Be YOU – Don't Imitate
22 Friday Jan 2010
Written by Corve DaCosta in Entertainment, Love & Relationships, Thoughts & Commentary
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beyonce, blogging, Business, commentary, criminals, Culture, Entertainment, entertainment industry, Friends, Government, Jamaica, Music, News, Politics, review, thieves, Thoughts & Commentary, vybz kartel, Writing
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You have studied hard for your examination and there beside you is someone who is intent on copying your answers. What do you do? It may be a great feeling for those who see it as helping out another but dishonesty cannot be rewarded. In Jamaica, the entertainers here have a bad habit or it may be a culture where they imitate popular songs internationally and write lyrics to make it their own with the same mix. A more recent case saw one of Jamaica’s dancehall artistes Vybz Kartel and Spice with a song called Ramping Shop (very sexual I might add) copying Neyo’s Miss Independent Woman. Only when the song was very popular internationally did Neyo file papers to stop these unscrupulous artistes from profiting from his work. Alicia Keys, Beyonce etc are all victims of this.
Neyo’s Miss Independent – Original Song
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QFM77Gmu8o&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
The Imitation
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLE2jRgZhrA&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Alicia Keys – Sleeping with a Broken Heart
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRwBpnr4utc&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
The Jamaican Copy by Various Jamaican Dancehall Artistes
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFy33dJQ8Bw&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
The Diva Beyonce
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1dUDzBdnmI&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRLUQ6J18KM&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Do you see elements of Beyonce’s style in this video?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKYkRrjZQ-w&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
To imitate means to copy the actions, appearance, mannerisms, or speech of; mimic. In a recent post I expressed my admiration for Beyonce. I knew the regular readers would find that as a surprise. My love for her is more than an appreciation for her music but more so an admiration in the way she carries herself and performs in the music industry. Her team led by her dad treats her like a product – which is actually is.
I may also like her because her father has many years experience in Marketing and knows the application and the understanding of such. I will agree with her critics that she isn’t the best singer the world has seen and she is overrated. However, what Beyonce has is a commanding stage presence, her performances are amazing and insiders in the music industry express many times over again that she works hard. To her credits, she has won tens of Grammies and reached many number ones on the biggest charts internationally. Anytime she exits the stage you would have known she gave her best and you would have been entertained by Sasha Fierce her alter ego. When you look at Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Alicia Keys; these artistes are popular because of their originality and the freshness they bring to the music industry. I have a problem with people imitating established artistes. Interesting I say that knowing I have a business background where you copy an invention or a process to make profits. However, I believe artistes who imitate are short on talent and lack the creativity they need to survive. It is also interesting to observe that artistes just starting out are the ones who imitate because they idolize these established artistes.
Here in Jamaica, there is a female dancehall artiste who goes by the name D’Angel. I remember years ago in an interview she stated that her idol or the person she looks up to Beyonce. I didn’t know that idolizing an artiste would make you imitate their actions even their style of performane but that is imitation.
The trend of imitating the hardest working female in the music industry even exist in USA I saw a video recently and the props, production of the video resembles one Beyonce did earlier in her career. Many people will not notice similarities like this except for the ones who are looking for the details. What if an artiste imitated Lady Gaga, then maybe the imitation would be clear for everyone to see. It appears the more mild the imitation artistes get a free pass on stealing someone’s ideas and make it their own to generate profits.
For those who are able to dig up the singers Beyonce imitated will agree that some of her ideas may not be new but she uses her own style to add to what was done before to make it her own.
I believe in making your own self. Each one of us has unique talents and gifts that make us special. What if everyone blogged the same way, sang the same way, listened to classical music etc we wouldn’t have diversity.
Oprah recently produced a show to highlight the crises in Haiti. On the program Rihanna was featured singing Bob Marley’s Redemption Song. Here she sings an established song – sang it word for word but added her own style and creativity to the song – which turned out great. I cannot stop listening to this song which was produced to help raise money for the Haitians.
