Comparison between Little Richard and Pat Boone’s “Tutti Frutti”

Comparison between Little Richard and Pat Boone’s “Tutti Frutti”

The song “Tutti Frutti” was recorded in 1955 by Little Richard together with Dorothy LeBostrie. The song can be characterized by hilarious sound and wild lyrics. It belongs to the rock and roll genre and can further be characterized by loud volume sounds with a tremendous move in the rhythm. However, later Pat Boone came up with a different version of the Tutti Frutti. It is appropriate to indicate that the two compare and contrast diversely. In the two songs, it is correct to establish there exist differences in the manner in which the rhythm and recording have been conducted (Cooper 104). Consequently, it is reasonable to maintain that the Tutti Frutti versions, between Little Richard and Pat Boone, differ in terms of the rhythms, sound recordings, and other characteristics of the rock and roll even though they are similar in terms of the genre.

It can be indicated that the two songs contrast in terms of the recording styles. In the version that was conducted by Little Richard, it can be noted that there are issues in the background. For instance, the director of the song speaking in the background. In the record that was made by Pat Boone, it can be established that the song is clear in terms of the sound recordings, and there are no issues of the director’s voices (Cooper and William 51). Moreover, the two contrast in terms of the lip-synching process that is initiated in the production. It can be developed that the version by Little Richard indicates issues in the lip-synching, where his lips are portrayed not to be moving while it is produced. However, in the version by Pat Boone, lip-synching is correctly initiated, unlike in the previous version.

It can further be initiated in the version by Richard, and it is right to indicate that the vocals of the singer and the piano is featured in the center of the lyrics of the song. Moreover, there exists an excellent saxophone solo that is done in the Tutti Frutti song, especially in the middle. The beat controls the major part of the song, which is later initiated with the backup band. However, when it comes to the Pat Boone version, it is correct to indicate that what is portrayed in the song is different from Richard’s version. The version reveals a balance in terms of the piano sounds and vocals of the singer throughout the song. It can also be developed that the song by Boone further seems like a live performance as he is sitting in a soda shop on a stool and is surrounded by several dancers. The difference, therefore, exists in terms of the way the two songs are performed as Pat’s version seems livelier.

The lyrics that have been used in the two versions tend to differ to a certain extent. In this case, it can be brought out from the version that is conducted by Little Richard, where the lyrics seem wild with hard-driving sounds (Steptoe 61). Nevertheless, when Pat Boone develops his version, the lyrics are softened, and thus, he achieves the capacity to mute the sensuality of the original version.

In conclusion, it can deduce that the two songs seem to differ in terms of the lyrics, lip-synching, sounds, and saxophone. However, they are similar in terms of the category they belong to, which is rock and roll. They further relate based on some parts of the lyrics that were not changed by both Little Richard and Pat Boone.

Works Cited

Cooper, B. Lee. “The Very Best of… “Little Richard.” (2010): 103-104.

Cooper, B. Lee, and William L. Schurk. “Good Time Rollers: Little Richard and Huey “Piano”

Smith.” Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself: Essays on Debut Albums.

Routledge, 2016. 49-54.

Steptoe, Tyina. “Big Mama Thornton, Little Richard, and the Queer Roots of Rock’n’Roll.”\

American Quarterly 70.1 (2018): 55-77.