Why do so many people seem to oppose covers?

I like a good cover if it's done well, but I have to admit, some times I hear a cover and think, "what's the point?". 

Also, I posted this on JMA, but this is easily the greatest cover ever;

Oh, and your link doesn't work. Probably cause you've got two "http"'s. 

 

 

 

 

 

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When big artists do an album only with covers, it doesn't make me excited. I just get the feeling that they have run out of creativity, and if they choose popular songs there will be an automatic interest in the album, so they don't have to worry about sales. Toto's cover album was horrific. They chose classic rock songs. The second cd of Simple Minds Graffiti Soul (deluxe edition) was a cover album which had some interesting diverse song choices. But still, it's not that exciting to me. But it was a bonus cd, so it's great as a bonus. But throwing in one cover song on an album is allright. I think when playing in a band , it's so easy to just decide to do a cover, the whole song is already written and you can just have fun. It can be a priviledge. But I think bands should restrain themselves from doing covers. There should be a really good reason, for instance an idea of a different arrangement, or an ambition to emphasize stuff of the original and make it even better. There are songs that could be made better with a cover version. Tony Banks "Strictly Inc"  is an album which has a very mechanical and stiff production. "Piece of You" could definitely be made better with a richer sound (with real drums and brass .... that synth brass solo sounds like a joke). But there are a lot of variation in the harmonies, so maybe it could really come alive in a cover version.

 

The movie "The Wicker man" had a nice song in it. The audio from the movie though isn't of the best quality. Thats a good example of when a cover version is really called for. I heard a good cover by Faith & Disease, but Nature & Organizations version is probably the best, with Rose McDowall on vocals. Better than the original, definitely!

 

 

 

 

Doing a cover song doesn't necessarily mean that a musician doesn't have creativity. For the most part it means that they have strong enough feelings for a particular piece of music to recorded in their own way. The argument about only listening to the original is like never seeing a movie remake, a theatrical revival or anything that gets reinterpreted. despite what most people say, they do go watch remakes and sometimes listen to a cover song. If anything, they would like to put their curiosity to rest. Because after all, you never know and you may like what you hear.

I think many people don't like covers because they feel there is some sacred connection between the music and its originator. There is some truth in that statement however, music is written to be performed and many of the bands that created that music will cease to exist making covers even more relevant.

If it weren't for covers, nobody within our lifetime would have ever heard of names like Beethoven, Mozart, Litz, Chopin, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, etc. That, by itself, is a pretty good argument for the existence of covers.

I don't see it as much as comparing covers with original material because they are two different things. If you want to give an artist merit for his creativity, then you must go for his original work. If you want to hear a different take on one of your favourite songs, then a cover might just do the trick. 

Remember that music is a very subjective issue. I just find it peculiar that some people can trash something with such convictions without as much as trying to understand the artist intentions. Some people love my covers, some people love my originals, some hate them both. As for me, I love Joe Coker's "With a Little Help From My friends" a lot more than the Beatles original, and I'm not bashing the Beatles who up until one point in my life were my favourite band.

To me there are good covers and bad covers but I'm not going to dismiss the concept just because. If I would have done so, then I would have never enjoyed versions like Mr. Cocker's or YES' version of Simon & Garfunkle's America (which I also happen to love).

People should be a little more open-minded, it only leads to better things.

One more thing, the corrected link: