Singing Cover Songs

I used to think that performing cover songs was a cop-out. I used to believe that to perform - to really perform - an artist should perform original content.

In some part, I still believe that. To go on tour and perform in various locations nationwide, or even worldwide, is a sign that an artist's original music has reached a level of fame that we all strive for. 

But then I started seeing tribute bands, bands performing in bars, artists performing cover songs in coffee shops and wine bars and all of these other really cool locations. 

At the time, my repertoire was awfully small. I had recorded one early album, and had otherwise been exposed to mostly classical music. I had been singing classical since I was 4 years old and had been in church choirs and in musicals until I finished University in 2010. We never had the music channels growing up either. So the only popular music I knew was what I heard in the bars or on the radio, on our family's jukebox filled with oldies tunes (which I still adore), and at church. I knew a little country music, but had not been trying to really learn all of it. 

After going to karaoke a few times and trying my hand at music trivia or 'name that tune' nights, I realized that even though I was a very accomplished vocalist, I did not know much music. My repertoire was so focused in one or two areas that I didn't seem to know anything. I was embarrassed. 

I had no clue what any artists looked like, I had no idea about actual titles of many songs and definitely not both the title and the artist, and even at karaoke I had no idea what I was doing. 

So I decided to change that. 

I woke up one morning and decided to start a Youtube channel. I wanted to improve my piano skills - both solo and accompaniment, I wanted to showcase a few original tunes, and I wanted to learn as much repertoire as I could. So I began taking requests for cover songs. 

Nearly 9 years and hundreds of videos later, my repertoire has grown exponentially. My piano skills have improved, I am confident in over 500 cover songs, I have performed in a ton of different venues, and I have opened up my span of musical knowledge. I have sung classical, sacred, arias, country, jazz, pop, classic rock, new age, ballads, folk, and oh so many songs from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. 

I am really proud of what I have done. 

This next year I am still dedicated to performing covers, learning new songs and how to play songs that people love, but I am also looking forward to creating some more original content. 

Now I believe that to be a really well-rounded musician, it is important to delve into the depths of all forms of music to really understand it. In order to create impactful and soulful original content, I know that I needed to discover a world of music outside of my comfort zone. I needed to learn what kind of music I gravitate to and why, what kind of artist I truly want to be, and what kind of impact I want to make. 

I had some idea - with the few wedding songs I have written, my French tunes, and ties to medical challenges - but now I have a much better grip on the artist I want to be. 

And if none of that happens - if it turns out that I am not a very good songwriter or that I can't seem to pull myself away from conventional chord progressions or predictable melodic writing - then I am thrilled with the amount of musical knowledge that I have ahieved and the fact that I could walk into a venue and comfortably play a multitude of cover songs for hours. I am also very proud of some of my own songs, including Happy Just, Triste at Best, Unfinished Tattoo, Puddle Jumping, Ready to Say I Do, and even Two Minutes. 

So what is your take on cover songs versus original content? 

What has influenced you the most?