The Art Of Flattery

So I gotta make this a short post tonight. Well I don't have to exactly, I just know I'm gonna be tied up for a while and by the time I get around to blogging I might be so out of it I might not even care, and could risk posting something horrible incoherent. :P

I was doing some diving and I came across this video on AOL Sessions of this band I don't know, Yellowcard, performing a cover of Radioheand's "High And Dry" off their "The Bends" album. Anyone who knows me should know I love Radiohead, and I also lover covers. Bringing the two together is a godsend. Anyway, I've almost always enjoyed what ever I've come across on AOL Sessions, 'cause when I do it's because I've been linked their from a favorite fan website. So I've been aware of the series, but today I noticed something new they're trying out: Under Cover Sessions. Which is basically a series of artists covering famous tunes. There seems to be a shitload of stuff to watch, and that's what I plan to do. I can't imagine tearing myself away from it until I listen to every cover, or at least the ones I can recognize.

I don't know why I love covers as much as I do, because I know of some people who are hyper-critical of them... and I just don't know why. So I've been thinking about why I love them, and nothing's really jumping to mind. I just love 'em. I love re-interpretation. I love interpretation in general... which of course is rooted in my love of symbols and myth. There's always something unique to each situation that every individual can suss out and integrate into their own stories, things that can't be unearthed by anyone else. So I suppose in some way, it's about perspective. Approaching certain things with a new perspective bears new insight. Insight that you can use to better define relationships you've formed in your own mind; it can help to support a vision. It can sharpen or obfuscate. The more voices you lend yourself to, the more likely you are to hear something you may have missed.

I think covers also reference this idea of exchange, communication and inspiration. It's feels like a free-flowing conversation between artists. The beauty of it, is that it can be all these different things. It can be about developing your own voice, cementing ideas you've created all on your own... owning a piece for yourself. It can be posessive in this way. Like being presented a chunk of metal, and working it to fashion yourself a sword. You can turn about the energy. Dominate the coversation. Or you can continue it, make it responsive. Keep in tune with an idea, refine it. Elaborate. Collaborate. But it can also be nothing more than honoring an idea. Giving praise. Homage. It's I suppose, in the end, the versatility of "the cover" that I relish so much. It's amorphous. It can be whatever you want it to be, and so goes back to my idea of interpretation. About finding your own voice. Using opposing thoughts and views to better define your own. Finding friends in enemies, and enemies in friends. Being open to communication. The fluidity of this sort of exchange mirrors a lot of what's happening now and making the world as beautiful and grotesque as it is.

DS333, pondering.