Entertainers should desist from imitating artistes all in the name to make a profit. These songs are played on the internet and on local radio stations and I would assume they make money from appearance fees singing these songs. I am tired of it.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSikE17J-qQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Do not forget to enter my blog competition which ends on January 30, 2010 midnight. Enter on the post below.
30 comments
January 22, 2010 at 7:22 PM
I could not agree with you more..It’s all about authenticity. Lauren Hill said it best .. “The real you, is more interesting than the fake somebody else.”
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January 22, 2010 at 9:53 PM
wow that is crazy! I didnt know that was popular there. but on another topic… something that bothers me is that i have to listen to this patois over and over until i finally understand a bit of what they are saying lol!! ugggh i wanna learn :[ i only know a few words lol. i think that is amazing that it seems as though theyre speaking a completely different language :]
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January 22, 2010 at 10:00 PM
Very good post, Corve. I especially relate to this line: I believe in making your own self. Each one of us has unique talents and gifts that make us special. What if everyone blogged the same way, sang the same way, listened to classical music etc we wouldn’t have diversity. Nothing could be truer. I have three sons. I cherish their individuality. Though they also have their similarities, each is unique in his own way and that is a delight.
People, of course, tend to want to emulate those they admire and respect. That can be possible without their becoming copycats. I believe you can be inspired by others and incorporate their styles, techniques, advice, inspiration and then develop it all into your own personal being. I think for myself, after weighing all the issues but I have to admit that a great deal goes into my final decisions – input from many others whose opinions I respect. I dress for myself – regardless of what fashion dictates. My tastes in music are my own. I admit, when my boys were growing up, I did try to teach them my values about life – fairness toward others, respect, equality to all – and they seem to have carried all that forward into adulthood.
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January 22, 2010 at 11:15 PM
You can’t fake this Corve …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avuev7OaDj4
But you can this…the embarrassment of being fake led to one of these guys killing himself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrL9MV6jSk
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January 23, 2010 at 4:18 AM
Little or much, big or small, we all imitate. If not, we wouldn’t have the 60s, the 80s etc.. to reflect an era where artists act and sound typical of the time.
And yes! Can’t have enough of Rihanna singing the song.
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January 23, 2010 at 6:42 AM
Great post. It is a disappointing when someone is not talented enough to come up with their own. Sometimes however the imitation is better than the original.
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January 23, 2010 at 11:28 AM
You said it perfectly. All in the name of money.
Those copies aren’t worth listening to, because they are horrible.
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January 23, 2010 at 12:00 PM
I agree with you and the previous commenters. There’s a difference between making a cover version of a song, paying tribute to someone, learning from someone and trying hard to be someone else. Is that all they have to offer?
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January 23, 2010 at 5:00 PM
I do agree with this. Even as a teen growing up in Jamaica, I always despise how our artistes imitate everything from other successful artistes. I like when an artiste work on their own craft and have something to be proud of. Instead it’s just to make a buck and waste it on flashy cars and silliness.
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January 23, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Just read this and I think you are so spot on! So right!
I’ve always felt imitation could go either way – it could be flattering and yet at the same time I feel it can be daylight robbery!
Whenever I see a video or hear a song where it has been ‘copied’ I’ve always, always wondered, aside from the cash incentive that may be invloved, how do the original artists feel and what do they think of their time-honoured art being ‘copied’.
What’s happened to originality, the way the greats used to do it?
Great site!
x
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January 23, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Wow. I try to be myself as a performer. NOw granted Dorinda Clark-Cole is my favorite singer. I can’t do her stage presence I have my own stage presence. That’s with life period. I’m myself period. I can’t copy anyone.
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January 23, 2010 at 6:27 PM
Does that mean you didn’t like Rihanna’s rendition of Bob Marley’s song? Perhaps the first almost objective comment regarding Rihanna.
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January 23, 2010 at 9:04 PM
That was brilliantly written. You are so right! I appreciate originality too.
Have a great weekend!!
