Rod Gator continues to defy expectations of the southern rock songwriter mold, today releasing a cover of Britney Spears 2003 single “Everytime” – a particularly vulnerable piano ballad for the pop star.
In a statement, Gator – formerly known as Rod Melancon – highlighted he and Spears’ Louisiana roots:
“My memory of Britney Spears dates back to my childhood. I remember playing outside when the radio announced a new song by a local girl done good. I was only ten years old. I remember feeling a sense of pride that she was one of us. A fellow Louisiana native. It was probably similar to how people in Memphis felt when Elvis started blowing up. ‘Everytime’ is also one of the only songs she had a hand in writing.”
The version by Rod Gator – which is effectively both a stage name and a project name for he and multi-instrumentalist/producer Will Walden’s collaborative work – finds the now Austin-based vocalist delivering the potent lines of separation and self-doubt over palm muted guitar and a dramatic piano melody. Check it out here:
The cover song further establishes a connection between Spears and Gator, who was once in the periphery of tabloid TV footage of the popstar… running near her on a treadmill.
This article appears in February 11 • 2022.