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Posted on August 27, 2009 by Francis Beaudry | Posted under Music
Should You Judge a Song by its Cover?
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Some Like It, Some Don’t Cover versionof songs have long been the subject of controversy. Some people holdthe original editions in such high esteem it almost resembles worship.Such devotees, who can’t bear to hear a reworking of a song, can getoverzealous about what they see as their sacrosanct favorites. Therewas many a Led Zep fan who found Rolf Harris’s didgeridoo-assistedadaptation of Stairway to Heaven painful to hear, while othersexpressed a liking for it. To each his own, eh! Ours is not to wonderwhy. More recently we’ve seen original artists perform ‘their’songs as covers with new singers or bands. One of the latest examplesof this is Elton John’s collaboration with rappers DJ Ironik andChipmunk. Their rendition of Elton’s original song Tiny Dancer (lyricsby Bernie Taupin) is well received by a great many young people whohave no idea that it first appeared on Elton’s album Madman Across the Water in 1971. Unique Covers Whena song is entirely taken over by a new performer without the input, asin the above case, of the original artist, it can take on a freshidentity. Joni Mitchell’s A Case of You has been interpretedwith a beauty that’s almost agonizing by Canadian pianist and jazzsinger Diana Krall. She said, “The greatest thing about music isputting it out there for people to figure out. You want the listener tofind the song on their own. If you give too much away, it takes awayfrom the imagination.” Krall is married to singer/songwriter ElvisCostello, himself no stranger to performing other’s songs, despitebeing notoriously skilled at creating his own material. His performanceof Roy Orbison’s Love Hurts with Emmy Lou Harris is just one of a plethora of renditions that that particular song has been subject to. Artists who have covered Love Hurts include: • Joan Jett • Heart • Nazareth • Cher A Good Thing? Thosewho are adamant that the old way is the best way might change their wayof thinking by looking at cover version as tributes. Surely no newartist would contemplate an old song unless they felt a deep connectionwith it and an admiration for it. There is something refreshing aboutremixes and re-workings of original material. Maybe adding orchestralinstruments or other musical instruments. Often a new take births newinterest in the original performers too. Music has anevolutionary quality about it, like language, it is as ever-changing ashuman trends and as a result will always chime in with them. About The Author: Francis Beaudry is currently the conductor of two orchestras. He is a writer and arranger and has published musical works for choir and orchestra. In addition he is the president of TheMaxZone.net music equipment stores offering musical instrument accessories, music accessories, and more. The article at: http://www.themaxzone.net. |
Tags: MUSIC, MUSICIANS
