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>Viewfinder : ‘Creeping cynicism’ infects local music >scene > >First posted 11:05pm (Mla time) Jan 11, 2006 >By Nestor U. Torre >Inquirer > > > >Editor's Note: Published on Page A2-2 of the January >12, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer > > >THESE past few months, some pop “composers” have been >accused of plagiarizing songs. That’s troubling >enough, but the situation has been made even worse by >some of the allegedly purloining songsmiths’ breezy >retort: “We didn’t do it—but, even if we did, what’s >the big deal? Everybody copies something or other at >one point in his career!” > >—How cynical can you get? > >Penchant > >Others defend their penchant for musical cribbing by >calling it “getting inspired” by other composers’ >songs, or “quoting” some musical passages as a form of >“homage.” > >Oh, yeah? Break down all those fancy words and you >still get: plagiarism. > >Some music buffs have gotten their hands on the >original songs, and can show, line by line, where the >cribbing starts and ends. > >If the “evidence” is so strong and available, how come >no formal charges have been filed? It turns out that, >once, an official complaint was made, and the >offending artists, or their recording company,did >shell out some cash to atone for their act of musical >cribbing. > >Any chance of that happening again? Yes, but for that >to happen, the foreign artists, or their local >representative, would first have to be aware of the >infraction, then file a complaint, come up with the >detailed evidence to prove the allegation, and stay >the legal course until a confirming verdict shall have >been proclaimed. Will all of that happen soon in these >notoriously non-litigious Philippines? Well, we >wouldn’t stay up all night to find out… > >Virus > >What we would like to see less off is the virus of >“creeping cynicism” that’s infecting the local pop >music scene, of which acts of plagiarism are only some >of the disturbing symptoms. > >Other unfortunate manifestations are: Recording >companies coming up with albums featuring popular >stars who can’t sing to save their lives; endless >revivals instead of original compositions; veteran >singers who keep performing despite the embarrassing >fact that their voices have gone bad, and new talents >copying established performers’ singing styles. > >We all need to remind ourselves that artists are >supposed to be creative, not larcenous or lazy. That >they need to be innovative, and to continue developing >their talent, instead of coasting along on sheer >reputation and repetition. And that each artist should >have his own voice, because art is supposed to be >personal and unique. > >Industry veterans will scoff: “Hey, all we want to do >is entertain, give the people what we think they want, >and make money.” Fair enough. >—And, yet another example of the cynical attitude >we’ve been deploring.

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