Authors Intentions

Mike, I think you've just made me realise why I've been so actively engaged in this argument: I love covers! I love the fact that a completely new style and feel and interpretation can be made of an old song, which fills me with respect for the new artist and their interpretation, yet doesn't diminish what I felt about the original. In fact, many times I only really appreciate the new version because I know the old version and recognise the new approaches. Often the beauty of a song being covered is that you can tell that the new artist really understood the way the original worked and was originally performed (ie they took note of and understood the intention) and they deliberately use this knowledge to create a new meaning...sometimes heartfelt, sometimes laden with irony and humour. I don't think there are too many successful songwriters who get overly upset when their song is reinvented...from a ballad to a dance number, or from a heavy rock song to a country and western rollick...it only shows that their basic idea transcends boundaries and has widespread appeal, beyond how they may have originally envisioned. So I have naturally attributed this relationship to the theatre process. If a great song can be arranged and performed in ways entirely different to the original intention and still be regarded as a successful result, why not a great play? Thanks, good example. Cheers, Craig ~<8>-/====\---------