The Catchy Title:
Zach Claywell feat. Dave Barry

 

        The title was "Snoop Dogg feat. The Doors". I tried to reconcile this incongruency in my head. Snoop Dogg was on one side. The Doors on the other. In between them was a tall brick wall wrapped in barbed wired and about 40 years. Yet, here they were, on the same song. A thumping hip-hop beat pulsated below Jim Morrison’s vocals, circa the 70’s. I think I speak for all sane, level-headed Americans when I say, "What??".

        Not that I’m a particularly avid Doors fan. I know the basics (i.e. I’ve watched VH-1 in my underwear, imbibing the warm glow of 100 Most Controversial Moments and 100 Things We’d Like To List For You). But even a basic knowledge of The Doors (They were a band awhile ago. Lead singer equals dead.) is enough to know that he shouldn’t be hanging with Snoop Dogg. Now, I mean no disrespect to Snoop Dogg. He’s an interesting young entertainer who has found myriad ways to spell and sing his name. But, why was he rapping on the same song as Jim Morrison (who is not alive at the present)?

        This troubling conundrum, really a riddle wrapped in a conundrum or maybe even an enigma within a riddle wrapped in a conundrum, comes to us thanks to the beauty of the cover. A cover is re-making a song that has already been made. Covering a song is a great way to show your respect for the work of an artist who has influenced you. It’s also very convenient for people who can’t write good songs, but like listening to them. Each genre of music has their own style of cover. The hip-hop cover is a time honored family recipe:

Cover: Makes 1-2 Servings

1. Take song.

2. Add thumping Hip-Hop beat.

3. Add poorly-written, mumbled "rap" lyrics.

4. Label the song as Your Name feat. Name of Artist You Stole From.

And viola! If you think I’m wrong, buy any Puff Daddy (also known as P. Diddy or

the Artist Formerly Known as P. Diddy.) CD.

        Another interesting trend in the phenomenon of The Cover is the punk cover. Here, one takes a song (preferably as non-punk as possible) and sings it really fast while beating up all conceivable instruments. This is far more entertaining than it sounds. One listen to the punk cover of "Back That Ass Up" (a rap song about backing one’s ass up) is enough to secure a thumbs up rating from me. However, not all covers are worthy of thumbs up. In fact, some people should have their thumbs removed by woodchucks for making most covers. Now, I’m not implying that this policy should be made real in the literal sense of the word (woodchucks deserve our respect and protection from thumb-related abuse), but I don’t like some covers. I could have just said "I don’t like some covers", but then I wouldn’t get to use the word "woodchuck".

        If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to 100 Greatest List Shows of all time on VH-1.

 


This work written by Zach Claywell. Reproduction requests or general questions should be directed to Zach Claywell care of Zach Claywell at yahoo dot com

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