Whilst any artist who makes music in my eyes is very talented, there is a difference between creating your own music and using someone else’s beats. This is where DJ’s come in. Most DJ’s remix other peoples songs and use their beats.
Whilst I believe that it is important to recognise the person whose sample of music you are using, there is also a need to pay for every sample used in a recording and piece of art. This is because the person created this “Art”, there is no right to say that someone else can re create it and claim it as their own. What if someone thought it was the second persons own and didn’t know about the first person who created it? It is a false connotation to their name.
Again, I believe it is very important to acknowledge the person whose sample you have used.
I will use a recent example to help explain this arguement.
On Friday the 9th August 2013, FOX FM chatted to Jason DeRulo about his new song “Talk Dirty” feat 2 Chainz. The Radio hosts Fifi and Jules asked him about his "new sound". They kept praising him and telling him how much they love his song "Talk Dirty".
VIDEO: Jason Derulo- “Talk Dirty” feat 2 Chainz (Official HD Music Video) 2013, youtube video, Jason Derulo, published August 7 2013.
Jason was quick to mention the beloved "trumpet" sound that has been the prime focus of his new song was in fact a sample from Balkan Beat Box called "Hermetico". He even got Fox FM to play the original song . Have a listen below.
VIDEO: Balkan Beat Box-Hermetico (HD), youtube video, AlexxMusicDe, published July 4 2010.
Although Derulo did acknowledge and let the world know that it was Balkan Beat Box's original music he used, I would not call him an innovator. He has still used someone else's idea and transformed it into his own song. He did not directly do a cover of the original song.
Another artist who constantly pirates and uses hooks of other peoples songs is American rapper, Flo-rida. He is not very popular as he is known amongst young people as the "song ruiner".
When I watched the video "Everything is a remix part 3" a youtube series, i was quite taken back of some of the comments it made.
1. "copying is how we learn, we can't introduce anything new until we are fluent in the language of our domain".
2. "Nobody starts out original".
3." We need copying to build our knowledge and understanding".
The video also shows us that transformation is taking an idea and giving it variations. It can be said that this is what artists do.
In conclusion to my argument. I believe that whilst artists do use certain hooks and copy samples from peoples original songs, it is important to acknowledge and let the public know this is not your original song. It should be also important to compensate the person for using their original song. I wouldn't exactly call remixers thieves unless they are not acknowledging the person.
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued reading your blog. You summarise your argument well and back it up with an excellent example. I agree with the point that you mentioned that if they did acknowledge the original artist as part of their remix song, then they're not necessarily a thieve. It's a good thing for Jason Derulo to do that, that he credited Balkan Beat Box as part for the 'trumpet' part that he used in his song. Good blog! Well done!!
Elise, beautifully argued blog piece. You're ability to draw comparison in the Jason Derulo song and Balkan Beat Box with the use of Youtube videos makes this an interesting read and highlights your argument. I agree that acknowledging the original artist of a song is less like stealing but if the artist does not fully cover the song then I feel it can be used in an original way. I agree 100% with your Pitbull argument and would even mention Birdy's cover of Skinny Love by Bon Iver as a form of stealing. They do not call the songs 'a cover' and a 'version' of the original with the innovator not getting credit for the song. It is an interesting topic. Thank you for your insight into the issue, good effort!
ReplyDeleteHi Elise,
ReplyDeleteWell thought out and argued piece on remix culture. The example and the comparison of the Jason Derulo song and it's original sample illustrated the issues surrounding this issue perfectly. The embedded videos made comparisons really easy between the two and gave the reader a better sense of what was actually going on as well if they weren't familiar with the example. Overall i agree with your contention that credit needs to be given when sampling, however I feel as though it's too big a part of the music industry now to slap wholesale regulations and laws on now. Great read, the only criticism I have is the font is a little bit small!