Genres, Covers, and Authenticity

MUS 3308 Topic 6

Genres
A category or type
An organizing element
Musical characteristics
Time periods
Uses
Types of listeners

Defined in part by distinctions made by the music industry

Genres
Genres standardize codes and conventions
Musical, lyric, visual, ideological

These codes are fluid

Dimensions of popular music genres

Placed in the context of historical roots and social context

Stylistic traits in the music

Non-musical stylistic traits
Primary audience
The styles durability

Genres
Metagenres
Genres
Subgenres

Sampling
Copyright

Creativity

Musical borrowing and appropriation

Appropriation
The artistic use of anothers work in the creation of a new

piece (Dettmar 2011, 289)

Appropriation in art
Andy Warhol, Campbells Soup Cans (1962)

Da Vinci, The Last Supper

Warhol, The Last Supper (1986)

Warhol, The Last Supper (1986)

Appropriation
Remaking pop standards

The colored folks been singing it and playing it just like Im doing now, man, for
more years than I know. --Elvis

Authenticity
Authors intent

Style and genre manipulation

Musical originality

Authenticity
Pop and rock polarized
Pop = artifice
Rock = authentic

Authenticity
Allan Moore (2002)
Authenticity of expression
Authenticity of experience
Authenticity of execution

Authenticity is ascribed to the performance rather than inscribed within it

Covers
Originating moment
Spectrum of copies
Original
Direct copy
Minor interpretation
Major interpretation

Parody

Interpreting Cover Songs

Considerations include:
Appropriation
Authenticity
Intertextuality
Context
Genre
Time period

Gender
Race
Location

Interpreting Covers
Examples:
All American Rejects cover of Brittany Spears Womanizer
Mandy Moores cover of Rihannas Umbrella
Beyonces version of B.C. Jeans If I Were a Boy

Ann is Okays cover of Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball

A Day to Remembers cover of Kelly Clarksons Since Youve

Been Gone
How do the meanings change in these versions?