There’s something bugging me about DJ Khaled’s “Wild Thoughts”. The song has been causing a stir from the moment the video was dropped with Rihanna in a see-through top revealing her breasts completely (again). And I understand that’s enough to get everybody talking, but the song itself is a bit of a disappointment to me.
I do love the idea of taking something old(er) and creating something new based on it, but on the music side of this song, it is not a sample that’s being used. DJ Khaled is literally using the whole of Santana’s “Maria Maria” track as a backtrack for his new song.
Perfectly aware of the fact that we live in a time of cashing in when it’s time to strike, I am gung-ho to preserve some creativity and originality. Especially from one of the hottest DJ’s around now, who’s able to work with the biggest names in the business. Seriously, this is fine for someone just messing about on a small scale level, but I had expected something more original, in this case. It’s just what exactly is ‘originality’ to me then?
This is always that grey area you can find yourself having the longest discussions about with other music lovers. I’ve often mentioned that we have a bit of copy-paste habit in music, at this time, and whether you like that or you don’t is usually down to your personal taste, which often fluctuates (or has proven to be flexible).
It’s very difficult to set clear boundaries to when you will and when you won’t accept the ‘borrowing’ of elements of other songs. Heck, this is what courts have even battling over for decades concerning copyright issues.
But I have found that it’s the older generation that generally has problems with the sampling and upcycling of music. Covering songs has always been part of music, but back in the time when they got into music, no one seemed to borrow elements of songs to create something new on. They always had to create something from scratch and that is what they consider ‘original’.
However, I grew up in a time when sampling was just beginning and I actually thought the idea of that was just as original as creating something from scratch. And maybe to the generation after me, the usage of full instrumentals to create a new song over is their idea of something original. I’m still not sure. I think my final decision about it is that I think it’s the lazy way out….. probably until I do it myself one day. LOL.
