Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Originality Is Overrated

As someone with an extensive background in listening to, and playing, music, I would just like to give my opinion on the concept of originality in the music world.

To my way of thinking, originality doesn't rank very high on things that I look for in my enjoyment of music. I wouldn't want to hear something that is totally original, if such a thing is possible. It would probably sound like some abstract noise with some bleeps and bloops or something like that. To me, that is very boring although I guess some people like it. It probably wouldn't be melodic in a classic way, which is an interesting concept - why couldn't so-called "futuristic" or radically original music be melodic, like in a powerpop vein? Maybe it's because there are only so many notes to work with, and arranging them in a melodic way would be considered "old fashioned"? Who knows...

It's all about taking the elements of the past, and doing it well. Taking guitars, vocals, bass, drums and keyboards, among other possible instruments, that we've all heard countless times before, and recycling it in a way that is good, competent, energetic, and to go the extra mile, fresh or even witty.

Take a band like the Datsuns. There is nothing "original" about them, but so what? Who cares? They are a great band! Not striving to be original shouldn't automatically exclude you from being great. Anyone who writes off the Datsuns as being "derivative" and moves on with their life is totally missing the point, not to mention being a big jerk. Other great bands I can think of offhand that fit the template of being great, but not original include Kula Shaker, The Darkness, or perhaps Mando Diao. Interestingly enough, none of the bands I mentioned are American.
Europeans seem to have a unique way of taking something American, even something we sort of lost interest in, and making it seem new and fresh again.

The Datsuns
The Datsuns

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Kula Shaker

Let me just say that not being original isn't some ticket to greatness. Simply copying the cliches of the past in an unengaging way won't buy you any points. Actually a vast majority of bands do this I think. Simply copying is no good. It's all in HOW you do it. Just blindly striving for some vague notion of "originality" is the wrong approach, and seeking to be original just for its own sake will inevitably lead you down the wrong road, into boredom and cliches, exactly the place you supposedly were running from.

So, in conclusion...I guess it's all in the execution.