Spring Break
Classic remakes insult true, innovative musicianship
Stephanie Martinez
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: OPINION
I've been thinking a lot lately about song remakes and modern music. My boyfriend is a musician, so I get an earful about remakes all the time. We talk about how Fred Durst ruined The Who classic, "Behind Blue Eyes," and how that one band put a Black Flag sticker instead of a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac.
These additional lyrics and poor remakes have really taken their toll because they lose the significance of the original message, and they sound terrible. Even when I hear new "rock" songs, they all sound the same with some nasally sounding kid screeching his heart out and a non-distinctive chorus. I have a high tolerance for crap, and, although I don't enjoy it, I can deal with it without freaking out like my boyfriend does, until now.
I've become increasingly disgusted with modern music, especially the pop/emo genre, like my favorite band I love to hate, Fall Out Boy. Well, if you haven't heard yet, they have come out with a new song, or remake, rather, of Michael Jackson's "Beat It." Oh my God, I literally wanted to cry when I was told. I wanted to puke when I heard it.
It was as if a thousand cats were dying in my ear and God was filling my brain with world hunger. I know it doesn't make sense, but that's how I felt.
Let's not forget the devil's advocate in this matter, John Mayer, that little cretin. I don't know how these people have any credibility in the real world. What happened to real musicians and great bands that knew how to write great music and sing well? All I heard when I forced myself to listen to the song so that I could accurately critique it, was wailing and disgraceful guitar solos that I shudder to remember.
I honestly believe that I could have gone my entire life without hearing that song and would have been a better person for it. First of all, it wouldn't have provoked all of this negative energy that I am creating, and secondly I could have spared my ears the pain. Again, I just don't understand how people can enjoy something of such low grade. It hurts my heart to think that millions of people support idiots with no talent and no creativity.
That being said, when is rap going to die? I mean, I like the premise of how the original rappers were trying to send out a message of inspiration and emotion with new, hip and understandable lyrics, but then as the clothes got baggier, the brain cells began to get lost in the folds.
They've been rapping about hos and selling crack for years now, and that fan base has not grown tired of it yet. Then there are the more popular rap songs that only sound good because they take from classic rock! I think the lowest point of my experiences with rap had to be when I heard someone rap about chicken noodle soup. Oh, spare me.
Sorry to be so bitter, but this was weighing heavy on my mind. Maybe next week I'll write about something I love, but until then, I'll be brooding and avoiding the radio.
Stephanie Martinez is a public relations junior from Garland. She may be reached at Stephanie.danielle88@gmail.com.
These additional lyrics and poor remakes have really taken their toll because they lose the significance of the original message, and they sound terrible. Even when I hear new "rock" songs, they all sound the same with some nasally sounding kid screeching his heart out and a non-distinctive chorus. I have a high tolerance for crap, and, although I don't enjoy it, I can deal with it without freaking out like my boyfriend does, until now.
I've become increasingly disgusted with modern music, especially the pop/emo genre, like my favorite band I love to hate, Fall Out Boy. Well, if you haven't heard yet, they have come out with a new song, or remake, rather, of Michael Jackson's "Beat It." Oh my God, I literally wanted to cry when I was told. I wanted to puke when I heard it.
It was as if a thousand cats were dying in my ear and God was filling my brain with world hunger. I know it doesn't make sense, but that's how I felt.
Let's not forget the devil's advocate in this matter, John Mayer, that little cretin. I don't know how these people have any credibility in the real world. What happened to real musicians and great bands that knew how to write great music and sing well? All I heard when I forced myself to listen to the song so that I could accurately critique it, was wailing and disgraceful guitar solos that I shudder to remember.
I honestly believe that I could have gone my entire life without hearing that song and would have been a better person for it. First of all, it wouldn't have provoked all of this negative energy that I am creating, and secondly I could have spared my ears the pain. Again, I just don't understand how people can enjoy something of such low grade. It hurts my heart to think that millions of people support idiots with no talent and no creativity.
That being said, when is rap going to die? I mean, I like the premise of how the original rappers were trying to send out a message of inspiration and emotion with new, hip and understandable lyrics, but then as the clothes got baggier, the brain cells began to get lost in the folds.
They've been rapping about hos and selling crack for years now, and that fan base has not grown tired of it yet. Then there are the more popular rap songs that only sound good because they take from classic rock! I think the lowest point of my experiences with rap had to be when I heard someone rap about chicken noodle soup. Oh, spare me.
Sorry to be so bitter, but this was weighing heavy on my mind. Maybe next week I'll write about something I love, but until then, I'll be brooding and avoiding the radio.
Stephanie Martinez is a public relations junior from Garland. She may be reached at Stephanie.danielle88@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story