Theodore Adorno takes the stance that popular music is a mass produced commodity, stating that the ‘fundamental characteristic of popular music is standardisation’, using the idea of part interchangeability and pseudo individualism to support his view. However, Gendron argues against Adorno, believing that music is consumed differently to other mass produced commodities. He believes that the context of the song is fundamental; artists can in their own way change the true meaning of a song through their performance of it. For example, the contrasting versions of ‘My Way’, one by Sinatra and the other by the Sex Pistols.
Defining something as an ‘Art Form’ does have difficulties as you have to consider what constitutes ‘art’. If we use this idea in terms of music, we have to question, who is the artist, writer, or performer? Some people believe that shows such as ‘The X-Factor’ provide us with creative, talented young artists such as Leona Lewis or Alexandra Burke. However, the ‘X-Factor’ is a prime example of Adorno’s Pseudo individualism as the winner for the past four years has released a cover version rather than being given the chance to write and perform their own music.
There are some good ideas developing here but I would caution that there is nothing wrong cover versions in themselves when they bring something new to the original it is just that the X Factor covers tend to simply be pale imitations of the originals.
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