Listen Up - Write Your OWN Damn Song.

As I write this they are playing the modern version of "You Spin Me" on the local pop radio channel.

My thought is this.

To do a cover of a previously released song is an homage. It recognizes the original artist and honors the belief that the song is noteworthy. Over time, many new listeners are exposed to music that is new to them through the creation and performance of another writer/artist's song.

It's how people are educated about types of music and are taught music history.
It's how I learned (and STILL learn about) about early Rock & Roll, R & B, Jazz and many other areas of music I would otherwise never have listened to or appreciated.

However, I strongly, vehemently disagree with the recent developments in this area.
To take another person's music, re-play a significant portion of it, in order that it be recognizable and attractive to listeners AS THAT SONG OR BEAT, and then simply insert new rap in between these riffs is NOT acknowledging the artistry and significance of the original artist. It is USING them & their work for the pure purposes of making money from it.

It is, in my opinion, disingenuous, dishonorable and basically stealing.

If the original artists are involved in the process, then that is absolutely fine. But if a song is either gone from copyright, or, even WORSE, still under it, but not enough of the song is ripped for legal prosecution to succeed, then it is an insult to the originator and a low-life act.

I hold no joy for the record industry's attempts at preventing copyright infringement, as I firmly believe that their arrogance prevented them form properly seeing the new areas of growth in music recording, distributing, and transferal. Shame on them, and they should be made to lose out.

However - the integrity of people who go beyond "sampling" just to get their own bastardization of a previously successful song out for their own profits, it completely wrong.

You teach nothing but disreputable behavior to young listeners, and it is ignorant and arrogant behavior.

There...had my say.