# Best Pokerface cover: Glee or Daughtry **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715 "2010-08-09T15:06:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/21 "2010-08-09T20:26:24Z")
But in general, does the artist always have say over the interpretation of their own work? Many times people come up with completely different interpretations and as long as there is textual support it isn’t wrong, necessarily. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/22 "2010-08-09T20:35:04Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > But in general, does the artist always have say over the interpretation of their own work? Many times people come up with completely different interpretations and as long as there is textual support it isn’t wrong, necessarily. Absolutely. I don’t think it takes anything away from the meaning of a song if the listener interprets it in a way different than the person who wrote it did. That’s what’s neat about art. I was just saying that Gaga herself has said that her interpretation of the song is that it’s about sex, so it makes it a little funny that the song is being sung on Glee. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/23 "2010-08-09T22:42:44Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > **Diosa** is a huuuuge Gaga fan and has made _no_ secret of it on these boards. The fact that she says she has watched multiple interviews _and_ has gone to see her in concert _and_ has started more than one Gaga thread here on the Dope means that, no offense, I’d think she’s a lot more informed about Gaga and Gaga’s songs than you are. No offense? Amazing, I’m able to read lyrics just as well as she can. Do I have to start threads on her to qualify to read them? They’re obviously sexual, but they are nonspecific. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/24 "2010-08-09T22:55:50Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@zweisamkeit](#): > > > > **Diosa** is a huuuuge Gaga fan and has made _no_ secret of it on these boards. The fact that she says she has watched multiple interviews _and_ has gone to see her in concert _and_ has started more than one Gaga thread here on the Dope means that, no offense, I’d think she’s a lot more informed about Gaga and Gaga’s songs than you are. > > No offense? Amazing, I’m able to read lyrics just as well as she can. Do I have to start threads on her to qualify to read them? They’re obviously sexual, but they are nonspecific. I don’t get how people can read the lyrics and _hear the artist herself_ say what the song is about, and say, “no, it’s not”. Whatever. If Gaga herself can’t say what the damned song is about, then I give up. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/25 "2010-08-09T23:04:49Z")
But I don’t think it’s always that simple. Historically people have always had interpretations of texts that were different than what the author said. I mean if we found out tomorrow that F. Scott Fitzgerald hadn’t intended his book to have anything to do with the concept of the American Dream, I don’t think people would stop thinking or teaching it that way. The song writer can have their opinion but it’s not the be all and end all. And I do think Poker Face as written is pretty ambiguous. It does seem to be about not revealing what you’re thinking/feeling during sex, but I see nothing in the lyrics that specifically says it’s about bisexual or lesbian thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/26 "2010-08-09T23:28:03Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > > [@needscoffee](#): > > > > No offense? Amazing, I’m able to read lyrics just as well as she can. Do I have to start threads on her to qualify to read them? They’re obviously sexual, but they are nonspecific. > > I don’t get how people can read the lyrics and _hear the artist herself_ say what the song is about, and say, “no, it’s not”. Whatever. If Gaga herself can’t say what the damned song is about, then I give up. meet [formalism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formalism_(literature)) ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/27 "2010-08-09T23:47:16Z")
> [@whole\_bean](#): > > > [@zweisamkeit](#): > > > > I don’t get how people can read the lyrics and _hear the artist herself_ say what the song is about, and say, “no, it’s not”. Whatever. If Gaga herself can’t say what the damned song is about, then I give up. > > meet [formalism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formalism_(literature)) Hey, I’m fine with the idea that there can be meanings other than _just_ what the artist intended, but there’s been this attitude that Gaga was _wrong_ or _lying_ about what she meant. That’s what irked me. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/28 "2010-08-10T00:39:07Z")
