Reworking Songs Into Different Genres
One of my favorite songwriting techniques is to take a song I like rework it into a different genre. I posted a lesson on the ActoGuitar forums about how a rap song can be turned into a country song, but there are countless examples and frameworks that musicians can use to pull off similar tricks.
Consider, for instance, the song "Why Don't You Get a Job" by The Offspring. The song has pop/punk undertones -- which is not surprising, given the musical stylings of The Offspring -- but is appallingly similar to the Beatles song "Ob La Di, Ob La Da." (Of course, as this Wikipedia entry states, the song "Ob La Di, Ob La Da" has its own copyright controversy. Looks like everyone's stealing!)
Anyway. Check out the audio clips below to see for yourself.
Why Don't You Get a Job:
Ob La Di, Ob La Da:
To rework the songs, Dexter Holland and the rest of The Offspring only needed to do a few things:
1. Add more electric guitars, and play them with some distortion.
2. Sing using a bit of harsher tone; think Axl Rose, not Paul McCartney.
3. Change the lyrics so that they are a bit more aggressive.
4. Small revisions to the structure of the song; for instance, "Why Don't You Get a Job" starts off with an a capella intro, one that is not found in "Ob La Di, Ob La Da."
Another trick that was not used in this song but is used quite frequently is to play around with the tempo of the song. For instance, there are some songs by the Ramones that fit the traditional formula of punk music: catchy, fast, simple, and high energy. By slowing down those songs, making them acoustic instead of electric, and singing in a sweeter tone, the songs can be transformed into a different genre that appeals to a different audience.
Consider, for instance, the song "Why Don't You Get a Job" by The Offspring. The song has pop/punk undertones -- which is not surprising, given the musical stylings of The Offspring -- but is appallingly similar to the Beatles song "Ob La Di, Ob La Da." (Of course, as this Wikipedia entry states, the song "Ob La Di, Ob La Da" has its own copyright controversy. Looks like everyone's stealing!)
Anyway. Check out the audio clips below to see for yourself.
Why Don't You Get a Job:
Ob La Di, Ob La Da:
To rework the songs, Dexter Holland and the rest of The Offspring only needed to do a few things:
1. Add more electric guitars, and play them with some distortion.
2. Sing using a bit of harsher tone; think Axl Rose, not Paul McCartney.
3. Change the lyrics so that they are a bit more aggressive.
4. Small revisions to the structure of the song; for instance, "Why Don't You Get a Job" starts off with an a capella intro, one that is not found in "Ob La Di, Ob La Da."
Another trick that was not used in this song but is used quite frequently is to play around with the tempo of the song. For instance, there are some songs by the Ramones that fit the traditional formula of punk music: catchy, fast, simple, and high energy. By slowing down those songs, making them acoustic instead of electric, and singing in a sweeter tone, the songs can be transformed into a different genre that appeals to a different audience.
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