Creating Emotions Through Paralanguage

In the original rendition of “Cruel Summer,” Taylor Swift’s powerful vocals and heartfelt storytelling create a profound connection among women who have experienced the pain of a love gone wrong. The combination of fast beats and an emotionally charged bridge allows listeners to immerse themselves in the lyrics, feeling every word as if it were their own. Sellnow describes this artistic technique as paralanguage. According to Sellnow, paralanguage is “the nonverbal cues that accompany words (e.g., pitch, volume, rate, pauses) to convey the emotional tone of a message.” (page 172) When the paralanguage is changed, it can completely transform the emotional tone of a song, convey a different message, and establish a whole new atmosphere for the song to exist in.

However, in Kory Wheeler’s acoustic cover of Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer,” a slower tempo takes hold, accompanied by the intimate strumming of a single guitar. This transformative rendition of the song gives the song new life and meaning. Rather than being a girl power anthem, it becomes a heart-wrenching journey in which Wheeler uses deliberate rhythm and pacing. Wheeler uses each pause and voice inflection to add depth to the already-charged lyrics, evoking a new set of emotions within the listener.

Wheeler’s cover uses a delicate balance of paralanguage cues to transform the emotional nature of the original composition. It invites the listener to embark on an evocative journey as the artist’s voice tells a tale of vulnerability and introspection. Through Wheeler’s interpretation, “Cruel Summer” becomes an intimate ballad, invoking an entirely new feeling different from the original.