Very Short Hub on Awful Music (and a little bit on film)
Something I Cannot Understand
It happens all the time: you will be in a coffee shop, or a lift (elevator), or a pub, or wherever, and you will suddenly realise that the music that has been buzzing around your ears like a very annoying and persistant bluebottle is awful.* Mostly the songs are cover versions of old classics. The latest example I heard of this strange phenomenon was a truly hideous cover of The Beatles' beautiful 'Hey Jude'. Now, I cannot, for the life of me, imagine what the initial thought process was behind the decision to make such a horrendous recording. Did someone really think that taking some random young female with no vocal talent or training, and putting her in a recording studio to sing along to a backing track of thin and reedy and poorly played awfulness, would be a fitting tribute to the genius of Lennon and McCartney? If someone actually thought that this poor imitation of music was worthy of burning to CD to distribute around the world for the torture of innocent coffee shop frequenters, then I think we need to track that person down and tell them 'No!' They must be made aware that the noise they are producing is in no way musical, and in no way appropriate for public listening. Stop it!
The same thing happens with movies, and I just cannot understand it. If you are going to make a remake of a film, you need to do something original and different with the story, such as was the case with Karate Kid. There, some clever people realised that the original film with Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki Pat Morita was a classic and should not be messed with or imitated in any way. And so the new take on the story was a success and was beautiful in its own right because it was so different. Simple. If you lack the imagination and tremendous initial idea to remake a movie properly whilst still paying sufficient and respectful tribute to the original, then just do not bother. You will just embarrass yourself.
*Bluebottles really do fly at people's heads. They absolutely do do it on purpose, just for fun, and I hate them all the more for that.
Comments
True Lady Wordsmith, we need original creative music, not imitations!
yeah, most musak is pretty dreadful and few remakes do justice to the originals in film and TV but they keep trying and become very trying in the process - it can be really annoying to hear / see one of your favourites ruined
Ouch...you are on a rampage, aren't you? :)
- Author
Thank you Hart and arthur :) Indeed, very trying when you're trying to concentrate on writing hubs in your favourite coffee shop.
I wrote this ages ago Feline, but yes, I decided to publish it because I was in a vengeful mood :D Can't write fluffy and cheery hubs ALL the time.
Hi Linda, Really good Hub. I quite agree with what you are saying here. Good to see you back with quite a few recent Hubs. I look forward to reading more of your funny, interesting articles.
Michael.
- Author
Funny random articles about useless and not very interesting stuff, you mean? :D Thank you Michael. I always appreciate your encouragement :)
Linda.
Ha Ha. I like it! Although you could have a point....
Only kidding . Keep up the good work!
Michael.
...well I always love your writing - it's so fresh, loose, jazzy and spontaneous - in other words you're just a great writer and always a joy to read!
I love your opinions and points of view - they are so witty and clever - you really should be writing for a daily newspaper column or for a magazine with the kind of mind that you have - bravo once again!!!!
- Author
Oh epi, you really do always make my day with your splendid compiments :) I'm working on that column idea - you'll be the first to know if I succeed! I'm working on some pieces for a couple of magazines that seem to suit my writing.
Linda.
I agree, especially about the part with music in movies.
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