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about song covers...

lessthantag	Date: December 17, 2003 @ 10:11 PM i know that they are allowed on dmusic, and that alot of bands do them, but in my humble opinion, i dont think they show the true skill of the band's members. i was just curious on everyone's opinion on covers. thanx -travis
GeneHilbert	Date: December 17, 2003 @ 10:49 PM I have observed that most often - the very musicians that complain the loudest about not liking covers - are the ones who can't play covers.
lessthantag	Date: December 17, 2003 @ 10:55 PM any one can read tabs...how could you NOT be able to play covers?
GeneHilbert	Date: December 17, 2003 @ 11:44 PM Well firstly - I personally never read tab. It's useless and for people that are too lazy to learn to read manuscript or can't figure out what is being played by ear (plus it doesn’t show you the time value). Secondly - reading tab has absolutely nothing to do with being able to play "Superstition" or "In Memory Of Elisabeth Reed" or "Peaches En Regalia". Thirdly - I don't think you will find many Sor, Mozart or Bach pieces in tab. Try too find Bach's "Thirteen Two Voice Invention" or Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee" in tab. Playing covers has everything to do with a desire to learn the song - which in turn helps you grow as a player. You'll learn how they approached chord construction, substitutions and interpretation - fingering techniques - style phrasings. Chords like A9b5#13 & scale theory - play some old jazz tunes you'll learn about the 2-5 turn around - key changes, the art of the ab lib. I'm just scratching the surface here. All of those amazing artist that have come before you - have left their mark on musical history - and are showing you how it’s done. Yours is the opportunity to embrace & absorb that knowledge then make it your own. Bridge that next step - be the one that continues that legacy not ignore it. Your call Dude .....
lessthantag	Date: December 18, 2003 @ 12:00 AM lol reading your first post i realized that i didnt mean to say that i dont "like" covers. hell, our band plays them to warm up before we play what we have. sorry for the confusion
GeneHilbert	Date: December 18, 2003 @ 12:47 AM I wasn't confused .... just stating an observation ... no big deal .... besides I just like to ramble on & on & on & on & on .......
babykilla1	Date: December 18, 2003 @ 1:36 AM Sometimes covers are good if you take a song, and completely change the style of it. For example, you know snoop dogg's Gin And Juice? They have a country version of that and its pretty cool.
Arthen	Date: December 18, 2003 @ 11:52 AM Reasons for doing covers are short and simple; you do a cover of a piece because you love it and appreciate it for being existant and are thankful for the ingenius composer or writer who came up with it. Musicians whose careers are based on covers and remixes however...heheheheh Musicians whose careers are based on covers and remixes and are PROUD of it, however...hehehehehheheheheheheheh. Musicians whose careers are based on covers and remixes however and are proud of it AND think they're really TALENTED...hehehehehheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheh.
johnnygnote	Date: December 18, 2003 @ 5:19 PM Well...If it's good great...If ot sucks I don't listen. It's called users discretion
Arthen	Date: December 18, 2003 @ 9:26 PM WHAKUWHAKWUAHKUHKHK change that damn avatar for god's sake!!!
InfinitePola...	Date: December 18, 2003 @ 9:49 PM Throwdown's version of "Baby Got Back" is another song that got completely changed. Whether you think it's for the better or for worse, is your call, but I recommend it for anyone who wants a laugh.
noimportante	Date: December 19, 2003 @ 11:08 AM I agree with the first post. Covers don't realy show the skill of an artist. They show the skill of the musician. There is a difference. And artist is one who is able by virtue of imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value. Doing a cover is not creating anything, but merely duplicating it. Now, if the song is changed to reflect the covering artist's style, then it should be sellable (WHETHER ITS SHITY OR NOT). Otherwise, its like a fake painting and shouldn't be sold at equal value. As far as this website goes, if we fill it with covers, people will stop coming here. Show if you have originals, post them (PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR NEW STUFF!) , save the covers for your live shows.
CrescentShadow	Date: December 19, 2003 @ 7:40 PM I dont hate covers, I LOVE covers that change the entire dynamic of a song. Some people just want to cover a song because they love that band and what to do a tribute. Thats totally awesome. I dont see why you're so anti covers.
noimportante	Date: December 23, 2003 @ 1:34 AM Don't get me wrong, I don't hate covers, its just stupid to fill an awesome resource like this site with non original work. I agree covering a tune rocks when its because you love to play that song or you have added to it, but don't post covers just because you have no orginals and your short of material. Write Write write. Even if your not comfortable take a stab at it.
Pagan	Date: December 26, 2003 @ 12:49 PM i totally agree with noimportante. theres a difference between an artist and a musician.
sepidman	Date: December 26, 2003 @ 2:46 PM And for those musicians who are not writers I am sure there are many excellecnt writeers here who would licence their material so that you have what amounts to and original for your shows!!
