Post by bscott on May 24, 2015 0:17:06 GMT -5
One of my biggest pet peeves is when an artist covers a previously popular songs and changes very little from the original recording. Here in Ottawa, if you look through the musicians wanted adverts, 99% of the adverts are for cover bands needing new players. The vast majority of clubs here hire cover bands or party cover bands. If I want to hear Pink Floyd, I'll put a PF cd on. I am NOT going to pay $30, $40 or more to see some guys do an exact replica of PF's music!! Same with any other cover band! If I want to hear their music, I will put a cd on or wait until they come to town and then see them live. Maybe, depending on ticket price. Several year ago Neil Young came through town and they wanted $500 a seat for the floor in front of the stage. I don't think so.
Anyways, I digress. Back to my pet peeve about covering other artist's music. Can you not show some creativity??? Mix it up, chnage the chords, key, arrangement, add some horns. Whatever.
Now I do realize that the labels are exerting a lot of influence and pressure to do songs a certain way. However, they are stunting the musical creativity that exists around. Tqake the 60's. Everything went as far as music went. There were virtually no restrictions. A lot of weird stuff came out. Like Wildman Fisher with Frank Zappa.
That being said, I came across a fellow who goes by the moniker Mali Music. I investigated because of my interest in Ali Farke Toure and other Malian musicians. Turns out he is using it as a performance name. BUT, he covers a Michael Jackson tune that you are almost certainly not to recognize as a MJ tune. And this is what people don't understand when I talk to people about reworking a song that was previously a radio hit. The other players can't get their brain out of the radio hit to explore other ways of playing the song. I find that frustrating. They can be well versed guitarists but they cannot find a creative place that totally transforms a song into yours. Not just a mediocre copy of the hit.
Now myself, I am not a great guitarist, but as I learn more and more and gain a better fluency with playing and understanding notes and music, I am more inclined to play by myself. I suppose that I will find that one, or 2 or 3, people who will understand what I am trying to do. But, in the meantime, I have to keep my brainsharp so I don't forget all the ideas and music banging around in my brain cells!
Without further adieu - here is Mali Music
Anyways, I digress. Back to my pet peeve about covering other artist's music. Can you not show some creativity??? Mix it up, chnage the chords, key, arrangement, add some horns. Whatever.
Now I do realize that the labels are exerting a lot of influence and pressure to do songs a certain way. However, they are stunting the musical creativity that exists around. Tqake the 60's. Everything went as far as music went. There were virtually no restrictions. A lot of weird stuff came out. Like Wildman Fisher with Frank Zappa.
That being said, I came across a fellow who goes by the moniker Mali Music. I investigated because of my interest in Ali Farke Toure and other Malian musicians. Turns out he is using it as a performance name. BUT, he covers a Michael Jackson tune that you are almost certainly not to recognize as a MJ tune. And this is what people don't understand when I talk to people about reworking a song that was previously a radio hit. The other players can't get their brain out of the radio hit to explore other ways of playing the song. I find that frustrating. They can be well versed guitarists but they cannot find a creative place that totally transforms a song into yours. Not just a mediocre copy of the hit.
Now myself, I am not a great guitarist, but as I learn more and more and gain a better fluency with playing and understanding notes and music, I am more inclined to play by myself. I suppose that I will find that one, or 2 or 3, people who will understand what I am trying to do. But, in the meantime, I have to keep my brainsharp so I don't forget all the ideas and music banging around in my brain cells!
Without further adieu - here is Mali Music