What Do You Think Of Artists Recording New Songs Over Old Songs?

Seil · 01-07-2010, 10:40 PM

I don't mean artists releasing new material instead of re-releasing old stuff, that's the basis of the music industry. Or it was, at any rate. I mean artists recording their own songs, and then playing them over existing songs, like

A. R. Rahman - Jai Ho
The Pussycat Dolls - Jai Ho

Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek
Jasun Derulo - Whatcha Say

O-Zone - Dragostea din Tei
Rihanna - Live Your Life

Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster Stronger
Kanye West - ~~I'm A Douchebag~~Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Nightshine · 01-08-2010, 09:10 AM

That's called sampling.

I think that it proves that you're talentless for not coming up with 90% original material.

Magic_Marker · 01-08-2010, 10:39 AM

I say, where is this legally allowable? I've heard "Live Your Life" and I keep wondering why there aren't any lawsuits for intellectual property.

Oh, and I'm on Nightshine's side. You are a hack if you do this.

Unless you're Weird Al.

Magus · 01-09-2010, 11:04 PM

I think covers, which are basically 99% copies, in and of themselves are legal (unless all these artists who do covers get permission from the original creators, I don't know), so I'm not surprised that sampling occurs quite a bit. There's been pretty heavy debate over sampling and so forth, and it supposedly kept Mother 3 from being published here, so I guess it should be avoided if a person doesn't want to get into copyright infringement gray areas.

I don't see anything wrong with it depending on how much of the new song is original material. Most of these rap artists seem to put about six hundred new lyrics in between the choruses of old songs, and modify the tune a little. I'd say it's allowable, but if there's any contention it would be on a case by case basis and up to the original copyright holder to determine if they want to sue about it.

Chipper173 · 01-10-2010, 12:10 AM

Sampling owns except for that Whatcha Say thing cause that song was only like five years old before it got recycled. It rubs me the wrong way if the sample's recent like that, it's just like we just heard that fairly recently, you didn't need to use it that soon. Oh and I guess that Jai Ho thing too, c'mon, we just heard that last year. If it's older stuff I'm totally cool with it.

Also I didn't know people were still butthurt about Kanye sampling Daft Punk.

Seil · 01-10-2010, 11:56 PM

It's not exactly that I have a problem with it, some are actually really good. I dislike when, say, the Pussycat Dolls ask Rahman

"Hey, can we sing jay ho?"
"Sure, but... um... it's 'Jai Ho'"
"Whatev. It was in that Oscar movie, right?"
"Slumdog Millionaire."
"Right, we're gonna get one of those for sure if we sing this."
"I don't think you get Oscars for songs."

It just feels like there's a total lack of respect. And it's less being butthurt about Kanye West recording a sample then it is... well, he's a jackass.

CelesJessa · 01-11-2010, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magic_Marker

Oh, and I'm on Nightshine's side. You are a hack if you do this.

Unless you're Weird Al.

I'm pretty sure Weird Al has never done this. I"m pretty sure I read/heard that his band listens and transcribes the song by ear for his parodies instead of just playing someone else's track under his own.

Anyway yeah, I generally don't like songs like this. I hate it when I hear a song I like only to find out there's some crappy rapper singing over it. I mean, I'm sure there's people out there that like it, but as far as I've heard, it's not my cup of tea.

BitVyper · 01-11-2010, 12:41 AM

It pretty much depends on whether you've taken something old and done something creative with it, or you've done this.

***Fenris*** · 01-11-2010, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightshine

That's called sampling.

I think that it proves that you're talentless for not coming up with 90% original material.

It's also called "overdubbing" in the music industry.

And while a lot of it is tasteless, if it's done well it can be fairly interesting. It doesn't make an artist talentless if they see another group's work and say, "hey, I think I'd like this song better if it had this in it."

However, that artist should not be allowed to take full credit or full profit from it.

Mondt · 01-12-2010, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenrisWolf

It doesn't make an artist talentless if they see another group's work and say, "hey, I think I'd like this song better if it had this in it."

However, that artist should not be allowed to take full credit or full profit from it.

So much this. Shameless stealing is one thing but sampling with credit and all that jazz is totally cool. Someone shouldn't be restricted from using a series of notes that they think fits into a musical idea they have perfectly just because it exists elsewhere.

01-07-2010, 10:40 PM	#1
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	What Do You Think Of Artists Recording New Songs Over Old Songs? I don't mean artists releasing new material instead of re-releasing old stuff, that's the basis of the music industry. Or it was, at any rate. I mean artists recording their own songs, and then playing them over existing songs, like A. R. Rahman - Jai Ho The Pussycat Dolls - Jai Ho Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek Jasun Derulo - Whatcha Say O-Zone - Dragostea din Tei Rihanna - Live Your Life Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster Stronger Kanye West - ~~I'm A Douchebag~~Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Last edited by Seil; 01-09-2010 at 11:58 PM.

01-09-2010, 11:04 PM	#4
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	I think covers, which are basically 99% copies, in and of themselves are legal (unless all these artists who do covers get permission from the original creators, I don't know), so I'm not surprised that sampling occurs quite a bit. There's been pretty heavy debate over sampling and so forth, and it supposedly kept Mother 3 from being published here, so I guess it should be avoided if a person doesn't want to get into copyright infringement gray areas. I don't see anything wrong with it depending on how much of the new song is original material. Most of these rap artists seem to put about six hundred new lyrics in between the choruses of old songs, and modify the tune a little. I'd say it's allowable, but if there's any contention it would be on a case by case basis and up to the original copyright holder to determine if they want to sue about it. __________________ The Valiant Review

01-10-2010, 11:56 PM	#6
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	It's not exactly that I have a problem with it, some are actually really good. I dislike when, say, the Pussycat Dolls ask Rahman "Hey, can we sing jay ho?" "Sure, but... um... it's 'Jai Ho'" "Whatev. It was in that Oscar movie, right?" "Slumdog Millionaire." "Right, we're gonna get one of those for sure if we sing this." "I don't think you get Oscars for songs." It just feels like there's a total lack of respect. And it's less being butthurt about Kanye West recording a sample then it is... well, he's a jackass. Last edited by Seil; 01-11-2010 at 12:00 AM.

01-11-2010, 12:41 AM	#8
BitVyper History's Strongest Dilettante Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arcadia Posts: 6,662	It pretty much depends on whether you've taken something old and done something creative with it, or you've done this. __________________ "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea is asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace; we've got work to do!" Awesome art be here.

01-08-2010, 09:10 AM	#2
Nightshine Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 283	That's called sampling. I think that it proves that you're talentless for not coming up with 90% original material.

01-08-2010, 10:39 AM	#3
Magic_Marker Moonwalk Away. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Dumbfucklahoma. Posts: 1,573	I say, where is this legally allowable? I've heard "Live Your Life" and I keep wondering why there aren't any lawsuits for intellectual property. Oh, and I'm on Nightshine's side. You are a hack if you do this. Unless you're Weird Al.

01-10-2010, 12:10 AM	#5
Chipper173 Grandma threw away my animes Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hang a left at the deli. Posts: 858	Sampling owns except for that Whatcha Say thing cause that song was only like five years old before it got recycled. It rubs me the wrong way if the sample's recent like that, it's just like we just heard that fairly recently, you didn't need to use it that soon. Oh and I guess that Jai Ho thing too, c'mon, we just heard that last year. If it's older stuff I'm totally cool with it. Also I didn't know people were still butthurt about Kanye sampling Daft Punk.