Arthen	Date: December 26, 2003 @ 3:06 PM Gene- "I have observed that most often - the very musicians that complain the loudest about not liking covers - are the ones who can't play covers." That's true in alot of aspects... like those who are so criticisive, LOVE to just "discuss" about music or gossip about artists (ESPECIALLY talk like "I don't like Yngwie Malmsteen, all he knows is to play fast guitar that's all" )in general are those are can't write or play shit, amateur filmmakers who are so criticisive and bullshitty and "know it all" about films never come up with anything great or worth mentioning, car racing enthusiasts who are the "tech-gear experts" and have great "observational (e.g "this guy's really dumb he shouldn't have made such a sharp turn at this kind of bend blah blah blah" or "nah that car's nothing, listen to MY preferences of cars")" skills are the ones who never seem to win any race.
milladrive	Date: December 26, 2003 @ 4:54 PM "theres a difference between an artist and a musician." I disagree. If Hendrix, Clapton, Van Halen, or countless other guitarists never wrote a song, they'd still be artists simply for their guitar playing. Moon, Peart, Krupa, and countless other drummers never wrote a song, but their artistry on the drums is without question. Same goes for Sinatra, Fitzgerald, and countless other singers. If they're just musicians, are they not artists? When will some people realize that well over 70% of all recorded music was written by someone other than the artist? Does this mean they're not artists?
sinai	Date: December 26, 2003 @ 5:01 PM if you have a message to convey to the world, even using someone elses vehicle, you are an artist albeit not a very good one if your sitting around worried more about copyrights and royalities than you are about you next creation (sorry...out of place i know, but hey!)
sinai	Date: December 26, 2003 @ 5:03 PM and i have no problem with covers...but i tend to like the ones that totally transform the style rather than a paint by numbers job... but either can be cool
sepidman	Date: December 26, 2003 @ 8:09 PM Actually I think that you will find that for the most part Peart was the lyric wirter for one of my all time fav bands, Rush. And it is true, the man is a genius on the drums. I have been lucky enough to see morte than a few Rush concerts in my time. And that is a band who really had to make it on their own! And ummmmm, yes I still have the vinyl!!
Pagan	Date: December 30, 2003 @ 3:33 PM "When will some people realize that well over 70% of all recorded music was written by someone other than the artist? Does this mean they're not artists?" to me, an artist creates something from nothing. not copies something,or is the mouthpeice for something, or performs someone elses work. many people can perform the art. but only one created it. that one, is the artist. and if two created it than they are both artists.
sepidman	Date: December 30, 2003 @ 5:23 PM I agree Pagen. As for my genre (country), most of teh biggest names and writers hardly ever write the big ones. Garth Brooks for example writes some stuff, but often his biggest are by otehrs. Certainly the same with George Starit as well.
gcnmarcus	Date: December 30, 2003 @ 5:50 PM If we are going to rat on someone for playing covers, then I want to see all those who oppose it stop using major and minor scales. Make up your scale, create a new instrument, don't be such a "copy cat", wahhh wahhh wahhh
milladrive	Date: December 30, 2003 @ 11:25 PM "and if two created it than they are both artists" ...Well, one writes it and another performs it. Therefore, they are both artists. My point exactly. The issue here isn't copying someone else's work. The issue here is performing covers. Over 70% of the world's music has been written by one unit and performed by another. Just because a song has already been performed and may even be well-known doesn't mean that someone else can't come along and perform it with their own slant. For instance, try telling The Beatles that they weren't artists when performing all the covers that made up their early live and recorded material.
Pagan	Date: January 1, 2004 @ 11:12 PM im not saying they shouldnt play it or make a living for it. and yes you are right about the slant. You and those Damn beatles. you are obsessed.
sinai	Date: January 1, 2004 @ 11:15 PM screw the beatles
milladrive	Date: January 1, 2004 @ 11:21 PM Hey, the make good examples half the time to show how erroneous some people's statements are. lol@sinai.
figfarmer	Date: January 2, 2004 @ 1:09 AM Yet, for all the covers of Beatles tunes that I've ever heard the only two I'd give two cents for are King's X doing Junk and Elton John doing Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. I'd really prefer to not hear anybody covering anybody when it is so easy to write a song. I'd rather listen to bands that are really eclectic and do their own stuff like Rush, Queen, and Klaatu.
BrokenPin	Date: January 5, 2004 @ 3:35 PM Example of a good creative cover: http://wailingmisere.dmusic.com - Linkin Park - One Step Closer Acoustic with piano \m/ ...that was off topic...
