Is "Rockifying" Country Songs Blasphemy?

[arniejolt]

Before we get started let me make myself clear that I absolutely HATE country music and hearing that a Charlie Daniels song was going to be in Guitar Hero 3 was enough to make me to completely forsake getting that game, even if it is just a cover of that Charlie Daniels Classi--ahem, sorry, GENERIC SONG, and look forward to getting Rock Band instead.

Now that I got that out of the way I'll bring up an online chat with one of my buddies who I know is into country music because the last time the subject was brought up I went on a tirade over why I hate it so much. Anyway, we began talking about Guitar Hero 3 and my dislike of having a pure-bred country song in the game, however his reaction was more hostile than I had expected it to be. You see, he explained to me that he had lived around country music for most of his life thanks to his parents what I went through because my father was into annoying Muzak stations which made me dive into song genres that dad didn't like listening to like Rock and so forth. Getting back to my friend's musical preferences, he never liked it when music genres crossover and saw such things as cheap way for some non-country musical hack to make a fast buck. What he really doesn't like is when anybody attempts to 'rockify' a country song, like said Charlie Daniels diddy mentioned above, he sees such bastardizations as complete heresy and replacing the fiddle with an electric guitar is like replacing George Strait with 50-Cent.

Ack, wrote too much again explaining everything, sorry about that...

Anyway, do you think the attempt of putting a rock-spin on a country song is going too far to the point of being seen as blasphemy?


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[Xzyliac]

Not at all. What a silly question.

We (my posse) have covered Regina Spektor, Eric B. & Rakim (Don't Sweat the Technique with Wah FTW!), and even Bach.

I mean music is universal.

[CaptainHowdy101]

I see nothing wrong with a cover. I dont see how it can be better than the Charlie Daniels version though.

[xfMike]

If music were someway holy or sacred, then it would be blasphemy... since it is neither, then no. :)

[FallenAce]

Well, when you know an original version, or a specific version of a song, and someone redoes the song, most of the time we think it sucks. Now mix that with taking something someone really likes (country for this guy) and replacing that part with something he likes less or dislikes (rock). I can see how he'd find that as an abomination.

[whofan]

If music were someway holy or sacred, then it would be blasphemy... since it is neither, then no. :)

I actually disagree on this point. If you look deep enough into music you'll find that it is indeed holy, sacred and will help with spiritual development. Most people aren't looking for that aspect of music and thus don't see it.

Look at music closely and you will see that there are spiritual undertones in the least expected places. For example, the song "Sparks" by The Who can really be spiritually enlightening (ask anyone who has seen The Who live and they'll tell you about their experience). Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, although constantly marked as low-brow heavy-metal that only appeals to dullards, is VERY spiritually enlightening if you are listening closely.

Some people see it, some people don't. Regardless, I see music as sacred, holy and spirtually important.

Back to your regularily scheduled topic

[IbanezBassist_v2]

^ I think this is stretching it by quite a bit.

[whofan]

^ I think this is stretching it by quite a bit.

Think what you will, I have my feelings and you have yours. If you don't see the spiritual side of music, then it's your loss.

Do you specialize in being confrontational? Everything I've seen posted by you is confrontational in nature, I don't think I've seen very many agreement posts by you.

Regardless, I don't believe what I stated to "be stretching it by quite a bit". It's what I have experienced.

[IbanezBassist_v2]

Good for you. I never said there wasn't a spiritual side to music. Of course there is. However, not all music has this and I simple stated that your post may have been a little overboard. I completely agree that some music contains some form of spirituality.

Secondly, I'm not being confrontational. My posts are what they are. I see your views different from mine, I'm going to state so. As I've seen in many of your post. Its called differences in opinion and debate. Get over yourself.

I'm sorry you took offense to my post, but in my defense it was not rude nor "confrontational", as you like to put it. For the most part my post are on topic and non-confrontational. Maybe you just need to quit taking everything so personal. This is, after all, a forum for a video game.

[nicko68]

I woulnd't call it "blasphemous", even though some music can be said to be spiritual.

I've seen the Rock <--> Country crossover songs go both ways. For example, someone (can't remember who) did a country version of Tom Cochrane's "Life is a Highway". Shania Twain's CD "Up!" actually had 2 CDs, a country version and a rock version of the same songlist. I see it as different musical interpretations, similar to the "Unplugged" concept (e.g. Alanis re-released "Jagged Little Pill" acoustically).

That being said, I like the GHIII version of TDWDTG. Not sure I like it more than the original, but I think it is a great song to include (lyrics notwithstanding... why didn't they replace the "fiddle" stuff?)

[IbanezBassist_v2]

Maybe it was part of the cover agreement to not change the lyrics.

[whofan]

Good for you. I never said there wasn't a spiritual side to music. Of course there is. However, not all music has this and I simple stated that your post may have been a little overboard. I completely agree that some music contains some form of spirituality.

Secondly, I'm not being confrontational. My posts are what they are. I see your views different from mine, I'm going to state so. As I've seen in many of your post. Its called differences in opinion and debate. Get over yourself.

I'm sorry you took offense to my post, but in my defense it was not rude nor "confrontational", as you like to put it. For the most part my post are on topic and non-confrontational. Maybe you just need to quit taking everything so personal. This is, after all, a forum for a video game.

Sorry if I went a little overboard in terms of the off-topic stuff. I'm quite passionate about music and sometimes go off quite half-cocked. Again, sorry.

Secondly, you may see it as overboard but I do see spirituality in most music (not all, mind you, modern music in particular is lacking in this field). It depends on what you're looking for in your music, are you attuned to the possible spirituality behind it, or are you just listening for entertainment? Whichever way you choose you'll be hearing things differently from somebody else. Good musical writers can work in enough to satisfy all kinds of listeners.

[IbanezBassist_v2]

I concur, and like I said. I agree that most music has some form of spiritual meaning. Just not all of it.

[xfMike]

I actually disagree on this point. If you look deep enough into music you'll find that it is indeed holy, sacred and will help with spiritual development. Most people aren't looking for that aspect of music and thus don't see it.

Look at music closely and you will see that there are spiritual undertones in the least expected places. For example, the song "Sparks" by The Who can really be spiritually enlightening (ask anyone who has seen The Who live and they'll tell you about their experience). Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, although constantly marked as low-brow heavy-metal that only appeals to dullards, is VERY spiritually enlightening if you are listening closely.

Some people see it, some people don't. Regardless, I see music as sacred, holy and spirtually important.

Back to your regularily scheduled topic

Ironically I agree with you completely, I just should've explained myself better. However i guess was responding to the annoyance that got to me in saying "such and such" is blasphemous. Wouldn't calling stuff blasphemous be blasphemous towards stuff that really is holy and sacred?

I agree, that in many ways, music can be very spiritual and enlightening and bashing that aspect of music and the art of music can and would be blasphemous. However, saying a Rock/Metal cover of a Country song is blasphemous doesn't make sense. I wonder how transitioning a song into another genre of music can be blasphemous... I don't know....

Sorry for not explaining myself in my previous post, and sorry to the OP for sounding like an ass.

:)

[senomar]

The DWDTG metal cover is a bit silly, but "rockifying" country songs is okay as long as it is done with finesse.