Covers VS Originals

[bassist_25]

Sometimes we just get remedial on here in the sake of debate.

LMFAO

[RAM Z]

I'll second that motion Dirty Sanchez .

[Jim Price]

I'm getting ready to record an interview with two members of Kansas later this evening (it will air on my show on Q94 Thursday afternoon around 3:35 PM, shameless plug). In doing some research and visiting Kansas' website, I found this interesting tidbit about how Kansas got away with playing original songs in the midwestern bar circuit in the early 70's:

Kansas only played original material, and that's largely because the members often said they were the world's worst cover band! If rowdy bar patrons protested what they were hearing, Kansas would often fib by introducing an original as a cut on the new Deep Purple album, for example.

[RAM Z]

That's a pretty good trick there Jim !

[old Skool]

Yes I DO MAKE music even though I play covers. Several of the tunes we play have multiple guitar tracks, keys, etc. We're a one guitar band. I've got to come up with something to try to sound as fat as possible and maintain the general vibe of the song. I'm pretty sure that's MAKING music. Even if it isn't to certain people I really don't care because I'm having a blast doing this & I get to work with a great group of people week in and week out. Indeed!

[RAM Z]

That's a very good point BDG !

[DirtySanchez]

Sometimes the Pillsbury Cookies in the little plastic wrapper are better than the home-made cookies. I just like to make MOTHERFUCKIN COOKIES from scratch. No offense to anyone who makes Pillsbury cookies cuz you stiil have to make them and yes indeed you can fuck them up just leavem in the oven too long once.

[BDR]

I like most kinds of cookies ... they all have their pluses and minuses but the thing they all have in common is ... they're all cookies.

r:>)

[Atomic Jen]

I've just been trying to read through all the posts and get a feel of where everyone is coming from. I have great respect for all musicians be they cover or oriiginal. I've written a few originals and it's not easy. Because as it has been said: Just because it's original doesn't mean it's good. I enjoy playing my originals but I love when everyone is up dancing and singing along to the B52s or Cindy Lauper or whatever. There are so many cover songs that have a great deal of meaning to me and I try to express that through my interpretation of the song. I love to go hear bands that do originals, too. As a young artist I like seeing other young artists out doing their thing. I love to see the passion they have for music and what they are saying. What I don't like, and this is a huge pet peeve, is when a band has written a song to make some kind of statement (political, personal etc.) and I can't understand a word that they are singing. What is the point of even writting lyrics if no one can understand them? What is the point if no one can relate or connect to you because they can't understand you? U2 and Green Day make statements and I know what they are because I can clearly hear and understand their lyrics. I know everyone is talking mostly about metal, but I think you still need to be able to understand the message of the song. I'm a writer. My father is a writer. It was drilled into my brain at at a very young age that if the reader (listner in the case of music) doesn't understand what your trying to say, it's not their fault it is the writer's (writer/performer) for not being more clear. I don't want anyone to think I'm trying to cut them down. I just think it's a shame to have so much passion and not be understood.

[DirtySanchez]

I like when bands have a message too. My favorite is "Don't forget to tip the waitstaff/bartenders." It just really hits home for me personally.
I think U2 and Green Day should say that more often. Maybe they do, I just haven't been listening.

[BDR]

I like when bands have a message too. My favorite is "Don't forget to tip the waitstaff/bartenders." It just really hits home for me personally.

Bands — original or cover — that don't convey this message are truly delusional as to the main reason they're in that bar/club in the first place.

r:>)

[AtoMikEnRtiA]

.. i think World War II was my favorite war ..

[DirtySanchez]

I don't know Gary, there were so many good ones.
I liked when the Russians invaded and Patrick Swayze saved the nation.
Which war was that?

[AtoMikEnRtiA]

I don't know Gary, there were so many good ones.
I liked when the Russians invaded and Patrick Swayze saved the nation.
Which war was that?

if it didnt invole hitler, and the use of atomic weapons, it didnt fuckin matter now did it? lol

however.. the battle of the network stars, was pretty good!!

[bassist_25]

I don't know Gary, there were so many good ones.
I liked when the Russians invaded and Patrick Swayze saved the nation.
Which war was that?

That was Red Dawn! It was a badass movie in a shitty scripted Movies for Guys who like Movies kind of way.

During the Cold War, I wonder if the communists had movies where they kicked our asses and won.

[AtoMikEnRtiA]

I don't know Gary, there were so many good ones.
I liked when the Russians invaded and Patrick Swayze saved the nation.
Which war was that?

That was Red Dawn! It was a badass movie in a shitty scripted Movies for Guys who like Movies kind of way.

During the Cold War, I wonder if the communists had movies where they kicked our asses and won.

Yes.. they were called "Drago" ... it went down like this..