BrokenPin	Date: January 5, 2004 @ 3:35 PM Example of a good creative cover: http://wailingmisere.dmusic.com - Linkin Park - One Step Closer Acoustic with piano \m/ ...that was off topic...
figfarmer	Date: January 5, 2004 @ 3:41 PM Why would anybody on a song writers' site want to talk about covering anybody else's tunes anyhow? D'oh!
dgtzr	Date: January 5, 2004 @ 3:59 PM Doing covers is a great way to learn new techniques and interact with new musicians. I can't remember a band I've played with that did not agree to start with a couple of cover tunes. Sure, jamming helps you figure out what other musicians are capable of or how they play stylistically. IMHO, cover tunes help expedite the awkward period all new bands go through during inception. Also, I love covers because I love so many different musicians and songs. I would be denying my inner rock star if I didn't at least play a measure or two of a song that totally blew me away. I also like to use covers to try out new gear, recording and playing techniques, and software. I know how a song sounds by someone else, and it's fun to mangle it and tweak it to make it sound completely different. I like covers. I've got a couple of covers in the works right now. Of course, I wouldn't plan on hearing them any time soon if I were you.
KevBrock	Date: January 5, 2004 @ 4:59 PM "Why would anybody on a song writers' site want to talk about covering anybody else's tunes anyhow? D'oh!" Because songwriters want to cover songs that will make it sound like that they wrote it themselves. That's the whole point of musicians doing other people's songs. Do you think Jimi Hendrix would be where he is today if he never covered Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"?
pmscpc	Date: January 7, 2004 @ 5:23 AM note for note copies of other folks tracks suck. It's unimaginative at best. A total reworking of a classic that sounds almost nothing like the original is most inventive. Unfortunately, Jimi Hendrix would probably still be where he is today even if he played drums. i.e. Buried.
pmscpc	Date: January 7, 2004 @ 5:27 AM gcnmarcus - grounbreaking - I love the concept. While we're at it, let's start an "Only Cissies use 3/4 or 4/4" club. Or - How to dance in 7/8
ashleighj	Date: January 7, 2004 @ 6:22 AM geeze, i can't believe no one's mentioned it yet.. sometimes, you do a cover just 'cause it's FUN! why's everything gotta be so damn complicated sometimes?
rapidhopeloss	Date: January 7, 2004 @ 11:25 AM i agree with ash
figfarmer	Date: January 7, 2004 @ 11:32 AM "Because songwriters want to cover songs that will make it sound like that they wrote it themselves. That's the whole point of musicians doing other people's songs." I don't know which is worse here, the grammar or the thought process. Songwriters write songs because they are songwriters. Anything else they do is for different reasons. "Do you think Jimi Hendrix would be where he is today if he never covered Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"?" JImi Hendex is dead. Do you think he's dead because he sang a Dylan song? "sometimes, you do a cover just 'cause it's FUN" Too right. Somrthing no one has mentioned. Singer/songwriters like doing original songs because it makes money for them. They don't cover songs because that's just wasted time when it comes to filling the old wallet.
mawcs	Date: January 7, 2004 @ 6:12 PM ashleighj: I agree. But sometimes publishing a cover seems like more than "cause its fun."
Svensta	Date: January 7, 2004 @ 6:24 PM There's a thin line between a performing a cover and performing a song someone else wrote, isn't there? A la Sheryl Crow, Frank Sinatra, et al. ol Blue Eyes never wrote a single bar, but I like to think he's an artist, if only a performance artist.
Svensta	Date: January 7, 2004 @ 6:26 PM By the by, BrokenPin was referring to http://wailingmiserere.dmusic.com/ Typos will kill you in URLs.
Jazzmary2U	Date: January 8, 2004 @ 8:38 PM Jazz is all about creating.. cover or not. I play tunes all the time,.. just never the same way twice!
figfarmer	Date: January 9, 2004 @ 12:16 AM And I thought that was just because jazz musicians smoked so much reefer.
ashleighj	Date: January 9, 2004 @ 12:24 AM i thought we were talking about people here..
johnnygnote	Date: January 9, 2004 @ 5:03 PM Actually having played in every type of venue there may be (for over 35 years), I find that playing originals doesn't make money. People want to hear familiar music, it's ok to play originals but you have to give them music they know and already like, to get gigs. It's just the way it is, the old human jukebox syndrome. I do covers but I do them in my own interpretation. I find as long as I play a song the way I feel it, most people enjoy it.
sepidman	Date: January 9, 2004 @ 9:18 PM It is rare that I play a cover whn I play live, but on occassion I do. I like to go way back sometimes and pull them out. Right now I have been hacking at a Kris Kristofferson tune "Take The Ribbon From Your Hair". The next show I do though I am only playing six songs so I will be doing all originals. One other person is doing 2 originals and 4 covers. The remaining 22 songs will all be covers as well. But hey....that is what the people who are paying $16.50 wanna hear. Brian
torndownunit	Date: January 15, 2004 @ 10:15 AM I am shocked that covers are allowed on here. Mostly for copyright reasons, but also because I don't think recorded covers should be allowed on a site for independant bands. I have seem some artists on here that only have 4-5 cover songs posted and nothing original. I don't know how that is legal, or how is benefits a site like this. Am I just crazy?
