The Originality-Turing Test

Passing by a storefront window in Front Royal, Virginia this weekend showed a sign for an upcoming concert of Willy Nelson and Patsy Cline impersonators playing cover songs during the Memorial Day picnic. It seemed sad. A small glimpse into the eyes of this Willy Nelson impersonator on the poster was a look into the lost soul of somebody who didn't know how to be anything besides an impostor. And a serious impostor at that.

There's some credit given to parody, since it's commenting on the original version, but serious impersonation implies no amount of commentary, just that the original couldn't be here tonight because they either wouldn't deign themselves to play in this two-bit town or they ran out of their own ideas.

Cover bands walk a tough line. In a way, originality is the sole determiner of character. If you are not original, then you are someone else and have no character to call your own. You are a pale imitation of the original.

On the other hand, nobody is completely original. Everything comes from someplace else, and most bands start out doing cover songs in some shape or form to learn how to play, to get audience appreciation, and to build off the cover songs into their own sound. If they never branch off and continue as a cover band, then they will be doomed to the shadow of whomever they are imitating. Supposedly this is what set CBGB's out from all other clubs is that they required bands to play original songs. The Ramones were originally playing cover songs from the 60s until they were forced to make their own numbers up.

Like talent and skill, originality is a precious commodity that requires a delicate balance. Too much talent and no originality and you're a cover band. Originality without skill and craftsmanship and you're an un-listenable avant-gardist. I would say all artists should balance the two, but really it's better to be original. There is a frightening world out there of people scrounging for ideas and desperate characterless craftsmen hurting to find ideas to keep up their appearances that makes avant-garded nonsense comforting. It would almost be perfect to match up theoretical performance artists together with shallow, unoriginal hacks.  Together they would make great music.

—May 29th, 2009

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