Re: Better Cover Versions
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:51 am
As I have written before, I find it somewhat strange that artists in the field of popular music are criticised for performing music written by others, or 'covers'.
Classical musicians have been performing Bach and Mozart covers for centuries.
Furthermore, if a contemporary classical artist, Itzhak Perlman or Vadim Repin for example, were to give a performance of a violin concerto of his own composition, he would most assuredly find himself playing to a hall no more than one third full. Yet, were he offering the Sibelius concerto, he would be virtually guaranteed a full house.
I, for one, would be more than happy to listen to some talented contemporary guitarist performing a selection of music written by Hendrix, Trower, Winter and others.
You see, what I find rather strange is, if a new band were to perform or, especially, release a version of, for example, Good Lovin' Gone Bad, they would, it seems, be criticised for it and their version would be compared to that of Bad Company, for some reason.
Now, provided they perform it well, should they not be applauded for simply playing good music?
After all, if Vladimir Ashkenazy were to perform a piano sonata by Debussy, he would not be criticised for performing 'non-original' music, would he?
I would prefer a situation where a performer such as Ted Nugent, for example, could feel free to release a recording of British rock songs of the 1970s say, without fear of criticism over his use of the material (regardless of what one might feel about that particular performer, of course).
Classical musicians have been performing Bach and Mozart covers for centuries.
Furthermore, if a contemporary classical artist, Itzhak Perlman or Vadim Repin for example, were to give a performance of a violin concerto of his own composition, he would most assuredly find himself playing to a hall no more than one third full. Yet, were he offering the Sibelius concerto, he would be virtually guaranteed a full house.
I, for one, would be more than happy to listen to some talented contemporary guitarist performing a selection of music written by Hendrix, Trower, Winter and others.
You see, what I find rather strange is, if a new band were to perform or, especially, release a version of, for example, Good Lovin' Gone Bad, they would, it seems, be criticised for it and their version would be compared to that of Bad Company, for some reason.
Now, provided they perform it well, should they not be applauded for simply playing good music?
After all, if Vladimir Ashkenazy were to perform a piano sonata by Debussy, he would not be criticised for performing 'non-original' music, would he?
I would prefer a situation where a performer such as Ted Nugent, for example, could feel free to release a recording of British rock songs of the 1970s say, without fear of criticism over his use of the material (regardless of what one might feel about that particular performer, of course).