torndownunit	Date: January 15, 2004 @ 10:16 AM p.s. I dont' think there is anything wrong with PLAYING covers live, but why would you post only covers on here?
geetarman	Date: January 15, 2004 @ 11:39 AM Stop the insanity! Write a song today about people that perform covers. There is a 12 step program, "Un-Covering the Truth". It works and I am also the president... Although, American Idol needs warm bodies
lessthantag	Date: January 16, 2004 @ 10:16 PM i totally agree w/ you torn
Jazzmary2U	Date: January 19, 2004 @ 11:25 AM Maybe, figfarmer..
LukeSteele	Date: January 25, 2004 @ 2:53 AM torndownunit I agree with you. I listened to the no 1 hiphop track on dmusic a few days ago and it was someone playing their version of Celine Dion's "Heart will Go On" with some rap over it!! Now Im betting here James Horner, who wrote the song, hasnt been asked if its ok to rap over it b4 its released here right? Dmusic should stick to allowing only originals here I think and leave the covers to the live musicians who seem to strike at the hearts of listeners in bars the world over.... http://pentultima.dmusic.com
LukeSteele	Date: January 25, 2004 @ 2:53 AM torndownunit I agree with you. I listened to the no 1 hiphop track on dmusic a few days ago and it was someone playing their version of Celine Dion's "Heart will Go On" with some rap over it!! Now Im betting here James Horner, who wrote the song, hasnt been asked if its ok to rap over it b4 its released here right? Dmusic should stick to allowing only originals here I think and leave the covers to the live musicians who seem to strike at the hearts of listeners in bars the world over.... http://pentultima.dmusic.com
Woof	Date: January 26, 2004 @ 12:27 AM Elvis did covers. So did Hendrix, Joplin, Concrete Blonde... It sorta depends on why bands do 'em, I guess... I kinda feel sorry for bands that can't write their own material... y'know... playin' the clubs, doing all other peoples' music... But for an accomplished artist or band to pay tribute to another artist or songwriter, well... that builds a sense of cameraderie in the rock movement. I think it's good, if somebody can write and perform their own stuff, and still remain a fan of other artists. Shows ya haven't got some kinda superiority complex goin' on... I just wish we indies would cover each other occasionally... that'd be cool.
torndownunit	Date: January 26, 2004 @ 6:16 AM Again, I think the issue is should bands be allowed to post 5-6 cover songs on here and NO original material? To me that totally defeats the purpose of an independant band community site like this. Playing covers live is a completely different matter.
Woof	Date: January 27, 2004 @ 4:45 AM I dunno... that's a good point. Bowie made his "Pinups" album all out of covers, though, and I've always loved that one... I guess, for me at least, it'd depend on what songs were covered, and how original the arrangements are. IMHO, letter-perfect replications of somebody elses' arrangements are a little too close to a night out at the karaoke bar for me... but if they're taking chances? Then I'd listen, at least. After all, not everyone who's a musician has been blessed with the ability to write as well...
noimportante	Date: February 5, 2004 @ 12:56 AM "Again, I think the issue is should bands be allowed to post 5-6 cover songs on here and NO original material? To me that totally defeats the purpose of an independant band community site like this." well said dood.
lessthantag	Date: February 8, 2004 @ 6:50 PM i agree with torn as well
figfarmer	Date: February 8, 2004 @ 7:48 PM I think we have to differentiate between playing in a club and releasing something world wide. I really don't care what anybody does in Jake's Bar, but record something of mine and start passing it about without my consent and I'm gonna be pissed.
robbydadrummer	Date: February 9, 2004 @ 1:03 AM My input: ANYONE can do a cover... it may be very well done or totally crappy, but anyone can do it. If a band wants to do covers, they really should adapt it to their own style, or make it totally different from the original. I personally despise covers, especially on sites like this. Why waste time doing someone else's music? BE YOURSELF!! I want to hear originality (at least as composers, even though so many bands try to have the mainstream "sound"). As others have said, gigging out is a different situation. I just think it's much more fun performing our own creations as opposed to doing what has already been done. Enough from me... lol.
chrisbrooks	Date: February 9, 2004 @ 11:30 AM Im working on a cover of one of my favorite songs ever, "Something I Can Never Have" by Nine Inch Nails. It would be more of a tribute than anything. It may be something I never Upload if Im not satisfied with it.

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