The call for a ban on releasing covered songs!!!

[mad_for_it]

In the wake of the pathetic state of our british music industry, may i suggest there be a ban on releasing cover songs as all it does is provides boy bands, manufactured bands, and talentless 'artists' with an easy route to fame and fortune compared with the harder working, more authentic bands/artists which provide original music and just as important - live performances! the number of times i've seen pop acts miming is unbelievable! why not band cover versions to provoke these 'artists' into having to get their own original material and i bet they wouldn't survive a year. Cover version are fine on b-sides or album tracks but not as career launching singles or at any time for that matter. For example (correct me if i'm wrong) i heard that all nominees for the best british single at the Brits never wrote the actual song - either a cover or written by someone else for them. that shows the state of pop music. anyway - what are your thoughts people?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Actually, and I'm surprised to hear myself say it since I agree entirely about the state of modern pop, some covers can be better than the original - Hendrix's Hey Joe and All Along The Watchtower, Sinead O'Conner's Nothing Compare's 2U coming to mind immediately.

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But, there's something pretty foul in the state of Rome when the expression, 'But they really can sing/ play' is a laudatry thing to say about a musician.

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It's the lack of love that I hate. They'll record any song they're told as long as it's a 'guaranteed hit'. Where's the love for the song in that? Where's the passion for music?

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You've got to have pop, regardless of whether you or I want to listen to it, but at the moment, the pop 'agenda' is decided by what 8 year old girls will buy.

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It's no wonder pre-pubescent kids are buying the corporate angst of the nu-metal and punk pop bands - it's just a shame their rebellion is controlled by the same hands that produce the stuff they're rebelling against.

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There's still plenty of great music made by people who care out there (whatever you're into), it's just rarely in the charts or on the radio. That's a tragedy, but at least the Internet is a good place to go seaching.

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Anyway, Erasure's abortive cover of Mr Gabriel's supremely lovely Solsbury Hill proves it's not just manafactured pop bands who do abymal covers! :-)

[xyzzyplugh]

What we should do is ban the Bland generation from buy ing records. Maybe put an 'RU over 30' sticker on it all. [ps dialogue too long for submit box].

[jenstar]

I actually LIKE cover versions! Even if it's not a great version, I always like to hear what other acts have made of my favourite songs. Unfortunately big names only ever seem to cover songs I thought were overrated in the first place - I mean, just what is the appeal of "Unchained Melody" anyway?!

[Mr Mackey]

I agree to a certain extent that cover versions and the 'easy route' to the charts don't exactly provide artistic integrity, but then what's really so wrong about that? Music is all about escapism to the listener, finding a song that means something to them, whether its the soulful lyrics or catchy melody. Cover versions in some ways transcend the classical meaning of the song into a modern day context, which modern audiences can appreciate more because it follows the style of contemporary music. I disagree that the British music industry is in a bad state just now, I think it shows such diversity in fact. The fact that more people buy these records doesn't negate the value of the less commercial ones. You are right about the Brit awards though, I think its a disgrace, but more of a reflection of the Brits themselves rather than British music, as they choose the top selling singles of the year rather than basing the decision on any artistic merit (which I have to say, Mr Gates and the Missses Kitten have very little of). Toodles! Mr Mackey, mmkay!