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Lily Y writesTake Two: “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” (Tame Impala Vs. Rihanna)
Feel like a brand new person (but you make the same old mistakes)
I don’t care I’m in love (stop before it’s too late)
Feel like a brand new person (but you make the same old mistakes)
I finally know what is love (you don’t have what it takes)
The Original: The final track off of Tame Impala’s psychedelic-pop 2016 album Currents is a relaxing, yet haunting, synth filled ballad about self-doubt, lack of inhibition, and spur of the moment ideas. At 6 minutes long, vocalist Kevin Parker’s hypnotizing voice perfectly suits the song and results into an electrifying confrontation about a changing mindset, and accepting any future changes that will happen.
The Other Version: More like a note-for-note remake, rather than a cover, Rihanna’s version on her 2016 album ANTI retitled "Same Ol’ Mistakes" adds nothing new or exciting to the song. Rather than adding her own pop-reggae flair that we normally see in her albums, Rihanna focuses on Tame Impala’s psychedelic aspects by almost imitating an airy, ethereal tone much like Parker’s voice.
Instead of adding possible reggae flairs, Rihanna attempts to channel Parker. This leads to an entirely different single which does not match the pop-funk-RNB vibe of Anti and is quite different than her own style and quite different than her voice style on several of the hits on the album, such as "Work" or "Needed Me."
The song samples almost all of Tame Impala’s instruments and uses an extended version. One interesting and positive note is the addition of 8 bit elements and flairs at the ending. And yes, Kevin Parker did approve of her cover. Speaking to NME magazine, Tame Impala’s management revealed that Parker “was more than happy to send it her way.” Perhaps, he was eager that a Top 40 artist was covering one of his songs and took it for popularity points. If a band with a similar genre, covered this song, one would expect the song to be similar. Yet Rihanna’s attempt makes it seem like Jay-Z trying to cover a Frank Sinatra song. It’s forced and unnecessary.