Whatcha Say
For some reason, I was briefly following the "debate" (if one can use that word) around this song "Whatcha Say" by this new R&B/pop artist kid named Jason Derulo. While this song is far from a classic - and likely will never achieve that status, as compared to say, any of the mid - late 1960s work from The Temptations - it's not a bad song. It's quite listenable, even for some of the naive lyrics. Here's the official video, in all of it's naive and child-like splendor, for those who have been blissfully unaware of the brouhaha.
What REALLY makes the song is the "hook", a sample of the chant by Imogen Heap from her 2005 track "Hide and Seek". (The "hook" would be the chorus, for those who don't speak R&B or hip-hop). If you're not familiar with the song (and I wasn't either before all of this), go view the video NOW!!! I'll wait.
(Additionally, if you have some time right now, check out this live performance of "Hide and Seek" as well. If not, then watch it later when you do have time.)
Now that you're back...
So, there's this debate raging by people who have no understanding of how music licensing works around the use of this sample. I don't know why. First, music licensing is considered Byzantine and archaic by people IN the music industry, and rightfully so. Second, most people don't ever bother to really learn anything about a topic before they go arguing their weakly formed points, and we see the results of such verbal diarrhea all over the Internet. Simply put, Imogen had to approve the sample in the first place, and further, she will be paid for the sample anytime the song is played. If the sample was stolen, then the lawyers will have field day over that, especially if Imogen does not own the rights herself. (However, from my brief reading of the history of the production of "Speak for Yourself", she likely owns all the rights.) This is the magic of music rights. Anyone interested should probably Google or Bing! the terms "performance rights" and "rights clearance". I'm sure that would make for an interesting night of reading!
Truly, I believe the use of this sample will broaden Imogen Heap's audience. I don't know if the phrase "little known" was appropriate before "Whatcha Say" was released, but I know that I was not familiar with her work until I wandered into this whole sampling debate. I would imagine Imogen will gain some new fans - like myself - as well as some new venues for the performance of her work. Either way, it's a win for Imogen.
More critically, I believe that this is a great example of the innovation vs. invention debate. Yes, Imogen can be said to have "invented" the 3 bars which Jason Derulo's producer sampled for this song. (I'm only going to speak as to the 3 bars of the hook, and not any other sampling from "Hide and Seek".) However, it is that producer's (J. R. Rotem, if I have my name correct) reworking of those 3 bars, and the music around them, that represents innovation. In the end, we have created a new work of art which stands on the shoulders of an earlier work of art. This is the very definition of innovation, and I think most creative people would agree that this is the heart of human progress in almost any endeavor. (Newton surely believed this.)
There is a massively overused quote, (mis-)attributed (?) to Pablo Picasso, which says "Good artists borrow, great artists steal". Now, I'm not sure if this attribution is correct, and that's an argument for another time (and site). However, I agree that most people miss the real meaning of this quote. As Ms. Esaak at about.com says, it's not about the talentless taking the prior art of the talents, misappropriating it, and being recognized, feted and paid for doing so. NO!!! That would be criminal!!! What this quote IS saying is that a great artist - one who is classically trained, has a foundation in the theory and technique or their art, and appreciates and knows the history of their art - can build upon the works of others, either via inspiration or selective and limited re-use (fair use) to create something new. I think only a small segment of the population of the world would even recognize that Jason Derulo's song samples Imogen Heap, or even that the words were the same. (A sad commentary on how many people move outside their comfort zones artistically, musically, etc. more than anything.) However, listening to those 2 songs shows that they are both very different from each other, united only in theme (failed relationships and cheating). Each artist took their inspiration, wherever it came from, and ran with it.
For some reason, I honestly think that a properly rehearsed and timed duet between Derulo and Heap would work magically. Imogen's tempo from "Hide and Seek" would have to be sped up, and the tempo of "Whatcha Say" would have to be slowed down, but I would personally LOVE to see these 2 perform "Whatcha Say" live with Imogen singing the hook. THAT would be brilliant! Probably far from likely, but brilliant nonetheless. I think it is in both artists interests to arrange such a duet as quickly as possible, preferably live and with the largest audience they can muster.
Anyway, I have no idea why I felt compelled to speak on this issue, but there! I'll end by saying that "Whatcha Say" makes me think of Black college football. I think it's the brass and drum arrangements. It takes me back to MEAC football games past. If that doesn't speak to the differences in the 2 musical pieces, I don't know what does. I can't listen to "Whatcha Say" without being transported to Howard University's Homecoming or the "Battle of the Bands". It's kooky, but that's the power of music. (I admit that I may be really fuggin' weird in that regard, too.) That's what drew ME in to the song in the first place, the hook grabbed me, and the lyrics touched me (given that it can be said I have lived through a situation similar to the one described by Derulo's lyrics). And that's what makes any discussion of theft by Jason Derulo and J. R. Rotem completely absurd. Their inspiration was drawn from many sources (Imogen Heap among them), and in the end, they created some beautiful (if not classic) music.
