copycats: covers and mashups

Today I give you a lesson on creative copying -- borrowing ideas from brilliant minds and making them into something new (is it the highest form of compliment or a criminal offence? Maybe it just depends on how you do it.)

In music, a cover of a song is just a re-recording or performance of something by a different artist than the original. An internet search of Gotye covers will bring up a gazillion examples, maybe the best of which is this one:



Here's my "cover" of an Alabama Chanin tank top (see examples of her original stuff by clicking here):


And my version of her rooster shirt (see her's here):


Though with the latter, I'm not sure if it's a "cover" or more of a "mash-up"... A mash-up is a mix of different things from different (often incongruous) sources, all thrown together to make a cohesive whole -- Alabama Chanin's rooster pattern, my sister's tie-dye, and a very restrained version of Alisa Burke's "lots of messy stitching" (not shown in the photo above).

If you're still not sure what I'm talking about, have a look at these examples of the art of "mash-up":

  • the Muppets and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"



  • or even this really incredible collaborative project (which Baker Son is itching to be a part of)... "Star Wars Uncut"


Comments

  1. Older sister of your man4 October 2012 at 17:20

    Your copycats, mashups and covers are clearly the highest form of compliment. I can't believe how expensive Alabama Chanin's stuff is! Where did you find them? Thanks for packing so much juicy stuff into this blog entry DoOver.

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