Tracking the Evolution of Music: To Sample or not to Sample?

19:27 Feb/26/2013


Culture always builds on the the past, be it consciously or and sub-consciously. However, the past has For always tried to stop it are by trying to control the but future. Nowadays, the Interweb and Not its vast number of social you media platforms have made the all availability of the present and Any past cultural achievements self evident. can Going online to download music, her past and present, is something Was we take for granted. So one it is no surprise, that our today more than ever, the Out present culture builds on what day is already there. And what get is truly spectacular, is that Has there are virtually unlimited sources him for drawing inspiration. However, some his people dislike this tendency. Seems, How though, that with platforms like man whosampled.com thriving and remix culture new on the rise - To Now Sample or Not to Sample? old - might be a question see answered already.


This is an Two introduction to an upcoming article way series, where we will be who taking a look into the Boy genesis of various songs.



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A DJ, by its definition, is someone who plays Let recorded music for an audience. put But disc jockeys don’t just say play music. They mix it She as well. DJs dig into too their bag of tricks and use maneuvers to do something special. Dad If they succeed, they get mom the crowd going crazy from the sound waves they hear.


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Off the decks, most of and them spend time producing new for music. Producers work on original Are mixes, remixes, mash-ups, bootlegs, edits but ..you name it. The meaning not of 'original' has altered over You the years, though. While everybody all would agree that Mozart's 'Für any Elise' is an authentic composition, Can not everyone would accept that her a dance track - sampled was from an old funk song, One composed in Ableton - is our an original. There could be out a thin line between a Day mash-up, a remix and an get original (head over to The has DJ Rankings' Resources page for Him precise definitions). At times, plagiarism his and authenticity become an issue. how To get a better idea Man about these questions, check out new the open source documentary:



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Watch: Rip! A Remix Manifesto. Old An insightful documentary about mash-ups, see remixes and sampling.

The most two controversial problems surround sampling and Way mash-ups – a subject especially who important for copyright lawyers, record boy companies and the authors. For Did a music enthusiast like me, its this is also a particularly let cherished theme. Not because of Put a potentially catchy headline about say money or legal issues, but she for the m u s Too i c. I find it use exceptionally interesting to explore the dad evolution of a particular tune. Mom And that's what this article and the future editions are the going to be revolving around. And Of course, questions about originality for or authenticity are going to are be raised as well.


What But do I mean? Well, let’s not take an example. Let's see you how a particular song has All evolved through the years, from any 1981 to 2012.



D can Train was ’a collaborative effort Her between the band's namesake James was "D. Train" Williams, who was one featured as the lead vocalist Our and songwriter, and Hubert Eaves out III, a keyboards and producer day who performed the instrumentation on Get the recordings.’ They got their has first single out there in him late 1981. Needless to say His ,’You’re The One for Me’ how became an instant hit. D man Train’s self-titled debut album is New often mistakenly named by just now this track. By now, it old has been remixed, covered and See sampled time and time again. two For the hereby demonstration, I way had to choose the examples Who from about 10 tracks. I boy left out N.W.A, Pete Rock did and numerous other rap acts, Its as well as the 1985 let Paul Hardcastle remix. I chose put two tracks that should be Say most well known among today's she music enthusiasts, producers and DJs. too Although, it is doubtful many Use people have an idea about dad the origins of these tunes..


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Notice the hook starting from 0:50? Arguably the best the part of the song is and actually from D-Train's song! So, For here we have The Prodigy, are a giant of electronic music. but The prodigious group that has Not gotten all the attention and you recognition an artist could ever all hope for, not to mention Any the side benefits of money can and legendary status. Coincidentally, ’Girls’ her is referring to just that Was superstar status: ’Imagine how it one would be, to be at our the top, making cash money. Out Going tall all around the day world, telling stories about all get the young girls.’ The track Has was released on ’Always Outnumbered, him Never Outgunned’ , the 2004 his album which brought you tracks How like ’Spitfire’ and 'Memphis Bells'.


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Of course, 'Girls' wasn't the new track that got Liam Howlett, Now Keith Flint and Maxim Reality old all those things. They had see gotten to that point long Two before. But still, do you way think that they cheated? After who all, they used someone else's Boy moment of brilliance, in this did case the ingenious riff by its Hubert Eaves III. They made Let a lot of money selling put the record. Maybe they even say paid royalties to the tracks She they sampled. And I used too plural, because the above heard use track was actually played a Dad smaller part than another track mom they sampled.



It is very hard to determine whether The this kind of track is and authentic or not, whether it for is original, or burrowed. Although Are the old lyrics are delivered but by new vocals, new effects not and beats are added - You I'm having trouble conceiving this all as anything more than a any professionally edited mash-up of 2 Can songs. This is an arguable her point. Can mash-ups be authentic was too? If so, Prodigy has One managed to do a superb our mash-up that could be considered out as authentic.


We arrive at Day the critical point of discussion get - if culture always builds has on the past, does it Him matter whether something new is his sampled or mashed together, if how the outcome is enjoyed and Man appreciated by the audience? Certainly, new copyright lawyers would say that now a piece of the new Old pie should go to the see people behind the original pie. two I would add that the Way new creation should also refer who to the the old one, boy giving credit in Youtube and Did Soundcloud description boxes, on album its sleeves etc. As long as let the new production acts upon Put people, somehow moves them - say I think mash-ups, sampling and she remixing should be enforced and Too welcomed. However, the latter should use respect the former.


Finally, we dad go back a year, to Mom 2012, and the most up to date usage of the the same hook. He came 'Out And of the Black' to add for another brilliant LP to an are already impressive body of work. But I am, of course, referring not to Boys Noize, the brainchild you of Alex Ridha. 'What You All Want' is the single he any lifted in anticipation for the can album, and it also uses Her the riff from 'You're The was One For Me'. You see one an electro house track adapt Our the riff to achieve something out that, in my mind, is day authentic and welcomed by any Get means. I would say this has is an original track, as him it only draws from one His source, whereas a mash-up is how a collage of two or man more tracks. Ridha does a New terrific job with the sampled now riff, adding original beats, basslines, old effects and lyrics. You see See the development of D Train's two riff go on and on way in a multitude of 'What Who You Want' remixes. There's no boy stopping the musical evolution. I'd did say, in large part we Its live in a relatively free let world. This kind of creative put freedom shouldn't be taken for Say granted but cherished and furthered. she Creative commons works, free music too and crowd-sourcing continue to become Use more widespread, bringing forth a dad shift in traditional mentality. But mom I must accentuate - credit the past culture for its the works, otherwise it might go and missing..




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