Song Deconstruction(s)

Listening Phase 1 (Rhythm)

Tempo [slow, medium, fast]

fast, around 150 beats.

Source [where is the rhythm coming from?]

Drums, with syncopated bass.

Groove [describe how the personality of the rhythm]

A very funky upbeat pop dance song

Listening Phase 2 (Arrangement)

Instrumentation [which instruments drive the song?]

The Drums. Kick and Snare/clap really drive this song. During the breakdown, i'd argue that the vocals drive it.

Structure/Organization [how is the song built?  Order, patterns, etc.]

Verse,chorus, verse, chorus, breakdown, chorus outro. a very simple 4 chord pattern all the way through

Emotional Architecture [Draw how the song build and drop?]

This song builds by adding new instruments during the chorus. Messing with the timbre. It also ends up dropping instruments during the breakdown.

Listening Phase 3 (Sound Quality)

Balance

-       Height [high and low of frequency]

High. Has low kick drum and bass, with a high keyboard riff and guitar chord progression.

-       Width [stereo panning left/right]

Not much width. No panning that I could hear.

-       Depth [layers of instruments - via loudness]

While there were several instruments, there was not really much depth. they were all just building on one another. 

Listening Phase 1 (Rhythm)

Tempo [slow, medium, fast]

medium-fast

Source [where is the rhythm coming from?]

all of it is coming from the guitar

Groove [describe how the personality of the rhythm]

an indie, campfire groove

Listening Phase 2 (Arrangement)

Instrumentation [which instruments drive the song?]

Guitar

Structure/Organization [how is the song built?  Order, patterns, etc.]

It is the same basic structure as the original song.

Emotional Architecture [Draw how the song build and drop?]

he plays and sings louder during the choruses., and even changes the rhythm up. Before most choruses he drops the guitar out completely.

Listening Phase 3 (Sound Quality)

Balance

-       Height [high and low of frequency]

Low. just a guitar

-       Width [stereo panning left/right]

no panning.

-       Depth [layers of instruments - via loudness]

Not deep at all. Just one instrument.

Both versions of this song shared the same Melody and Lyrics. They also share the exact same song organization. It differed, however, on the speed and timbre. While both had around the same tempo, Parker's cover lacked the driving Kick Drum. This lack of drum beat makes his sound much slower. The original song had a much more complex timbre. They did this by using several instruments: bass, drums, keyboards, vocals, backup vox, guitar, claps. Parker's cover has a very simple timbre: a man and his guitar. 

I, personally, enjoy Outkast's original song over the cover. It has a more dancy feel to it. It's great to play for a party or in your car, either place you just want to dance. The cover is not very danceable. If I was in an acoustic guitar mood, I would choose to listen to Obidiah Parker's cover. But overall, Outkast's is the best in my book.