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January 23, 2010 at 9:57 PM
Being authentic is hard when faced with having to make a living, but it certainly is much more gratifying and fulfilling. Thanks for the insight, Corve.
Happy Early Birthday Greetings, Martha
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January 24, 2010 at 9:10 AM
Every artist is influenced by someone, but a lot of performers are just flat out ripping people off these days.
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January 24, 2010 at 12:07 PM
I cannot believe this is true!
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January 24, 2010 at 12:08 PM
I don’t even know how to be anyone else other than me….
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January 24, 2010 at 9:53 PM
interesting.. you in jamaica!???
cool!!!
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January 25, 2010 at 4:38 AM
I agree with a lot of things you said Corve. However, I would never have the balls to write a post featuring Beyonce in a good or bad light. I hear the stans who love her and the stans who hate her are something vicious. You must be trying to start a riot in your comment section?! :/
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January 25, 2010 at 4:55 AM
Hi…yes you are right . Dishonesty cannot be rewarded in the name of help . People who imitate are simply losers because besides loosing out on their individuality they also fail to use the potential which is within them .
The 5 Factor Personality Test- Personality as per the 5 most telling factors.
http://www.3smartcubes.com/pages/tests/fivefactor/fivefactor_instructions.asp
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January 25, 2010 at 9:40 PM
It is one thing to be influenced by those that you admire and another thing to straight up steal from them.
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January 25, 2010 at 10:02 PM
Great post Corve.
Imitation here in the US seems to be the safest route for those involved in television programming as well. It is not until a television executive takes a risk on a new type of show or one that has a certain niche (or takes a risk) that success can be attained..
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January 26, 2010 at 11:28 AM
What’s the line between admiration and copying. Usher copies the moves of MJ who copied the moves of James Brown. Ultimately there are many elements individual to each.
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January 27, 2010 at 12:22 AM
I’m not talking about copyrite infringement here which I think may be what you are writing about, but I actually see nothing wrong with imitation, after all don’t they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Imitation can bring out the best of a person or performance or sometimes the worst and take artist or the art into an area that no one had been able to see before.
You mentioned Beyonce who if no one had imitated her with the Put a Ring On It song, I for one would probably of passed it by as just another Beyonce song with I would assume many other people. It was her imitators who brought that song to my attention and made me appreciate it. Men who dress up in drag and do Bette Davis impersonations well or some other bitch queen bring out and remind us of that which was noteworthy and had been precious to some. It’s been said that New York the Empire State Building was nothing more than an imitation of the Chrysler Building and yet no one would dismiss it as being lousy architecture. In many renowned museums of the world, you can find someone copying a great piece of art with a technique that would rival the original artist. Is it wrong that the copier learning whatever principles that need to be learned wrong for copying? I don’t think so.
No I will have to say that there is nothing wrong with imitation as long as no one is trying to pass it off as the real thing.
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January 27, 2010 at 8:32 AM
I agree…it’s one thing to be inspired, but that inspiration should do just that, inspire!
No what I don’t agree with is the whole exam thing. I cheated my way out of college and i’m not ashamed! lol however, it was a team of us. lol
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January 27, 2010 at 7:36 PM
It is certainly interesting for me to read the post. Thanks the author for it. I like such topics and anything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more soon.
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January 28, 2010 at 12:34 PM
I love the Ne-Yo, Alicia Keys and Beyonce tunes, but some of the imitations weren’t bad at all. I’m just sayin….
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January 29, 2010 at 11:59 PM
So what they say tha imitation is the best form of flattery is all bunk has to be true.
saludos,
raulito
http://fromtop2bttm.blogspot.com
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January 30, 2010 at 12:20 AM
I agree …one of my favorite quotes is from Judy Garland who said “Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
*P.S. – HAPPY BIRTHDAY Corve!!!!
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Corve DaCosta Reply:
January 30th, 2010 at 3:08 AM
Thanks Crystal. Our guests just left – we had a ball.
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