Originality Continued...

So this past weekend I discussed the topic on "originality" with my friends and my guitar instructor/professor. Here is what some of them had to say.

Friend's Theory:

So one of my friends came up with the thoery that songs can be different every time a song is played. When a band plays their single live, it is different, which is why people go to see them live. You can even argue that each time a song is played live, it is different. You can argue that the change in location affects the song, a mistake changed the song, the crowd's reaction changed the song, the way the band performed, a lot of factors.

Guitar Instructor:

My guitar instructor didn't mention much about originality and music in general. However, he did have a theory on Pop music. His notion was that the Pop music formula does not incorporate complete originality. A Pop song must express something that appeals to the general public, therefore being a Pop song. It cannot present something completely alien. People usually respond to Pop music because of something familiar, and a pop song can only be popular by appealing to familiar elements. Familiar elements can be the trends of the time, a familiar emotion, a situation most people experience, and so forth.


My Thoughts:

Being completely unique is difficult, because if I ever were to claim something I made was completely unique, one could argue against it down to the fine details. One could argue that "the instruments you used weren't completely original," or "the musical notes you used existed before, so you can't claim it's completely original." Even if I attempted to create something 'out of this world,' it would most likely be unappealing.

Perhaps good music does not require such an extreme dose of originality. Good songs also have a sense of familiarity. How can one interpret, or even enjoy a song that is completely alien? Even if a song is not in comformity with the current genre of music, and is considered unique, it must contain something that is familiar to the few that appreciate that song.

A good song takes things that already exist, and creates something different, even if it is just a little 'different.' Perhaps it is like making ice cream, gathering ingredients that others are familiar with and creating something else. Hip hop artists take samples from other songs and write new music. Others can argue that those songs aren't original, but I don't consider Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" and Queen's "Under Pressure" to be the same song.

Two songs from different artists could sing about love, but their interpretations of love are different. They are appreciated for their different reasons, one could present a more fantastic view of love and the other presenting a bitter point view. Even if the two songs are talking about the same thing, they are appreciated for different reasons. In matter of fact, albums from the same artist are appreciated for their own reasons, and songs from the same artist are appreciated for different reasons. Interpretation and appreciation come into play with originality. Despite having the same chord progression or even the same tune, they are intrepretated and appreciated differently. Personally, Nancy Sinatra does a better version of "These Boots Are Made For Walking" than Jessica Simpson. And I like Alien Ant Farm's "Smooth Criminal" just as much as I like Michael Jackson's version for their own different reasons.

In conclusion, it is very difficult to create something completely original. But songs can be appreciated differently, and if that means anything, then somethings can be a little original. Honestly, I don't care much about being completely original anymore. I understand that my identity isn't even completely original (but that is a whole other discussion). I should end with some kind of concluding sentence but I am too tired right now to think of one...so "good night."