One thing we hear sometimes, especially around our home town of Asheville, is how cover bands are lame, playing covers is stupid, expresses no creativity, requires no talent, etc, etc.
As someone who writes, arranges, and records original music, as well as playing music written by other artists, I definitely have an opinion about this. Maybe the Music Business needs another term to apply here.
Out band certainly plays some covers, but what we really like to do with others songs are to create remakes of some classic, and 80s tunes.
Now, that being said, one has to define the difference between a "cover" and a remake. Some would argue that there is no difference; perhaps, but I would beg to differ.
I would offer a general definition that would state 1) a cover is to perform or record another artists music, in an attempt to copy, or reproduce, that music in an unchanged form and fashion. To be as true to the original as possible, an unaltered version.
2) a remake is to perform or record another artists music, but to do so in way that purposefully alters it, to express one's own creative energies, and communicate that expression to the audience, or listeners.
Where does this line of division exactly stand? I can't say and I'm not sure anyone really can.
Hollywood is awash these days with remakes of older films, and TV shows. TV offers it's own remakes as well. The reason; People absolutely love the familiar, especially when what's familiar, is something they have enjoyed before; and, importantly,
it's something of quality and substance.
BUT, here's the catch; no one wants to watch the exact same movie over and over, eat the same meal day after day, or read the same book time after time.
Hollywood has learned this lesson well, much to their success. In fact, they seem to have nearly perfected a formula for this; just look at all the films, in the last 15 or 20 years, that were remakes of older films. People love these, and many have been huge successes, some even critically acclaimed. If this can be done with film, why would it be any different to do so with music?
There are many, many songs that have been covered/remade and became very popular. There are many that have been done by famous and well repsected Artsits.
To create a remake is to put your own stamp on some one else's music, to do it in such a way that, if done correctly, you express something of your own artistry. Taken to the highest level, with extraordinary artists, you can actually make it your own.
If you've ever heard Johnny Cash's version of "Pain" you know what I'm talking about. Now, we're not all Johnny Cash, but we are Artists and have something to say, or perhaps, even, to repeat; just slightly differently. Does this make us without creativity or talent ? Whether it's a local band doing a few of their favorite songs, or Dolly Parton's version of "Stairway to Heaven"
we all have something to express with music.
I think that before you diss the next band you hear of performing covers, as not being "artists", ask yourself, how much of themselves did they inject into the music; Their passion and their emotions. Did they do something interesting with it at all?
And maybe most importantly, was it entertaining?
Keep calm, and rock on.
As someone who writes, arranges, and records original music, as well as playing music written by other artists, I definitely have an opinion about this. Maybe the Music Business needs another term to apply here.
Out band certainly plays some covers, but what we really like to do with others songs are to create remakes of some classic, and 80s tunes.
Now, that being said, one has to define the difference between a "cover" and a remake. Some would argue that there is no difference; perhaps, but I would beg to differ.
I would offer a general definition that would state 1) a cover is to perform or record another artists music, in an attempt to copy, or reproduce, that music in an unchanged form and fashion. To be as true to the original as possible, an unaltered version.
2) a remake is to perform or record another artists music, but to do so in way that purposefully alters it, to express one's own creative energies, and communicate that expression to the audience, or listeners.
Where does this line of division exactly stand? I can't say and I'm not sure anyone really can.
Hollywood is awash these days with remakes of older films, and TV shows. TV offers it's own remakes as well. The reason; People absolutely love the familiar, especially when what's familiar, is something they have enjoyed before; and, importantly,
it's something of quality and substance.
BUT, here's the catch; no one wants to watch the exact same movie over and over, eat the same meal day after day, or read the same book time after time.
Hollywood has learned this lesson well, much to their success. In fact, they seem to have nearly perfected a formula for this; just look at all the films, in the last 15 or 20 years, that were remakes of older films. People love these, and many have been huge successes, some even critically acclaimed. If this can be done with film, why would it be any different to do so with music?
There are many, many songs that have been covered/remade and became very popular. There are many that have been done by famous and well repsected Artsits.
To create a remake is to put your own stamp on some one else's music, to do it in such a way that, if done correctly, you express something of your own artistry. Taken to the highest level, with extraordinary artists, you can actually make it your own.
If you've ever heard Johnny Cash's version of "Pain" you know what I'm talking about. Now, we're not all Johnny Cash, but we are Artists and have something to say, or perhaps, even, to repeat; just slightly differently. Does this make us without creativity or talent ? Whether it's a local band doing a few of their favorite songs, or Dolly Parton's version of "Stairway to Heaven"
we all have something to express with music.
I think that before you diss the next band you hear of performing covers, as not being "artists", ask yourself, how much of themselves did they inject into the music; Their passion and their emotions. Did they do something interesting with it at all?
And maybe most importantly, was it entertaining?
Keep calm, and rock on.