Cover Bands

Is the cover a good thing or a bad thing? Are there any cover songs that you have heard and have grown to like more than the original? Perhaps there are songs that you have heard and have later come to the realization that it is indeed a cover song. This is the case for me. However, my feelings on cover songs vary depending on the particular instance. I think the cover is a good thing now days. There are many new songs that I have heard and have later realized that it is a cover song. I probably would have never heard the original song if it wasn't covered. On the other hand, in the 50s when rock and roll was building a foundation for itself, I believe that cover songs were a bad thing.

First, I would like to explain why I believe that cover songs are now a good thing. "Behind Blue Eyes" covered by Limp Bizkit is a song that I would have never heard had it not been covered. The Who originally recorded this song in 1971. Limp Bizkit is an alternative band that many younger people have great interest in. Many people my age are not as interested in what is now called "Classic Rock" as they are in alternative music. Therefore, this song would have never been heard if it wasn't for Limp Bizkit. Another good example of a song that has been covered is "Simple Man" by Shinedown. This song was originally recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973. This is another example of a song that younger generations would not have heard if it wasn't covered by Shinedown. However, a person may ask "Is it fair for the original artist if one of their songs is covered?" I believe the answer to this question is yes. Many artists that have covered songs have also had their songs covered. This causes a never-ending loop of music that seeks different genres of music and also people of different ages.

On the other hand, I believe that cover songs in the 50s were a bad thing. These songs were covered for different purposes than they are today. Race was the primary issue as to why many songs were covered. Perhaps the key song for rock and roll that has been covered is "Rock Around the Clock" originally recorded by Sonny Dae and His Knights in 1954. However, because of racial issues at the time, Sonny Dae would never be given credit for the song that started rock and roll. Instead, Bill Haley and the Comets would be given credit. Another very popular song at the time that was covered