Been playing the same songs forever seems like so thinking of changing some riffs up. Sitting here drinking coffee with a guitar in hand working them out when it dawned on me it might not be that popular. Here’s the question, when you hear a song played by a cover band, do you prefer it like the original or are you looking for the bands own spin on it?

I got no talent at all for making music but I enjoy it. A lot. When I hear a cover song from a favorite tune I don't want any change. Usually. It's rare that I like it. Exceptions are stuff like old blues tunes done as rock and roll, or songs with a better instrumental backup.

Rest of the story is I don't like change of anything too much. Does not have to be music.

lol

Appreciate your honesty Danny.

Sometimes the covers are impovements...other times not so much. Generally I think most covers need to spit it a bit unless they got a lead that sounds like the original. Sound of Silence covered by Disturbed is a great example of a cover being better than the original:



A cover version of a song that im still out on is hte Malla J cover of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit (opening theme of Marvel's Black Widow)




Pretty much love the covers done by Post Modern JukeBox, a few that dont work for me. My favorite one is:




Course some of the parodies are great too, especially the ones by Weird Al. Heres the one for the afrorementioned Smells Like Teen Spirit

Hobbie -

My hat is off to you for trying to work out new riffs and changes for hits. That takes a lot of skill and talent.

I prefer a cover band or cover artist to play the original music. One time at a swanky hotel, there was a guy doing the singers-songwriter thing. He asked for requests. So wife and I requested John Denver’s “The hawk and the eagle”. We thought he might do any John Denver song, but no he played and sang the requested song - better than John Denver ever did.

Something that we very much enjoy is a cover band or cover artist to play and sing their own original music. So, maybe take your skill and work on new songs of your own?

I have lost most of my hearing so playing music is no longer fun or productive. I have many song lyrics written that will never have music. Also I have 6 really good guitars, 24 excellent harmonicas, and a pile of gear that i cannot use so need to sell.

Best wishes, Willy

It’s rare that my song writing doesn’t swerve off into some form of comedy. lol

This isn't really an easy question to answer for me. In general, I think I prefer the song to sound the same or close to the original. Simply because most times I've heard cover bands put their own spin on things, they weren't very good. BUT there most definitely are instances where groups have done the song better than the original. So, maybe that could be you.

I would just try one or two songs done your own way in a setlist and see how the audience responds to them. I'm sure you'll be able to tell if they like them or not.

And it's not a one size fits all deal. There may be a couple in your audience and the guy might say "I like his version even better than the original" to which his wife might respond "are you kidding me? He butchered it!"

So there is no easy answer.

So true Angela. We take a few liberties with songs that have no break and nobody has voiced disapproval. We do try to stay close to the original. I probably just need to chill. Learning the piano has given me this new exploration in the music. lol

To be fair most songs that are out there were not written by the original bands either. Being able to write, compose and sing songs well

I definitely don't like covers of original songs, and feel it's just ripping off the artist, even if they are still getting a cut for it being done.
It's still free advertising for the stealer, should not be able to make anything off of doing them !!

Any one that likes Disturbs cover on Sounds of Silence is Disturbed, LOL

Mmm all depends. I love a lot of covers can't stand a lot. Really just enjoy the creativity of it all. especially genre swaps , rap to metal is a favorite

You must be a DJ losing money to cover bands. LMAO!

I love pentatonix. Acopela group. Google them. Their version of sounds of silence is awesome. Hallelujah done by them will bring tears. They improved a lot of original music. Vocals are of the chart good. Wish I could post videos

Like most topics here we are getting off track. I’m asking about changing what most of the time is a “hook riff” in a song, not vocals.

Guess that depends on how drunk a person is whether it sounds good or not. Most knock off wannabes suck when they change the music. I hear them and think that animal making that noise needs to be shot !!

If a guy had a dirt hole set that caught 4 bobcats and then he pulled his trap. Would you put your trap in his set and think whoo hooo look at me ?

I’ll change the lure and I’m the king !!!!
Nah carry on

That’s a great analogy jb.

Gotta be very drunk to like Pentatonix

This is a trapping site sir. we like more manly stuff here :P

I'm with Grit... Disturbed's version of SoS doesn't compare to S&G's version.