Gray's role is minimized to a cameo, despite getting "featuring" billing. Kracker seems as though he's recording a karoake song and not an actual single for radio. The tone is slick and copies the original. However, it's without any of the feeling Gray's version had. Uncle Kracker's "Drift Away" is the textbook of why some people dislike covers.