Last week I went to listen to a song I love from a band I love off of an album I love.
But when I clicked play it was a different song. Well no, it was the same song, same chorus and all…but a different intro, much different mix and slightly different arrangement.
And then coincidentally it happened again just a couple days ago with a different band, different song, different album.
In both cases, all the other songs on the album are the same as they ever were. But the song I was looking for? The original version? The version that hooked me? No where to be found. Scrubbed from the record (pun intended). Nowhere to quickly be found.
Now it’s one thing if you come out with an alternate version, a remix, an acoustic version, a punk ruck version, that’s great. But replacing a song? That is not for the benefit of the fans. Neither of those bands have ever got fan mail complaining about the arrangement or that the post chorus hook needs some layering.
It might be that the artist wants the new version instituted for personal reasons. It might be a master rights ownership issue. It might be a publishing or licensing matter. But it isn’t because the fans want a redo.
Releasing an alternate version is great. But if you’re going to take away the original and replace it with something that is noticeably not the original…Be very clear about who it’s for and whether or not it’s worth it.
