cover songs: Philosophy Forums

cover songs

Danhalen
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Posted 12/14/03 - 09:59 PM:	#1
just thought i'd ask what you thought about someone retooling another person's song. after reading this i thought it would be interesting to hear what you think. personally i think that music can acheive many things through reinterpretation. All Along the Watchtower is a perfect example of what i am thinking. i love bob dylan, but jimi hendrix made the song great. jimi took a folk song that tried to express meaning and actually made me feel what i think dylan was trying to express. both versions are good, jimi's is better.
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megashawn
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Posted 12/18/03 - 06:18 PM:	#2
Covers are touchy. Some people instantly hate it if it differs one note from the original. Others, such as myself like to hear an old song remade, keeping the original intent in mind, but adding effects that just weren't possible at the time of the original recording. And you also have to look at it like this. I had no clue Bob Dylan did All along the Watchtower. Were it not for Jimi, I would have never heard that awesome song. Take for instance the cover of "Boys of summer" by the ataris. They did an almost carbon copy, added a lil extra spice and its a big hit. Half the people (maybe more) that love that song now probably never heard the original. Same with Limps cover of "Behind blue eyes." People don't want to admit it, but musically they did that song so much justice. The only complaint, is the techno spelling of limp bizkit in the center of the song. Some people instantly hate LB for it, others such as myself just dislike that part of the song.

Myth
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Posted 12/19/03 - 06:04 PM:	#3
The Hendrix version is much better than Dylan's job. megashawn wrote: Take for instance the cover of "Boys of summer" by the ataris. They did an almost carbon copy, added a lil extra spice and its a big hit. Ironically, its on their worst album to date. Punk bands have it easy. Most songs sound better when played faster and louder. Not to take away from the 'creativity' of Me First And The Gimme Gimmes though. Favorite Covers: Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe (so many covers) The Doors - Light My Fire Otis Redding - Satisfaction Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons Bodyjar - Hazy Shade Of Winter Dropkick Murphies - Fortunate Son Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas The Clash - I Fought The Law NOFX - Champs Elysees + Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. BTW, Avril Lavigne should be shot for her shitty covers of Dylan and System of a Down, and Madonna for American Pie

chiefobserver
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Posted 12/20/03 - 04:15 AM:	#4
Someone once told me that if the upon making a cover song, if it does not sound better than the original then to throw it. I see it as, unless you are paying tribute to a band you had better have something to add or at least your own interpretation. Just as science, philosophy or any other discipline one introduces something, and another may further a theory or apply it to something else or in a different manner. That being said I think they are very important. Some of my excellent covers off the top of my head. The Doors cover of Backdoor Man from Howlin' Wolf/Willie Dixon The Doors- Crawling King Snake- John Lee Hooker The Doors- Alabama Song- I think it's some old German song Nirvana-Where Did You Sleep Last Night- Leadbelly Ben Harper- The Drugs Don't Work- The Verve Phish have a pretty interesting cover of the entire White Album if you could find it. For myself, if I like a cover/reinterpretation of a song then I will try and listen to the original work. Which in turn helps expand my musical knowledge and taste.
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sensabile
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Posted 12/20/03 - 05:51 AM:	#5
Myth wrote: Favorite Covers: Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons That is a really good cover, especially since the singer managed to learn the German bits. I don't think you should compare it to the original though because it was sung too differently.
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Jack
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Posted 12/20/03 - 02:09 PM:	#6
Elvis Presley singing 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' live in Vegas in, I think, 1970. Epic. Jack
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Membrain
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Posted 12/21/03 - 02:03 PM:	#7
A big-name song, no problem; but if it's a friend of yours song, watch out. Ironically, I got in trouble modifying a song that a friend of mine wrote. All I did was remove a verse, and the guy spiraled out! So while you figure a friend is going to cut you the most slack, it may be untrue depending on the friend.

wuliheron
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Posted 12/21/03 - 07:23 PM:	#8
I do a great Ventura Highway and nothing but covers. I like them and jam with my friends all the time. No accounting for taste and no taste for accountants. That's my philosophy.

Vecsus
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Posted 12/23/03 - 07:33 PM:	#9
here's a question for you all then: you hear a song you've never heard before. You love it. You buy the album and you name your first-born child after the band that sings it. 6 months later you find out it's a cover of a song recorded 25 years ago. How do you feel about it now? I dislike covers when someone puts them on their album. I always feel like they are doing it just to generate sales. If the band is good then their own songs should be the draw, not a remake of another artists work. If you want to sing it live on tour then go for it, lots of bands do that just to get the crowd warmed up.

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