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covered

If I hang around someone long enough I start to sound like them.
I pick up words and mannerisms.
When I read good writing. I notice that my blog posts start to sound like them too.
I copy topics, ideas and sometimes even steal a little bit of their style.
It isn’t intentional.
I want to be my own person.
But let’s be honest we are all easily influenced.
For better or for worse.

But I sometimes still feel like a poser.
Or a thief.
And never coming up with anything original.

And then tonight….I listened to two really good covers.
One a friend emailed me and the other I saw posted on facebook.
And I love a good cover song.
Sometimes even better than the original.

The Fray covering Kanye’s Heartless.
Obidiah Parker’s remake of Hey Ya by Outkast.
Taylor Swift’s version of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida.
Pomplamoose’s quirky take on All the Single Ladies.
New Found Glory’s amped up version of Kiss Me stolen from Sixpence None the Richer
(just to name a few)

And what makes them so fantastic is that they took something that was already great.
And made it theirs.
And sometimes they don’t even sound like the same song.
They have the same lyrics, but feel totally and completely different.

And most days I don’t say anything profound here.
The good stuff has all already been said.
And plenty of it is written down somewhere else in red.
And we all can’t write great songs.
But we can all sing.
(well not all of us. I can’t. Not well at least. Not even in the shower. But I assure you that doesn’t stop me from trying)
But I am speaking figuratively.

And to quote a little Shane Claiborne…
“Most good things have been said too many times and just need to be lived.”

Or sung.
So find a way…and make it yours.



Comments

Unknown said…
Aw, I love Pomplamoose. They always look like they're having the best time. :) Fun take on Telephone!

Agreed... gotta love a good, creative cover tune.

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