Drago 1: Drago beats Machine..
Drago 2: Drago beats Russian Premiere
Drago 3: Mr. T comes over, Drago beats T.
Drago 4: Drago kills world champion Apollo Creed, is long shot however to beat Rocky Balboa - Drago trains like a mother fucker - still nobody believes in him - his own wife, screams "Вы Не можете Победить" (translated: You Can't Win). And on a cold, Christmas night in Philadelphia, PA - Drago slaughters Rocky - and convinces the world to take up Communism. Resulting in the fall of capitalism..

and, unfortunately..

Drago 5: Drago's son becomes a capitalist.. Drago has to teach him a lesson..

[tornandfrayed]

I think that s great song is the sum or its parts. Their is the music, the beat, the feel of the song and then there is the lyric. If one part of the song is weaker then that's that. I believe that if you can't hear the lyric then that makes the lyric weaker. Haven't you ever heard a lyric that touched your soul? Someting that was unforgetable in itself? There have been a lot of great ones over the years and I find it hard to believe that they can be so easily ignored.

I know that music moves people and I also know that lyrics are not essential to a great song (ie Steve Vai) but aside from instrumentals lyrics are part of the song, why not give them meaning? Why not try to say something that will touch people? Why not make the piece the best that it can be?

Covers or originals who gives a shit? That's a lame argument. If you are a good band you are a good band. Not like I am seeing a lot of people making it out of here anyway, do what makes you feel good. Music is music is music, except for RAP.

[drums=life]

ORIGINALS, if i wanted to listen to covers i can save my money and listen to the radio. The only band i will pay to see is the HURRICANES, besides FedUP of course...

[SuffrInLys]

back a page or two i read the quote

original bands are artists
cover bands are musicians

i could not agree more. no disrespect. being a musician is hard work no matter what you play. but the real talent is writing the songs people like to hear. we already know that the songs people cover are popular and people are going to like them. that's a no brainer. so it's not some big marvel when people want to play them..

i can see maybe playing a couple of covers but not more than like four or five in a night. there are way too many original bands in the area that are great at what they do. CHOKING FAITH, FED UP, SUICIDE SWITCH, CHAPTER FIVE, THE MAURADERS, HOUSE OF CAIN, PROMETHEUS FOR GET THE FIRE, 4DD, THE FISTICUFFS, EYES OF ANGUISH, AT HOPES END, 2ND OFFENSE (shameless self promotion), and MANY OF THE BANDS THAT ARE PLAYING THE ALL AGE SHOWS and ALL THE OTHER LOCAL BANDS THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING THEIR THING. (if i didn't mention you no offense either i simply forgot or its just cause i am more of a metal guy and haven't seen you play yet.)

what we as artists need to do is write the best music that we can. and always push our selves to be better than what we were the day before.
if we didn't have original music we would all still be listening to eachother beat on drums made of animal hides and playing hollowed out bones.
nothing would have ever gotten past that. we (orininal artists) are the evolution of music. in ten years these bands playing cover songs in our area are still going to be doing the same thing while one of our bands could end up being on their set list..

its not about the money we make. its about the way we feel and expressing that.. if had either a crowd of 300 filled to listen to us play korn and limp biskit covers or 50 waiting to listen to us play our music i would not think twice about why i was there. i and the rest of my band love what we do. we have 25 original songs yes some are better than others some we hardly ever play but we wrote them all from the heart.

www.myspace.com/2ndoffense
www.myspace.com/secondoffense
(cover of she on this was to benefit toys for tots,
also on this cd suicide switch, chapter five, 4dd,
and several others. the only good cause for a cover)

[SuffrInLys]

also what we need to do is push the local scene..

get more involved in pushing local bands in other bars throughout the area.

get a couple of bands together have like maybe three a night somewhere different (right now ALDO'S is one of the only places in town I LOVE THAT FUCKING PLACE but branching out would be best for all of us).. but if all of those bands bring their fans we all end up with new fans.. if anyone has any ideas or you own a bar and are looking to help out... get at any of us who are original artists...

[SuffrInLys]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

i am competely drunk.....and i figured i would check to see is any cover bands were like we are... artists... but no....

[RobTheDrummer]

So what happens if you were in both? I mean, I've written songs before...now I play covers because I can make a living. But I can also work on originals in my free time, you see, because I don't have to get up in the morning and flip burgers.

[onegunguitar]

Just remember,EVERY cover song was an original when it was written.

[drums=life]

I dont have to flip burgers either, so what is your point. If ya do both, i guess you BI- SEXUAL huh? Call it what you want man, it is all in the heart of the person. I would rather make a livin with my own music!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tornandfrayed]

I am making a mental note today, May 29th, 9:34 AM. I have a list here of bands. I am going to put them into an excel spreadsheet. I am curious to see how many will be around in five years in any shape.

Point is "What the Fuck!". You guys bicker too much! get out and do your thing man! You own thing, who gives a rat's ass! Who the fuck cares if you are right or you are right! Your all right and your all wrong move on!

Life is too short to put so much energy into so little.