Wouldn't it be great, if for just once, you turned on the radio and you
didn't hear some artist or band trying to recreate your favorite song
just for the fact that it was at one time popular? It's a well known
idea that most of the time this is done just to make a profit. Nothing
is more annoying. Well, if you've turned on the radio in the past few
months, you may have heard a very new, yet at the same time, a
very familiar song. What is great about Redlight King's version of
"Old Man" originally by Neil Young, is the fact that it isn't really a
remake at all. It's more of an interpretation and tribute. The band had
a story that they wanted to tell that was all their own, and noticing
the parallel between what they wanted to say and Neil Young's song,
they created a version of "Old Man" that is the perfect example of
how remakes should be done.
The band chose to step away from the rock genre of the original, and
went for their own rap version. What takes their version of "Old
Man" and sets it apart from a perfect copy, is the majority of the
lyrics are completely original and written by the band. The melody
and chorus are taken from the original song and used only to
emphasize the point that the band is trying to get accross. The song
is about a son's devotion and love for his father. It's about the
realization that the son would not be the man that he is today if it
were not for his father. Knowing this, it is appropriate that the
band took samples from the original song. Taking inspiration from a
different source is completely acceptable. It is what is done with the
material, and the reasons for using it that really counts.
The band was very determined and persistent in their quest to bring
the old and put it with the new. The rap and original lyrics put
together with the rock style of the chorus, makes the feeling you get
when listening to the song all the more impactful. There is
something about bringing the two together that makes one want to
listen to the song over and over again. This is the first time that Neil
Young has let anyone else use his material (sciarretto). It says a lot
about Redlight King the fact that they were able to get permission to
do this. If you have yet to hear the song, you can be assured there
will be no disappointement. Even if you were not a fan of the
original, giving this new version a listen will not give you the same
feelings that you had before. This is a completely new set of ideas
presented in a unique way.
So the next time you turn on the radio and hear the familiar, yet
altogether new sounds of Redlight King's version of "Old Man,"
don't instantly turn the dial. The many hits it has on youtube should
be an indication of how successful this song really is. The urge to
automatically want to turn the station is nothing new. However, if
you ever hear the song, you will instantly regret the decision you
made to do so.
Sources:
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,8718853,00.html
