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Why are "covers" looked down on?
- Thread starter Amara
- Start date
I guarantee you this. IF you are on the side that covers are better, you have missed the point. And IF you are on the side that originals are better, you have also missed the point.
I have played both, for various different reasons.
IF you look down on any musician for having a different way of doing things than you, then you are an ass.
I have played both, for various different reasons.
IF you look down on any musician for having a different way of doing things than you, then you are an ass.
I can guarantee you that anyone who puts in the effort to do originals respects anyone who does originals in a different way.
They may be frustrated by musicians in cover bands braying about how they 'got paid' while not mentioning the fact that they played Freebird, Mustang Sally and Hard to Handle.
But yeah, maybe they 'made those songs their own'. I've heard a lot of cover bands claim to do that in forums, but never heard any of them do it in reality. Maybe they have a different concept of reality.
^ ^ ^
Perception is reality. Everyone's perception varies. Polite disagreement is the best anyone's going to do on this one.
Perception is reality. Everyone's perception varies. Polite disagreement is the best anyone's going to do on this one.
You know that's not even close to what I meant.
I hate it when people try to duplicate the original exactly. It's a futile effort. It will never, ever, ever be as good. Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. If you don't put anything of yourself into it, I'd honestly rather just go listen to the original than see some other band try to duplicate it and inevitably fail.
That's just me, though. Maybe other people enjoy it. I don't know. I can't speak for them. I can only speak for me.
We have to accept though that good songwriters are rare, but people wanting to play guitar in front of large crowds of people are common.
Perhaps the only reason they weren't in the original band was fate, or they were born ten years too early, or something. So they are basically the original band, and it's their music, except they didn't record it, but they would've recorded it if they were born at the time and someone had asked them to.
I mean, it was basically all of us on My Generation wasn't it. I don't know why Entwistle gets all the credit.
^ ^ ^
Interesting take. I've veered close to it, but then I started mingling with REALLY talented people and snapped out of it.
Interesting take. I've veered close to it, but then I started mingling with REALLY talented people and snapped out of it.
True that. There aren't many Lennon, McCartney, Becker, Fagen, or Dylans out there. By definition, exceptional is rare. So while there might be a horde of people who want to play guitar in front of a large crowd, the people who do so exceptionally are just as rare.
Dirty Loops' covers of pop songs is another exception to that "rule".
Then again, what's "better" in music is all a matter of taste.
There are both good and bad original songs, and bands, too.
Then again, what's "better" in music is all a matter of taste.
There are both good and bad original songs, and bands, too.
Yeah. But Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" is different from the original. And that was my point. Cash was never going to be able to do the song the NIN way as well as Reznor could (and nor could anyone), so he did it his own way, and it was great.
Cash remained true to the original song- he changed sh! T to dirt likely cause he's a practicing Christian. It's a cover. And it is great!
He remained true to the feeling of the original song, but the sound is quite different. He doesn't try to sing like Trent Reznor, he sang like Johnny Cash. He didn't try to duplicate the original, but he did it like he'd do any other song. And that's why it's so good.
Ya, there are few people like Johnny Cash. When he did a song, it became his - no matter who had done it before. Not very many people take up as unique ownership of a song as Cash.
True, but I'd prefer more people try, as opposed to trying to duplicate the sound of the original song exactly, which in my mind is somewhat a futile exercise.
Greetings from the North,
It's a rush to learn how to play.
It's a rush to find that groove with other players.
It's a rush to play songs that people like.
It's a rush to write your own tunes.
It's a rush when other people like them.
It's a rush to learn other writers songs and do them justice.
It's a rush to make people dance.
It's a rush to hear applause that isn't just polite.
It's a rush to hear your tunes on the radio.
It's a rush to have been payed for your efforts.
If you have been able to experience one or more listed above in your life time.....congrats you've brought some joy into the world. And making somebody smile is the rush that it's all about. Enjoy your life.
Rezdog
It's a rush to learn how to play.
It's a rush to find that groove with other players.
It's a rush to play songs that people like.
It's a rush to write your own tunes.
It's a rush when other people like them.
It's a rush to learn other writers songs and do them justice.
It's a rush to make people dance.
It's a rush to hear applause that isn't just polite.
It's a rush to hear your tunes on the radio.
It's a rush to have been payed for your efforts.
If you have been able to experience one or more listed above in your life time.....congrats you've brought some joy into the world. And making somebody smile is the rush that it's all about. Enjoy your life.
Rezdog
I learned how to play by playing covers. As a result of playing them I saw how songs were constructed which led me into writing my own songs.
Not that my music will ever be heard by the masses, but it's something I enjoy, it's something I can do and never could have done if I didn't learn from covers. But I had a cover gig last year for seven months and it was great!
Either way...if you play covers or originals and it makes you and others happy then that's all that matters.
Not that my music will ever be heard by the masses, but it's something I enjoy, it's something I can do and never could have done if I didn't learn from covers. But I had a cover gig last year for seven months and it was great!
Either way...if you play covers or originals and it makes you and others happy then that's all that matters.
