Music Review: Michael Morales "What I Like About You"/5 Seconds Of Summer "What I Like About You"

Michael Morales

What I Like About You

Album: Michael Morales

Year: 1989

             Michael Morales is excited about his crush in the jubilant  “What I Like About You.”

            A tempered guitar opens the single, setting a realistic tone. He can’t believe he has met such a wonderful girl like her. He keeps trying to think of excuses to see her.

           There are no lyric changes and the instrumenation remains the same. The guitar solo gets a major makeover. It hollers, showing off its devil’s horns.

              Morales sticks to Jerry Marinos’ phrasing, even whispering at the end. His vocals have some heft, which seems to be the only real change. Whereas, the Romantics put the emphasis on the arrangement, Morales choose the vocals. Unfortunately, it saps the song of its vibrance.

            The copycat “What I Like About You” plays it safe.

5 Seconds of Summer

What I Like About You

Album: Live5OS

Year: 2014

            Luke Hemmings goes after the girl he likes in the passionate “What I Like About You.”

            Cheering and a strong-willed drum open the single, setting a tenacious tone.

          Like the Morales’ version, there are no lyric changes. However, 5 Seconds of Summer choose to bring the drums into focus and change up the guitar solo to match their sound.

              Hemmings has one goal in mind: to get her. There is no stopping him. He is able to build a sense of history between them within the four minutes. There seems to be reluctance on her part but she will realize it.

          The original is an 80s classic but can easily be reintrepreted, given the right tone and delivery.  Lillix were able to pull it off in 2003, flirting and licking their lips for nearly three minutes. 5 Seconds of Summer give the single an intensity that didn’t exist in the original.

             The  bold “What I Like About You” dares people not to fall for it.