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Logan Japikse

Prof. Waggoner

ENG 1201

21 February 2021

Rhetorical Analysis of “Valerie”

Produced in the early 2000’s, “Valerie” by The Zutons was a popular alternative rock

song. Not long after, Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse released a cover. This cover has since

overtaken the popularity of the original. While the first follows the story of a group of newly

incarcerated individuals, the latter illustrates a band who is missing their lead singer. Mark

Ronson and Amy Winehouse’s cover of “Valerie” presents the song in a much different light

than The Zutons’ original version. While The Zutons’ played an uptempo song that told the story

of a man missing his girl primarily through visuals, the cover provided a more serious, jazz take

that added depth to the song and boosted its popularity.

The Zutons’ version of the song shows that missing the one you love can make you feel

like you're in prison. Throughout the video, the characters are shown doing monotonous tasks

such as breaking up rocks or staring out the window or at walls. These give life to the way the

main vocalist is feeling while begging for his Valerie to come home. The prisoners have also

succumbed to boredom in their condition. Scenes of card playing and roach fights illustrate the

boredom. The feeling of futility and wasted time permeate through both these scenes and the

emotional state of the singer. The greatest example of this feeling comes from the scene where

the main singer is placed in solitary confinement. The loneliness of the character in the video

parallels his loneliness without his significant other.

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Ronson and Winehouse’s cover embodies a more traditional love song. The straight

forward style of the video urges the viewer to think more about what’s being said than what’s

seen. Winehouse’s delivery calls to mind a current relationship. While The Zutons sang of a past

lover, this cover carries the feeling of a current relationship where the two can’t get enough of

each other and want to see each other more. The looks passed between the “Winettes” and the

lead guitarist enhances these feelings . The longing stare of the stand-in singer to the sly smile of

the guitarist makes the viewer believe there is a connection between the two.

Aside from having different stories, the two artists used different means to get their point

across. The original artist mainly employs pathos to relate to the audience. The miserable state of

living that the characters are subject to appeals to the emotions of the viewer. To further this, the

characters are never seen smiling or enjoying themselves. Yet, the mood of the video is still

lighthearted. The positions the characters are placed in are comically exaggerated and the colors

are vibrant. While the characters are making their great escape through a tunnel, the main

character first pokes his head up into an African safari. His expressionless head poking up a few

feet from a lion is so illogical that it brings humor to the video. The combination of humor and

expression keeps the viewer engaged in the meaning while bogging them down in the heavy

feelings that could have become overwhelming.

Alternatively, the cover relies on more varied appeals. In the video, a lyricist opens for

the band. His skill and ability to engage the crowd shows him as a talented artist. Having such a

talented artist open for a band, must mean that the band itself is quite skilled, as no headliner

would be outshined by an opening act. The setting of the video also builds on the band's

credibility. The venue is small but ornate, with a chandelier hanging above the main stage. The

show seems exclusive, like it is an invite only club. The band being picked to play at such a
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place must mean they are quite good. Throughout the video, the crowd is seen clapping, dancing,

and having a good time. There are shots where the camera is in the crowd amongst the fans and it

makes the viewer feel like they are there at the show.

The two video’s share little when it comes to musical styles. Following similar trends in

alternative rock, The Zutons rely heavily on electric guitar. They deliver the lyrics loud and with

energy, another common trait of alternative rock. The cover takes a vastly different approach to

the song. The musical accompaniment is reminiscent of jazz music, relying on drums and brass

instruments. Unlike the original, there is little to no guitar noticeable. Amy Winehouse delivers

the lyrics in her signature style, with varying strength and vibrato.

Although the two share the same lyrics, their purpose and audience are quite different.

For the Zutons, the style is fast paced and upbeat. This appeals to the teens that mainly

comprised the genre's fanbase. Winehouse and Ronson turned the song into a jazz and soul style,

which Winehouse is famous for. This change gave the cover a wider appeal, and their powerful

delivery took the song to a much higher level than the original.
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Works Cited

Ronson, Mark, and Amy Winehouse. “Valerie (Official Video).” Youtube, 25 Feb. 2019,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bixuI_GV5I0&ab_channel=MarkRonsonVEVO.

Accessed 10 Feb. 2021.

The Zutons. “Valerie (Video).” Youtube, 3 Oct. 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=L3xpmfJp0Xc&list=LL&index=2&ab_channel=zutonsVEVO. Accessed on 10 Feb.

2021.