Cover versions are an interesting breed… How much more of an example of direct appropriation can exist than one artist literally using another’s words? I had a slightly challenging time trying to decide what type of cover to use in this reflection – then I realized that perhaps the variations in covers are part of the ‘point’.

In My opinion, (and really, what else is a blog??), I think that cover versions performed at a concert, never to be released are the most ‘legitimate’ version. For example; at a David Usher concert I attended in 2003, he performed Pink’s “I’m Coming Up” to the tune of Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train (a double appropriation?). Concert venue covers that are never recorded present a fun, ephemeral offering to the crowd – a token memory for the people who shelled out the time and cash to go see the artist perform, as opposed to staying home and downloading from thepiratebay.com .

An example of cover version appropriation that I love to hate is The Nylons. For those of you who don’t know, The Nylons are a Canada’s longest running (yes, that is a pun) a cappella group. Most of The Nylons 29 year discography is in the form of a-cappella rework of pre-existing music. In this case, the appropriation is not used as parody or critique; it is just what they do. This specific example seems problematic, as although they do not attempt to reference the music as their own, understanding of the performance does not rely on knowledge that the songs are in fact someone else’s.

Finally, Alanis Morisette’s cover of The Black Eyed Peas “My Humps” seems to demonstrate what we as a class have acknowledged to be suitable use of appropriation; use of another’s content for social critique. Morisette uses not only the lyrics of the original but also the basic elements of the video to construct a criticism of females in popular music. It is also interesting to note that Morisette’s video was released directly to youtube, thereby using the platform’s reputation of independence and analysis to increase the authority of her own offering.

Alanis Morisette – My Humps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W91sqAs-_-g

 

Black Eyed Peas – My Humps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbZc7j6A230

(and for those of you who have never seen The Nylons)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXfR9okzLcE

 

Jennifer