Cartman. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/29 "2010-08-10T02:24:35Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Neither: Eric Cartman! Agreed, Cartman’s rendition is clearly superior ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/30 "2010-08-10T02:45:20Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > But I don’t think it’s always that simple. Historically people have always had interpretations of texts that were different than what the author said. I mean if we found out tomorrow that F. Scott Fitzgerald hadn’t intended his book to have anything to do with the concept of the American Dream, I don’t think people would stop thinking or teaching it that way. The song writer can have their opinion but it’s not the be all and end all. > > And I do think Poker Face as written is pretty ambiguous. It does seem to be about not revealing what you’re thinking/feeling during sex, but I see nothing in the lyrics that specifically says it’s about bisexual or lesbian thoughts. Well, we could always ask the guy who got[her cooter in his face at Lollapalooza](http://cdn.celebuzz.com/cb/assets/users16/celebuzz/default/msg-128136107809-3.jpg) if he has an interpretation of the song’s subtext. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/31 "2010-08-10T03:31:23Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > > [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > > > Neither: Eric Cartman! > > Agreed, Cartman’s rendition is clearly superior Yes. Yes it is. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/32 "2010-08-10T03:32:18Z")
Another vote for Cartman. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/33 "2010-08-10T03:37:11Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Well, we could always ask the guy who got[her cooter in his face at Lollapalooza](http://cdn.celebuzz.com/cb/assets/users16/celebuzz/default/msg-128136107809-3.jpg) if he has an interpretation of the song’s subtext. Oh, Jesus. The big guy whose face is between her arm and leg. I’m dying at his face- it’s like he’s never seen a tit before. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/34 "2010-08-10T03:48:38Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > [@gaffa](#): > > > > Well, we could always ask the guy who got[her cooter in his face at Lollapalooza](http://cdn.celebuzz.com/cb/assets/users16/celebuzz/default/msg-128136107809-3.jpg) if he has an interpretation of the song’s subtext. > > Oh, Jesus. The big guy whose face is between her arm and leg. I’m dying at his face- it’s like he’s never seen a tit before. 😛 I shot a friend’s band at the Van’s Warped Tour last week, and I have to give her credit - that outfit looks appropriate for the weather. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/35 "2010-08-10T05:04:16Z")
[This is, hands down, the best version of Pokerface I have seen.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5czKqT05A) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/36 "2010-08-10T09:46:12Z")
No, the version with the acoustic guitar wins hands down. I like a capella, but when the audience can’t shut up enough that you can’t hear it, you really need a better recording. And the Glee not only has edited vocals, but also background music that sounds like it could have been Auto-Tuned. Of course a well played acoustic is going to sound better. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/37 "2010-08-10T14:11:52Z")
perhaps “purer” isn’t the word I was looking for. “more general” is what I meant. Yes, it’s _written about_ doing a guy while wanting to do a girl instead. but there’s so little specific to that in the lyrics (heck, there are more direct references to gambling than to sex) that it can be generalized to _be about_ acting like you love/like someone when you don’t. Shelby wanted a baby, not a grown daughter. Gaga (or her character when singing the song) wanted a girl, not the guy she was fucking. Same thing. ish. When they sang “I dreamed a dream” together, they weren’t singing about dying of tuberculosis while dreaming of the man who had abandoned them after knocking them up, either. the ickyness of them using it that way given the origin of the song is what’s so funny about the scene. But the emotion works, IMHO. Heck, LG said she loved the Glee episode, so if her opinion matters, she agrees. I wasn’t aware of that LG did a similar version first. That does take it down a notch, but IMHO Glee did it better. (not an LG fan, but a bigger Glee fan than a 34 year man really ought to be, so maybe I’m biased). LG’s piano version was nice, but she seemed to be mugging to the camera so much in a sort of “look at me, ain’t I clever” way. I’d forgotten the cartman version… yeah, that’s a good one. Walken seemed to be channeling Shatner to me. I’d rather hear Shatner do himself, though Walken’s “Oh oh oo” part was hilarious. I started the poll because I loved both versions and couldn’t decide. Now I’ve talked myself into voting for Glee. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/38 "2010-08-10T14:14:02Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > > [@Hello\_Again](#): > > > > The Glee cover really grossed me out. Since the song is about what you think about while having sex, and Rachel sings it to her mother. Slowly. And lovingly. Yuuuuuck. > > Precisely. They went delved deeper (no pun intended) into the lyrics and and got to the purer theme of: I have to pretend to love you because it’s expected in our situation, but I don’t really love you. It’s all a bluff. > > Part of what makes it so great… (the awesome vocals are another part.) Yay! Someone who saw it the way I saw it! (Although on the surface, it did squick me out a little… but then I thought about it.) Theirs was so… different… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/39 "2010-08-10T18:42:31Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I said “other” as my vote goes to [Mr. Christopher Walken.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJDx3H_hvI8) Oh! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715/40 "2010-08-11T02:45:11Z")
So why in God’s name do I now get no audio with Youtube but I do with other programs? And yes, I’ve ensured Youtube isn’t muted. Jesus, what else could go wrong today? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pokerface-cover-glee-or-daughtry/549715.md?page=3)