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Cover Tunes And Flying Pies
By joseexist in Musings On Muses
June 20, 2011

Music is something that can be loosely interpreted in many ways. Scholars will frown on that thought for sure. To perform classic pieces of music differently than the way the composers intended may be considered sacrilegious. Still, re-interpretations will occur.

Whether it be by lack of experience, knowledge, or outright disregard for the original composers intentions concerning style, presentation, or eventual use of the piece, ‘covering’ someone else’s’ music can expose artists to many surprising reactions.

Artists that do ‘cover tunes’ have two basic groups from which they can pull those tunes from. One is the public domain. The music there is free for anyone to use at will. There are probably a few million renditions of “Amazing Grace” out there. Try to count just the ‘guitar solo’ versions. The other pool of tunes is where you’ll find the ones licensed by the originating artist(s) or the copyright owner(s). For a fee, you can buy the right to re-make the song. There may be some restrictions placed upon what you can do to the original arrangement. Your interpretation of their song might not be something they’ll like and they can shut you down before your version can see the light of too many days.

Some ‘classics’ just shouldn’t be messed with. Some should be. If modern culture has taught us anything it would be that it’s best not to keep every piece of music written in stone. Beethoven’s Fifth for instance saw a comfortable resurgence in the eighties. To take a piece of music and put your own signature onto it in some way is either a good idea or not. The truth will be revealed by way of public response. Acceptance is golden while indifference is a flying pie.