Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Tales from the Drunk Side: Mixmaster

Ever since I saw Moulin Rouge years and years ago, a lifetime ago, I have always wanted to hear songs done in a completely new way.

Glee's episode 20 featured Lady Gaga's Poker Face as a slow, naive duet number between mother and daughter. The context has been changed, the delivery, the tempo. It was just... refreshing.

Part of the proposal for a reality show I was supposed to work with years ago, included this bit as well.

Simply imagine fast numbers sang as a soulful ballad. Slow ones turned into hip-hop. Hard rock numbers turned a gospel performance. Males singing songs by female singers, and vice versa.

Oh, what could have been. Nevermind.

Some people don't get it. They want to BE the singers who originally sang those songs. There is very little understanding of owning a song. Making it yours.

If you can sing, say, Pasti, by Ning Baizura, just like her, why would anyone want to listen to that? Might as well watch Ning Baizura singing Pasti. The real deal.

Whenever you approach any creative project, it is what you yourself bring to the table, how you affect the final outcome that is the only relevant thing.

If you can simply imitate, then you are just a rip-off. There are trillions of new angles. Endless, limitless possibilities. Shaping and reshaping in the void that is not-being.

Just. Bring it out.