I have to give my love to Todd in the Shadows. Since watching his wonderful
commentaries on pop music, my music wish list has grown. And a lot of the time,
it is full of music I'm a little ashamed that I want. But in addition to that,
my game of music roulette has morphed from will we hear Adele or Lady Gaga
first to taking a running tally of songs reviewed by Todd to see which one
wins.
His recent review of Pittbull's Back in Time (I must point out that I had
never heard of Pitbull until I saw the review of Give Me Everything) had me
revisit a previous observation I had that about remakes or songs that sample.
When I was younger, I considered this practice blasphemy. I was too naive to
understand this is a long time practice and sadly I admit that I was well into
high school when I realized that Queen is responsible for Vanilla Ice's we'll
call "fame". But many songs that I liked that I thought were pure
were remakes of lesser know artists (I think is the best way to go. Enhance a
little known song and improve. Or place a flavor and make it your own. It is
really difficult to improve that which is already considered to be wonderful
and what is the point if it is a generic version. Yeah I mean you, MADONNA!) So
now that I've become less judgmental, I understand remakes and samples have
their place in the world.
I will point out however, that most of the time remakes and samples not done
with care will end up ruining both songs for me. If you did listen to Back in
Time, the guitar riff from Mickey and Sylvia's Love is Strange is great. I do
not know why he decided to take the same chorus and having a hard time figuring
out how "you're the one" works with the rest of the song. I bet it
was like the free pile at a garage sale. Pitbull was already picking so even
though he didn't need it, he already stole the riff so might as well take the
chorus. Well, the techno beat added to the song and speeding it up is now what
has been pounded into my head. I'm a little ashamed to admit I like the song,
but my husband points out that I like the original song so the sum of its parts
is good if not better. But now if I go back and listen to the original, it's
too damn slow for my enjoyment. So Back in Time leaves something to be desired
and Love is Strange is too slow to be enjoyed. Screw you Pittbull. And while
I'm at it, fuck you Sean Kingston for killing Ben E. King and a mild slap on
the wrist to Me First andtThe Gimmee Gimmees for Walking on Sunshine. I like
that song, but their version isn't on the radio as much as their now too slow
predecessor.
Some do get it right. The Fugees' Killing Me Softly does not step on Roberta Flack's version. The Fugees changed the pace but since it did not speed it up
the delicacy of Roberta Flack's version remains in tact. In fact, they sped it up in some spots and slowed it down in others so how can we be pissed? Well, my mom is, but that's okay.
Lesson is be original, people. You will not have this problem with an original idea. You'll have other problems, but still. I know that it is difficult to hear a declaration to be original from someone who is half
ripping off Todd in the Shadows. Fine, I'll take off my mask (As far as you
know).