Peace.
What REALLY makes the song is the "hook", a sample of the chant by Imogen Heap from her 2005 track "Hide and Seek". (The "hook" would be the chorus, for those who don't speak R&B or hip-hop). If you're not familiar with the song (and I wasn't either before all of this), go view the video NOW!!! I'll wait.
(Additionally, if you have some time right now, check out this live performance of "Hide and Seek" as well. If not, then watch it later when you do have time.)
Now that you're back...
So, there's this debate raging by people who have no understanding of how music licensing works around the use of this sample. I don't know why. First, music licensing is considered Byzantine and archaic by people IN the music industry, and rightfully so. Second, most people don't ever bother to really learn anything about a topic before they go arguing their weakly formed points, and we see the results of such verbal diarrhea all over the Internet. Simply put, Imogen had to approve the sample in the first place, and further, she will be paid for the sample anytime the song is played. If the sample was stolen, then the lawyers will have field day over that, especially if Imogen does not own the rights herself. (However, from my brief reading of the history of the production of "Speak for Yourself", she likely owns all the rights.) This is the magic of music rights. Anyone interested should probably Google or Bing! the terms "performance rights" and "rights clearance". I'm sure that would make for an interesting night of reading!
Truly, I believe the use of this sample will broaden Imogen Heap's audience. I don't know if the phrase "little known" was appropriate before "Whatcha Say" was released, but I know that I was not familiar with her work until I wandered into this whole sampling debate. I would imagine Imogen will gain some new fans - like myself - as well as some new venues for the performance of her work. Either way, it's a win for Imogen.
More critically, I believe that this is a great example of the innovation vs. invention debate. Yes, Imogen can be said to have "invented" the 3 bars which Jason Derulo's producer sampled for this song. (I'm only going to speak as to the 3 bars of the hook, and not any other sampling from "Hide and Seek".) However, it is that producer's (J. R. Rotem, if I have my name correct) reworking of those 3 bars, and the music around them, that represents innovation. In the end, we have created a new work of art which stands on the shoulders of an earlier work of art. This is the very definition of innovation, and I think most creative people would agree that this is the heart of human progress in almost any endeavor. (Newton surely believed this.)
There is a massively overused quote, (mis-)attributed (?) to Pablo Picasso, which says "Good artists borrow, great artists steal". Now, I'm not sure if this attribution is correct, and that's an argument for another time (and site). However, I agree that most people miss the real meaning of this quote. As Ms. Esaak at about.com says, it's not about the talentless taking the prior art of the talents, misappropriating it, and being recognized, feted and paid for doing so. NO!!! That would be criminal!!! What this quote IS saying is that a great artist - one who is classically trained, has a foundation in the theory and technique or their art, and appreciates and knows the history of their art - can build upon the works of others, either via inspiration or selective and limited re-use (fair use) to create something new. I think only a small segment of the population of the world would even recognize that Jason Derulo's song samples Imogen Heap, or even that the words were the same. (A sad commentary on how many people move outside their comfort zones artistically, musically, etc. more than anything.) However, listening to those 2 songs shows that they are both very different from each other, united only in theme (failed relationships and cheating). Each artist took their inspiration, wherever it came from, and ran with it.
For some reason, I honestly think that a properly rehearsed and timed duet between Derulo and Heap would work magically. Imogen's tempo from "Hide and Seek" would have to be sped up, and the tempo of "Whatcha Say" would have to be slowed down, but I would personally LOVE to see these 2 perform "Whatcha Say" live with Imogen singing the hook. THAT would be brilliant! Probably far from likely, but brilliant nonetheless. I think it is in both artists interests to arrange such a duet as quickly as possible, preferably live and with the largest audience they can muster.
Anyway, I have no idea why I felt compelled to speak on this issue, but there! I'll end by saying that "Whatcha Say" makes me think of Black college football. I think it's the brass and drum arrangements. It takes me back to MEAC football games past. If that doesn't speak to the differences in the 2 musical pieces, I don't know what does. I can't listen to "Whatcha Say" without being transported to Howard University's Homecoming or the "Battle of the Bands". It's kooky, but that's the power of music. (I admit that I may be really fuggin' weird in that regard, too.) That's what drew ME in to the song in the first place, the hook grabbed me, and the lyrics touched me (given that it can be said I have lived through a situation similar to the one described by Derulo's lyrics). And that's what makes any discussion of theft by Jason Derulo and J. R. Rotem completely absurd. Their inspiration was drawn from many sources (Imogen Heap among them), and in the end, they created some beautiful (if not classic) music.
Peace.
posted by Khyron at 06:06
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